10 Things We Learned Watching Arsenal at Stamford Bridge

There is something sad about what has happened to Arsenal in recent weeks. I liken it to Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 , when you are shot down and have "Final Stand"— someone walks over and just snaps your win streak, painfully.

After digging deep to beat Aston Villa, Arsenal ended the year on a high, mauling debt-ridden Portsmouth.

Most of us didn't see the big picture—or, more specifically, the picture wasn't painted yet. Most of the tough mid-table teams didn't test Arsenal defensively, including top teams like Aston Villa and Tottenham.

In January, Arsenal scored off two deflections to salvage a point against resurgent Everton, who made Arsenal work their socks off.

Then the intense fixtures started. Might I say, Arsenal were top of the table before Chelsea beat Birmingham.

After the draw to Aston Villa, Arsenal fell three points behind Chelsea.

After the loss to Manchester United, Arsenal fell six points behind Chelsea

After the loss to Chelsea, Arsenal fell nine points behind Chelsea.

It's bad how a title challenge can just go to waste after the claims of "mental toughness," "squad harmony," and "potential."

Chelsea were not "clearly" the better team, but you don't have to be the better team to win a game: Arsenal fans know that. Arsenal win almost all possession battles but have no trophies to show for it.

There were lots of things that stood out during Chelsea's loss, both on and off the field, which brings me to my first point:

It's Highly Ironic That a Team Called "Gunners" Lack Firepower

It is very sad that with all the attacking midfielders Arsenal have in the squad, there is no striker who could step up and take charge. Eduardo is frail and drifts off during games. You never know what happened to Carlos Vela. Nicklas Bendtner should have started , considering he gave the Chelsea defenders a tough time when he came off the bench.

Arshavin also seems to lack motivation for the game.

Fun fact: No Arsenal striker has scored in the league in 2010. (Andrei Arshavin is not a striker.)

Arsene Wenger Has No Plan "B"

Yeah, the great Wenger is under criticism now. He should have read the game and understood Chelsea's plan; he should have done something to push Chelsea to the limit. To sum it all up, Arsenal have no alternative approach if the pretty passing fails to attract the points and the sound of the final whistle.

Possession Football Also Works in the Box

Arsenal won the possession battle yesterday but only had two shots on target. Titles are definitely not won with such poor shooting.

Almunia's Confidence Was Low

He couldn't have done much for the two goals, but I believe he could have tried better and made better decisions over the course of the game—and maybe, just with a little luck and precision, he could have prevented any of the goals.

Fabregas Was a Spectator

When you have a team built around a player, he can't drift out of games the way Fabregas did.

He was outplayed by Mikel Obi and was caught in possession a number of times.

It has been reported that he is going to reject a new contract for Barcelona in the summer, F365 reports.

About the move to Barcelona: There's zero chance of that happening because Xavi is special in the eyes of Pep Guardiola. About Fabregas stepping up toward the end of the season: Wenger has to do his job as the motivator of the team.

Arsenal Should Go Back To Basics

Obviously, Arsenal have the offense locked up, but Didier Drogba said it best:

"They did well. In the second half, they made us run, but at the end, we were really compact. And if you stay strong and compact, then you always have the chance to counterattack and score goals.

"We took our chances; you don't need to create a lot of chances to win a game. Sometimes you create a lot, and you don't score. We were efficient in everything we did."

Arsenal need to stay compact behind, defend properly, and learn how to hold the fort. Good defense leads to easy offense: If you doubt, ask Drogba, who took on Arsenal's so-called back line and then smashed home the second.

Also, Alex Song was seen going forward too often and exposing his back line to numerous counters—something Wenger will be worried about.

Defense leads to easy offense—especially when you have the caliber of players at Wenger's disposal.

Arsenal Let the "Drog" Out

Its is no secret that Drogba loves Arsenal. But not that way.

In 2007, he scored two goals that killed Arsenal's title challenge.

This season, he has put four between the posts against Arsenal—and maybe, just maybe, he has ended Arsenal's title challenge.

Fun fact: Drogba has scored 12 goals in 12 appearances against Arsenal.

Arsenal have never won a game against Chelsea in which Drogba didn't play.

Set Pieces Will Always Harm Arsenal

Defending in the box with a lare number of people always leaves Arsenal panicking. Song and Clichy were lost for the first goal.

It's Almost 2012 in Arsenal

I heard a sarcastic comment today from a friend who supports Chelsea.

He said, "Arsenal are the most consistent team in the big four, consistently winning no trophies, and Arsene Wenger is happy about the consistent potential the squad is showing."

That statement shocked me: Not the former, but the latter part of it. Wenger has no pressure to win trophies. If he did, three years ago, when Arsenal finished 21 points behind the league leaders, he would have been sacked. His policies are failing to achieve utility, and he is at risk of losing his best player in the summer.

This complacency is not all Wenger's fault; every single player in the first team except the right wing slot have assured first-team positions.

Everybody seems immune, and when you are immune, complacency steps in and bad performances creep in. Arsenal shouldn't be recommended to fill the squad, but players who are winners and determined to succeed should push the squad forward—and it has to start with the manager.

Also, Wenger reportedly tried to sign a player on deadline day. What a way to make a statement for the rest of the season.

The end is near.

The Highlights of the game can be seen here.

Drobga's interview can be read here.