Michael Essien: Arsenal "Pretty" Ineffective

Michael Essien’s never been backward about coming forward with an opinion.

 

Usually these predictions make me cringe a bit at the time because I’ve come to learn—unlike the player himself—that they have a nasty habit of coming back to bite him on arse.

 

This time however, in an interview for the BBC’s Inside Sport programme, the Chelsea midfielder has made some comments about the opposition that I’m going to agree with.

 

I admit that, until I see them in the context of the whole interview, my general impression is that Michael Essien just might not be cut out for a career as a PR guru, even if he is bloody funny sometimes. But that still doesn’t stop me agreeing with what he’s had to say on this occasion.

 

If you forget the fact that, like a lot of sides, Arsenal are capable of raising their game against the top clubs, some of their results have been anything but "Championship winning", so criticism is bound to follow. And according to our injured midfielder this is because they’re all style and no substance.

 

Essien says, "Everybody likes to watch beautiful football, but to play beautiful football without points is… I don’t think it’s worth it. Arsenal is one of those teams that just plays beautiful football, but at the end of the day they don’t get the points that they want to."

 

And the Chelsea man isn’t wrong, is he? Yes, they’re good to watch, but how successful have they been in the last few years by playing this way? Are they winners or entertainers? Answers on the back of a stamp if you must.

 

Not that I’d rush in and suggest Chelsea are playing much better football and still getting the points—yet—because even Arsenal have bagged plenty of points in the early part of a season before.

 

It’s sustaining the challenge that sees them fall by the wayside lately, as it could for us. And yet, I still think that when it comes to the long haul, Chelsea have something Arsenal’s youngsters don’t and that’s versatility.

 

Or as Michael Essien puts it when asked about his priorities: "For me, I don’t care.  To be rough and get three points, or play well and get three points—win ugly or beautifully—I don’t care."

 

Sadly for Arsenal fans, their lot might well look good in the shop window but like all mannequins, they don’t actually do anymore than that.

 

Michael Essien’s full interview can be seen on BBC’s Inside Sport (BBC1), tonight at 23:05 (GMT).