Chelsea vs. Arsenal: Player Grades for the Blues

Chelsea’s title hopes took a serious hit Saturday, as they were thrashed at home by their North London rivals, Arsenal, 5-3. The Blues have not been the strong side they were expected to be going into the season as of late, but this loss was nothing less than a complete humiliation.

Chances abounded for both sides, but Arsenal were the ones that took most of the opportunities—especially Robin van Persie, who added to his team-leading total with a hat trick.

The game started well for the hosts, as Frank Lampard showed his skill with a neat header into the low corner after Juan Mata delivered a brilliant cross.

Van Persie would level the score only 20 minutes later. Gervinho had beaten the unsure Chelsea back line. He and van Persie were left to face Petr Cech all alone. Gervinho slid the ball over to the Dutchman, who had nothing more to do than tap it in.

However, the Blues would take the lead just before the break thanks to a Lampard corner. As he has done so many times before, he put an ideal ball into the box. Fellow countryman John Terry latched on to the end of it and volleyed in a crucial goal.

The first half was tense for both back sides, but it would be Arsenal who made the necessary adjustments in the locker room. It would only take three minutes for Arsenal’s Santos to get behind Jose Bosingwa and tie the game up at 2-2.

Less than 10 minutes later, a combination of hard running and woeful defending from a handful of Chelsea players let Theo Walcott into the box, where he unlatched a furious shot that beat Cech on his near side.

With time winding down and Villas-Boas pulling out all the stops, Mata would score a controversial goal. His dipping shot from 25 yards out should never have happened according to Gunner fans, as they felt Santos had been fouled only seconds earlier.

With the match tied at 3-3, it never quite seemed that that would be the way the match would end. Unfortunately for the hosts, it would be Arsenal that would take advantage of some misfortune. Florent Malouda’s poor pass back to Terry led to the captain slipping and allowing van Persie in the goal all alone. He would score with ease to give Arsenal the lead yet again.

With Chelsea pushing forward in the dying moments, the Gunners got men up on the counter and van Persie would complete his hat trick to secure the game.

Chelsea had the chance to prove any doubters wrong about the seriousness of contending for the title. Instead, they will go home knowing that they may have cost themselves that chance, as well as still being unable to claim a marquee win this season. Villas-Boas will have to take a long hard look at this result and figure out what will change if they wish to turn the corner on the remainder of this campaign.

Petr Cech: C

Cech did not make any catastrophic blunders, but he did have one of his worst games in recent memory. The goal given up to Santos was not his fault, but it seems like he could have done better.

He then went on to be beaten twice on his near post. This was a very uncharacteristic performance for a player that Chelsea usually relies on to bail them out of their mistakes.

Definitely not the one to blame for the result, but had he stopped at least one of those three goals, you must figure that it really could have changed the outcome of the game.

Ashley Cole: C+

Cole started out brilliantly, especially on the attack. He had great pace down the flank and looked as if he would create enough chances for the team to win.

But by the end of the first half, he was slowing down and having trouble with the Arsenal forwards. He was in on that crowd that allowed Walcott to get up from a face-down position on the turf to score.

John Terry: C-

Terry never quite seemed to be at ease in this match. From the start, Arsenal was getting behind the line and should have had one or two goals within the opening 20 minutes.

The goal he scored saved some face and looked to be the catalyst that Chelsea needed going into the half. His slip was not wholly his fault, but was an unlucky mistake that will be the talking point of the match.

Branislav Ivanovic: D+

Ivanovic was as woeful in the defense as Terry.

Both players were not as strong on challenges as has been expected of them. He played a high line as he was instructed to do, but it just did not work, as he consistently held forwards inadvertently onside.

He was not responsible for any goals directly, but when you give up five goals, the center backs must be criticized.

Jose Bonsingwa: D

Like Cole, Bonsingwa got off to a great start on the attack, but he quickly deteriorated into his old self. His defense, which has always been under question, was exposed more than ever today. He held forwards onside far too often and was never aware of the players making runs behind him, especially on Santos’ goal.

Villas-Boas needs to take a hard look at Bosingwa and decide how much longer he is willing to play the defensive liability in favor of his attacking presence.

Jon Obi Mikel: B-

Mikel played strong for a majority of the match as the defensive midfielder. He was confident in tackles and held the midfield down. His passes strayed at times, but was nothing that led to direct goals.

Ultimately, his grade is based more on the result than on his personal performance. His being sacrificed as Chelsea looked for goals led to two more, which just showed how important Mikel was in containing the Arsenal attack.

Ramires: B-

Ramires was not quite the same player he has been, but not far off from it either.

He was energetic as usual and played well from box-to-box. He won plenty of tackles and stymied any counter from the middle, although I'm not quite sure sacrificing him as they pushed for a late goal was the best choice.

Frank Lampard: B

A goal, an assist and what should have been one more for each on a brilliant over-the-top pass and a well-saved free kick proved again that any doubters of the aging legend should bite their tongues in shame.

Lampard’s experience was the only positive on the pitch for the full 90 minutes.

Juan Mata: B-

Mata's assist on Lampard’s goal and his own tally were well played and timely. However, he was absent far too often—especially in the middle of the game.

You knew Arsenal would go into the game knowing that if they could shut the Spaniard down, they would have a good chance of winning. It was the first time Mata really had to work hard to get onto the ball and make things happen.

From here on out, he and Villas-Boas must realize that he is the key to the Chelsea offense and, if they wish to win, they must get him on the ball for the full 90 minutes.

Daniel Sturridge: D

Yet again, Villas-Boas’ decision to start the youngster in such a high-profile matchup will be in question.

Sturridge was quick and fast down the flank at the beginning and got behind the defense. However, his choices in the end let him down.

Poor and late crosses had Chelsea missing on chances to go up in the opening minutes of the game and take control. His horrid shot after Lampard sent him through left all Chelsea fans scratching their heads.

After those early moments, he became obsolete and his subbing was as much out of pity as anything.

Fernando Torres: D

Many expected Torres's recent form to finally translate into a meaningful game. Instead, the Spaniard resorted right back to the disappointing self he has been when it matters most.

As a central striker in a match that featured eight goals and horrid defending, it is simply unacceptable that you are not even mentioned in the write-up. He was out of sync with his teammates today and runs were pointless. He attempted to dribble defenders, but nothing came of it.

Those who saw Drogba’s suspension as the biggest thing Chelsea would have to overcome today were proven correct.

Florent Malouda (62nd Minute for Sturridge): C-

Malouda did not do much to help his cause of getting regular playing time. He was brought in to help provide a new dynamic to the attack, but was slow and imprecise playing his weaker side.

His poor pass back to Terry led to what would be the crippling goal against the Blues. It is becoming quite clear that unless Anelka or Drogba are on the pitch with him, there is no reason to even entertain the idea of playing Malouda.

Romelu Lukaku (72nd Minute for Ramires): C

Lukaku continued to struggle for his new side and was not helped by the fact that he was playing out of position on the wing.

His inexperience showed from almost the moment of his introduction. He was strong going shoulder-to-shoulder, but was not able to dribble any of the Arsenal defenders and made runs that isolated him away from the ball.

It was a lot to ask of the teenager to come in and salvage a win, and it certainly did not work out the way Villas-Boas had hoped.

Raul Meireles (76th Minute for Mikel): D

A terrible substitution. Meireles did nothing in the way of supporting the attack, as was expected upon his introduction.

His touches were poor and his passing even worse. Foolishly falling on his butt and trying to kick the Arsenal player in the chest, as opposed to getting up and tracking him down, led to the final decisive goal that put the game out of reach.

How would you grade Chelsea's performance against Arsenal?