ARSENAL LEAVE STAMFORD BRIDGE IN TROUBLED WATERS!

Chelsea have always been an annoying club. From my younger days when I remember they always seemed to take the lead over us only for us to go on and win (I have no idea how often this was the case, it's just what my early memories are telling me), to ruining our invincible season under George Graham by being responsible for our only loss, to knocking our jaded team out of the Champions League at Highbury in a year we were good enough to win it, and then destroying the plans of Arsenal capitalising on their period of success in building a new stadium with a certain Russian turning up and changing the landscape of financial fair play with a team who success up to then was attracting a crowd of over 20k in a stadium that had cars parked behind the goals, and were owned by a chairman who had to be convinced by the FA that electric shock fences in the terraces being installed was probably not a great idea, a man who ended up running the club to the ground before said Russian saved the day thus preventing a new Tesco being built in West London.

We all know how it worked out for Chelsea, and those dark days are either a distant memory for some whilst not even being that for many more. However, it's all change at the Bridge with a new chairman, and not so long later a new manager. Having a new manager is something the fans have grown used to, however a new chairman having some restraints on financial capabilities will be a shock to the system with the previous appearing to have unlimited funds. And it appears the signs are that the cracks are already appearing.

Let us be clear, the new Chairman flew in and took no time in showing his financial muscle. He spent an eye watering £278m! And then after spending this amount he soon sacked the manager. In fact Aubameyang signed for Chelsea days before Tuchel left the club.! The question therefore is, who decided on these players? If the manager, how can the club decide to sack him so early? It is like spending fortunes decorating your house to your style, and then moving out as soon as it has finished. If the Chairman, well maybe that explains why the players in question have been found so lacking. They currently sit 7th in the league 13 points behind the leaders (wonder who they are?) and have allowed their fans to witness their team to be torn apart by Leeds, Brighton and now Arsenal.

That may sound like a bold statement, torn apart by Arsenal, it was only 0-1. Anyone watching the game however realises that the score line only tells half the story. I cannot remember a game against Chelsea where Arsenal were so comfortable. We were able to cut through Chelsea with ease such was the quality of the football. It is a complete mystery, a very frustrating mystery, how the score line was not more, much more!!

Chelsea looked lost. Stirling looks a shadow of his former self as he caused no problems to an Arsenal defence usually in fear of him when wearing a light blue shirt. Aubameyang was being starved of any service and as we know scoring goals is basically all he offers, his number of touches being in single figures only emphasises this point. Compare this to Jesus who was seen all over the pitch helping out in defence and creating mayhem up front. It was him winning the ball that led to the corner where Arsenal scored from.

So Chelsea fans have great memories of glory, but are we about to see everything crashing down? They have a bright new manager in Graham Potter. but will he be given time? Is he really up for the job with no real experience of running a club and players which such high demands. I have already heard Chelsea fans say the job is too big for him. Fans who have to come to terms with the cash pipeline not flowing as well, and who may now also have to alter their expectations on what their team can actually achieve! It will be very interesting to see how things pan out.

But let us turn our attention to the team at the top of the league. How enjoyable was Sunday exactly? Arguably the best performance under Arteta. Commanding, controlling, entertaining, solid, simply brilliant! It's a joy to behold to see the team celebrating together after games, it is clear they have such a strong bond - the celebrating police must be fuming.

When you look around the team there are simply no weaknesses. The balance in midfield has allowed Xhaka to bring in his international form next to Partay who is now showing his just how good he is, and he is so very very good! Saliba is proving to a complete rock in defence, he looks so much in control whilst White has kicked all his critics into touch and must be already starting to pack for Qatar.

REF WATCH!

It is a simple concept. Contact between players does not always mean it is a foul. If only the referee and the VAR referee had this concept in mind when De Bruyne cheated Fulham out of a draw when he made his dramatic Platoon-esque dive after minimal if any contact on the back of his foot. It blows my mind at how a referee looking at this incident on their screen cannot see how blatant this dive was. Incredibly it turns out to have been a replica of a penalty shout in the Nottingham Forest v Brentford match which was rightly waved on. Consistency has always been an issue with refereeing but it appears to have reached new heights despite the technology at their disposal.

So, just one league game to go, away to Wolves. Win this we will be able to enjoy the World Cup with Arsenal sitting pretty at the top of the table. And then it will be a case of how we hit the ground running. This team is clearly special....just how special will they make this season?

Speak soon, thanks for reading - please subscribe if you enjoyed reading.

Thankyou,

Rob. - @gooner145