From a position where we were really the only true challengers to Manchester United for the league title last month, we now face a battle on two fronts. The challenge for the title is still on but if we were to slip up, then we have to be wary about a resurgent Chelsea who is fast closing up on our second position. Their 3-1 win over West Bromwich Albion yesterday means that the Blues are only 1 point behind us. Our game in hand is against the Scums at White Hart Lane so it is far from a guaranteed three points. Any slip up in the remaining games will see them overtaking us.
I watched the Chelsea game and it was a comfortable win for the blues. Unlike our visit to the Hawthorns where we had to battle from two goals back, the game was literally sealed in the first half where all the goals were scored. The West Brom defense were severely lacking in this match. It just goes to show our attack failed to put them under pressure in the draw late last month.
It felt to me that the Baggies were intimated or even afraid of playing Chelsea. It was this factor that caused the players to play under the strain of not conceding and the belief that they WILL NOT win the game. I guess that is the way teams like Chelsea and Manchester United always have it with the lower ranked teams. It was the same with us when we had that aura of the Invincibles. Now when teams like WBA or Newcastle play us, we give them hope with our woeful defending and lack of clinical finishing so they come at us and play better, hoping to create an upset which they often do. We need to get back this intimidation factor if we are going to be successful as the early Wenger years.
Submitted by The Arsenal Kid
