Chelsea Holds Arsenal to Lackluster 0-0 Draw: A Fan's Reaction

Posted Sunday, April 22, 2012 by YAHOO Sport

This was a contest where the match did not live up to the hype. Arsenal put nearly no pressure on Chelsea at the beginning of the match. The Gunners passing seemed a fraction off throughout both halves in their 0-0 draw.

For Arsene Wenger's sack, there was no time wasting by Chelsea. In the 13th minute, Theo Walcott delivered a perfect free kick to Robin Van Persie in a great area that the captain just missed outside the right post. It was a good stop by Chelsea's goalkeeper, but a shot that close to the goal is usually an automatic for Van Persie. He gave it a weak kick with the outside of his left foot. About two feet out, it should've been an easy finish.

Arsenal suffered from miscommunication in their passing as Chelsea attacked down the left side throughout the entire match. I don't know what it was about the left side, but Chelsea exploited all day. Maybe they saw a weakness early in the Gunners' defense?

The expectations for this match were huge and it promised, on paper, thrills. It never lived up the heady billing, unless you're a fan who loves defense. There were lots and lots of that. The buildup to an anxious final in the race for the top four is heating up. And when the race is as competitive as it is, you don't want to see just defense.

Neither club in this lackluster contest seemed like they wanted to do any damage. Chelsea had a lot of opportunities to score but nothing developed. Arsenal could never find a way through. Chelsea had three players in the center of the field to make sure no Arsenal midfielders could take control, and their back four stayed very compressed. Chelsea's defense was very controlled and closed off any window the Gunners had of scoring. They frustrated Arsenal.

Three minutes before halftime, Arsenal had a chance to take the lead when Van Persie lofted a free-kick that Koscielny tried to guide in the goal with a header, but instead it rattled the post. The Gunners failed to utilize the chances Chelsea gave them to dominate the match.

I thought Chelsea was the club that was coming in banged up? From the looks of it, Arsenal was the team that appeared sluggish. The Gunners did look a little livelier in the second half. Maybe that Chelsea fatigue that everyone was chatting about finally was showing.

Arsenal can be satisfied that they have taken four points from Manchester City and Chelsea at Emirates Stadium; the two biggest clubs that they had to play down the stretch.

With Newcastle on Arsenal's heels, every club left on the schedule will give the Gunners their best game. There is still a lot of work to be done for Wenger's squad.