If Samir Nasri is to be deployed as a central midfielder he has to do much better defensively, Anelka brushed him aside and Nasri almost looked like he was casually jogging back

Match Review – Arsenal 1 Chelsea 4 – Premier League

We have seen this before I’m afraid, not too long ago as well which makes it a bitter pill to swallow. I don’t just mean defeat against one of our rivals in a crunch game but an end of season collapse which I am sure Wenger will set aside some time to sit down and think about what the problem is with this squad and then attempt to sort it out. In the cold light of day, the fixture yesterday was pretty much meaningless as I couldn’t imagine Chelsea losing another game after us if we managed to beat them so it was more about pride and bouncing back from the disappointment of midweek.

In fact the game had a slight resemblance to the game against Manchester United at the Emirates, the difference on Sunday afternoon was that we kept the ball in their half longer than we did against United. We started at the same positive high tempo that we did in the Champions League. This time it took us just a matter of seconds before we were causing the opposition problems. Theo Walcott played a one-two with Van Persie straight from kick off and managed to get himself through on goal, a Chelsea defender meant that Walcott had to check his run and his attempted shot was high and not very handsome. A great chance and great start to the game from the home side.

Lampard had an early strike wide but it was all Arsenal, Cesc and Nasri were switching beautifully from the position behind Van Persie and center midfield.

On 12 minutes Arsenal really should have been ahead, Nasri slipped in Walcott down the right with a lovely disguised pass. Walcott crossed to the edge of the 6 yard box where Cesc and Diaby were standing unmarked. Cesc could have side footed in on his right foot but Diaby stuck out his left foot and poked it wide. Had Diaby of left the ball for Cesc then it should have been the opening goal.

Chelsea could not get into the game, they were being dominated by Arsenal’s wonderful movement and passing, Chelsea playing Mikel and Essien in midfield were doing their best to disrupt our football and were doing a good job of it but we were still able to create chances.

I was wondering how Arsene planned to fit everyone into the team before kick off and it was Adebayor who had been left on the bench for Van Persie who was given the task of playing the lone striker. An interesting choice, especially when it came to substitutions, but we shall come to that later.

Theo Walcott had another great chance before 20 minutes when Abou Diaby ghosted past Alex in the box from the left and crossed to Theo who side footed wide when in yet another fantastic goal scoring position. It could have easily been 3-0 to Arsenal on another day but woeful finishing let the side down badly.

Not taking our chances when dominating isn’t a new phenomenon when it comes to Arsenal football club, it is times like that when you curse at your luck with injuries to key personnel. Eduardo Da Silva is almost without doubt the best finisher in our squad but unfortunately for Arsenal he has played less than 5 games for Arsenal since his horrific leg break last season.

A couple of minutes later Chelsea had their best chance of the game Ashley Cole cut the ball back from the byline to Frenchman Malouda who had his shot saved by Fabianski. Fabianski had replaced Manuel Almunia who was out with an ankle injury. Supporters with a vivid imagination could link Almunia’s absence with Arsene’s comments to the press about players not being managers after the Spaniard’s call for experience in the current squad. However it would be highly unlikely that our manager would drop a player for giving his honest personal opinion of our current squad.

Alex Song was next in line to miss from close range after swivelling in the box but he fired wide of the post.

A few minutes later Drogba did what he does best and no it is not scoring goals or using his physical power, it was falling on the floor to con the referee. Cesc Fabregas hardly made any contact on the Ivorian.

To add insult to injury it was Drogba who took the free kick from a wide position and curled it into a player who has tormented us on more than one occasion in his PSV days. Brazilian defender Alex leapt head and shoulders above Silvestre to glance a perfectly angled header off the underside of the crossbar and into Fabianski’s net. Insanely against the run of play.

Bosingwa cleared off the line from Van Persie ten minutes before half time following a good move between Gibbs, Walcott and the Dutchman.

It was Nicolas Anelka who stuck the knife further into Arsenal 5 minutes before the break. He received the ball around the half way line brushed past Nasri and had acres of space to line up a shot, he did just that and swerved a powerful drive past Fabianski for 2-0.

Chelsea’s goals pretty much summed up our defensive season. The first a set piece that was not dealt with in the air by our team, the second our players not closing down the opposition and allowing a strike on goal.

If Samir Nasri is to be deployed as a central midfielder he has to do much better defensively, Anelka brushed him aside and Nasri almost looked like he was casually jogging back.

Theo Walcott had a half to forget as he missed yet another chance minutes from the end of the first half. Anelka could have added yet another but for the legs of Fabianski.

If the half finished Arsenal 5 Chelsea 2 then you really wouldn’t have been surprised judging by the chances created in the first half. Arsenal had 45 minutes to get back into the game and not concede anymore goals.

4 minutes into the second half the game was over. Kolo Toure diverted Ashley Cole’s cross past Fabianski who came rushing off his line to meet the ball. Embarrassing defensive team play but our team.

A Van Persie drive saved, and Fabregas volley over the bar could not get Arsenal back into the game.

Theo Walcott dragged yet another great chance wide when in a great position to either square for Van Persie or fire into the bottom corner.

Nothing that the young Englishman was coming off. He was predictable when in possession of the ball, often choosing to go outside his man instead of varying his play but cutting inside opponents. This was evident when the Chelsea players read his same move almost every time.

Bendtner replaced Diaby who did not have a very good game, Diaby is often critised for holding onto the ball for too long and unfortunately those criticisms can be directed at him again. Give Diaby space to turn and he is one of the best players at the club, close him down and deny him time and he can be one of our worst.

Walcott and Song came off for Adebayor and Denilson.

On 70 minutes we finally put that round thing in between those sticks with the net type thing in it.

Nasri twisted and turned on the right and fed it back to Sagna who for once supplied an inch perfect cross to Bendtner who showed the right commitment to fight to win the header and planted it past Cech.

Bendtner had another effort on goal four minutes later but his header was not powerful enough to beat the Chelsea keeper.

Arsenal kept knocking on the Chelsea door without any answer, Van Persie and Silvestre coming close but not close enough.

Four minutes from time the nightmare afternoon was sealed. Malouda fired in from close range after Anelka hit the post.

Wenger said after the game that it was never a 4-1 game and in a way he is right, we should have scored more than one goal but when your defence looks like you have thrown four random people together and ask them to defend against some of the best players in the world then you will be shown up.

I think the experienced card is slightly overused but I certainly feel that organisation is missing from our defence. We need a speaker, someone to shout at the central midfielders to drop back ten yards, someone to tell his left back to push out and keep in line. I do not believe we have a natural organiser at the back and that has been hurting us this season.

As much as it is not acceptable to defend like that we have to remember that William Gallas has been our best center back, especially since his fantastic form since January. Gael Clichy is a regular established defender who knows his team mates and Manuel Almunia is still our number one goalkeeper. They were all missing from our defence and we were punished.

Just to add some perspective to our recent results. We conceded one goal to Manchester United at the Emirates in the league, one at home to Liverpool and one away at Stamford Bridge.

Manchester United are likely to be champions and have had patches of bad defending like shipping in four at home to Liverpool and three at home to Hull so it can happen. It does however look like we need a stronger selection of defenders when the usual injury crisis kicks in.

We have a trip to Old Trafford soon so the defensive pressure will not be over just yet. We can certainly expect tweaks and changes in the summer months, especially with the ACN coming up.