Although I'm obviously happy with the result (and clean sheet) against Chelsea yesterday, I didn't get that total sense of satisfaction in winning that game compared to other games where we've beaten them.
The reason for that is because of how insipid and spiritless Chelsea were. It didn't feel like a competitive game, it had more of a pre-season feel to it.
Not being funny, but in terms of an overall attacking display, that's one of the worst Chelsea performances I can remember. Because even when we've beaten Chelsea in previous games, they've shown a lot more meaningful attacking threat. Not once did I ever feel threatened by Chelsea's attack in that match.
Both teams had 13 shots each in that game, but they had 1 on target. And it came in the 82nd minute from Alonso which Leno saved easily.
That display from them yesterday was reminiscent of how Arsenal used to play against United or Chelsea from 2009-2015; dominating the ball, getting into good positions, but passing it without any purpose or conviction. It was way too easy to defend against.
Our defence really isn't that good, yet everything Chelsea threw our way was food and drink for Koscielny/Sokratis. And though we did defend better than we have done in previous games, our defence wasn't really tested. To give a 30-year old and 33-year old centre-back pairing such a straightforward evening should say it all.
If Sarri started with Giroud, put Hazard on the left and played Kante in his natural CDM role, they would have had a far better chance of getting something from the game. Instead, Giroud came on with 20 minutes to go, Hazard was moved back into his natural position too late and we were happy to just shut the game down.
Then he comes out and criticises his own players to the media without taking any responsibility for the defeat.
Sarri's stubbornness and tactical rigidity is going to be his downfall. And we all know how it ends for managers who start lambasting their players in public...
