1. Same old Arsenal
SPEAKING AHEAD OF today’s game with Chelsea, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said the following:
“We have shown since that last game that we can do it and that we can face big fights.
“We have improved on that front. But we have to combine the fighting spirit with a relaxed attitude and a controlled attitude.
“We have to be controlled. Discipline is very important.
“We can master and control our own behaviour, so what is important is that we focus on us.”
And indeed discipline did prove to be very important in today’s match with Chelsea, but unfortunately for Wenger, Arsenal came up short in that regard not for the first time.
Per Mertesacker became the seventh Arsenal player in the Premier League history to be sent off against Chelsea — the Gunners have more red cards against them than any other club — after committing a rash early challenge on Diego Costa to prevent the striker running through on goal.
It was a moment that changed the game and Arsenal never looked likely to win the match thereafter, as Chelsea nervously emerged with their fourth victory in the past six league matches with Arsenal.
And despite Wenger’s insistence that his side have changed their ways, there was a sense of déjà vu about this afternoon’s game at the Emirates, as the Gunners ultimately cracked amid the pressure of a big match.
Consequently, you are left wondering whether Arsenal have really improved much at all this season, or perhaps their current standing just three points off the top of the table is more a reflection of their rivals’ considerable drop in standard of late.
2. Everton their own worst enemy again
Once again, Everton were their own worst enemies as they slipped to a 2-1 defeat to Swansea at Goodison Park today.
The Toffees produced an inept, lethargic display that caused the home crowd to get on the team’s backs early on.
The hosts’ woe was epitomised by John Stones doing his best to dispel rumours of an alleged £50 million price tag put on the England international, with a woefully underhit backpass, which led to the penalty for the visitors’ first goal.
The performance summed up Everton’s season in many respects, as a phenomenally talented squad, by Premier League standards, were let down by silly defensive errors.
Roberto Martinez will therefore need to rectify the poor form of Stones and his coterie of underachievers at the club soon — 12th place is simply not good enough for a side with the Toffees’ quality, and the Spanish manager is likely to come under pressure if results don’t improve imminently.
3. Fabregas and Costa starting to look back to their best
Beating Arsenal at the Emirates today was arguably Chelsea’s best result of the season so far. However, the win could not be described as a ‘convincing’ one.
Even against 10 men, Guus Hiddink’s team looked overly cautious and pragmatically held on to their advantage rather than genuinely attempting to consolidate it.
That said, there were positives for the Blues. Diego Costa scored his sixth goal in six games (under Mourinho, he managed only four in 20 earlier this season), highlighting his improvement in recent weeks with an opportunistic strike, just after Mertesacker’s dismissal, on 23 minutes.
Similarly impressive was man-of-the-match Cesc Fabregas, who completed 66 passes and was unlucky not to win a penalty amid an influential display from the 28-year-old midfielder against his former club.
After the game, Fabregas told Sky he was “nearly” back to his best, and it was hard to disagree based on today’s display.
Reignited the debate?? I can tell ya there’s fxck all debate in Kilkenny anyway
Who would be considered next in line for the job down there?
It won’t be anyone too far outside the camp…probably James mcgarry I’d imagine
Get won’t ever have the problem of staying on too long as a manager anywhere.
@GoT: Brian Cody’s baseball cap
Davy fitz has signalled his intentions after his Wexford jig is up.
Jig is more appropriate description!
At the moment: there will be debate when they are hammered again next year
Obviously it’s gonna be hard for KK when Cody goes, but that’ll be the case regardless of whether it’s next year or ten years from now. Hard to know what Ger’s point is.
@Lurfic: It was a nonsense argument where he drew parallels between the world of football and inter-county hurling, which were neither here nor there.
Ger is missing the limelight since the championship finished so he has to generate some interest in himself! Based on the experiences in 2001, 05, 10 and 13, it’s not even a debate that Cody stays to turn things around. The question could be posed in 2 years time if no further AI’s are won but not now. Go home Ger, you’re drunk!
He’s ahead of the game. It’s unlikely they will win anything next year.
It’s fair points and I see comparisons but cody is staying for 2 reasons Imo. He must feel he has something coming through and 2 he doesn’t want to end his reign on a loss to tipp in a AI final. Now in saying that if kk collapse next year he could be gone but he has all the time in the world to manage inter county as he’s retired
I gave up making opinions on Brian Cody tbh.Every time that people say that he and his KK team is finished,is ultimately the time that they go off and win.Its like they thrive on people doubting they’re ability to win after a big setback
And its Ger Loughnane saying it, a man who has done diddly squat compared to Cody. I doubt Brian will lie awake tonight worrying about what Ger thinks
Loughnane is a prat , likes to think he has some knowledge of current hurling, he’s living in the past a long time now, but in fairness getting well paid for it, the big mutton head
No great fan of Loughnane’s but in fairness his achievement of winning 2 All Irelands with a bunch of lads who had won feck all at underage deserves respect.
Cody can do as he likes in KK I would imagine.
At the end of the day, after Cody goes its up to the underage structures in Killkenny to keep the talent coming through. look at the KK clubs constantly doing well in Leinster.
The comparison with Fergie sums it all up. Those who came after Fergie had about half a billion to spend. Those who come after Cody will have the talent that KK have produced.
Outside of Kilkenny, other counties would be queuing up for Cody’s services! Brilliant manager, and as long as he remains interested, it is rubbish to suggest that he would serve his county best by walking away! Put it this way, who would do a better job in KK? Loughnane just being his usual contentious self imo!
Kk won 4 of the last 6 all Irelands.. why would he go ???