Arsenal Vs Chelsea: Gunners could fall into midfield chasm

Arsenal face Chelsea on Sunday afternoon in a crucial Premier League tie. If they are to have any success, they must fall into a midfield chasm as they have done in the past, most recently against Liverpool in a four-goal thumping.

Arsenal’s issues against the top sides in the Premier League has been much publicised. And justifiably so. They have, quite frankly, been terrible. And their most recent away trip to a top six side, travelling to Anfield to face Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, was a prime example of that.

Arsene Wenger, in his usual naivety and innocence, played with a seeming disinterest towards the defensive side of the game. He set up his team as he always has: attack first; play attractive, forward-thinking football; lack any awareness of the threat of the counter-attack.

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The most concerning issues have come in the midfield areas, central and wide. Against Liverpool, it was Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Hector Bellerin who pervaded either flank as wing-backs. But because of their attacking intent, they were often caught too far up the pitch, with vast spaces left in the wide channels. That often left either wide centre-half forced to come wide to close down Saido Mane and Mohamed Salah. The pace of the Liverpool wingers caused the Gunners’ fits and were instrumental in the four-goal thumping.

Moreover, in central areas, Aaron Ramsey was far too attacking in his positioning, willing to bomb forward with reckless abandon, leaving Granit Xhaka, who is painfully immobile with a partner holding their position, never mind without, isolated and unable to cover the necessary ground to provide protection for an already stretched and exposed back three.

Against Chelsea, a side who are famed for their vicious counter-attacks, on which their title victory was founded on last season, if the same naïve approach is taken with a chasm in midfield, then Antonio Conte’s side will exploit it with devastating effect.

Xhaka is perhaps the most important player on Sunday. He must do what he has been unable so far against the better sides. He must bring a defensive protection in front of the back three, especially when Chelsea are able to turn the ball over and are looking to break quickly. That is where they are at their most dangerous.

Meanwhile, Ramsey cannot be as naïve and innocent as he was against Liverpool. His gung-ho attitude left Xhaka utterly helpless. The breaking runs of Emre Can and Georginio Wijnaldum were unattended and unchecked, with space to surge into, exploiting Arsenal’s vulnerability.

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If, as the club and Wenger have protested, a title challenge is possible this season, then they must prove that they are able to challenge the other top sides away from home. So far, they have been unable to do that. On Sunday, they have another chance to prove otherwise, but if they play with the same midfield chasm as against Liverpool, then the same questions will again be asked.