Arsenal Vs Chelsea: 5 things we learned – Excellent result; troubling developments

Arsenal, Shkodran Mustafi — LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 03: Shkodran Mustafi of Arsenal reacts during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Emirates Stadium on January 3, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Arsenal travelled to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea in the first leg of the semi-final of the Carabao Cup. Here are five things we learned from the 0-0 draw.

Arsenal battled their way to another Stamford Bridge 0-0 draw. At the stadium that Jose Mourinho made his name, the ‘Specialist in Failure’ very much modelled his side on his adversary’s infamous bus-parking tactics. Arsene Wenger clearly implemented a defence-first strategy and, for the most part, it worked. There were inevitable moments of good fortune. But Arsenal were able to repel the increasingly pressurising waves of Chelsea attacks, and now look forward to a return leg at the Emirates where Wembley is very much in sight.

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Here are five things we learned from the intriguing, if not exciting, 0-0 draw.

Arsenal, Calum Chambers — LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 03: Calum Chambers of Arsenal in action during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Emirates Stadium on January 3, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

5. The plucky defence turns up

Thanks to injuries to Nacho Monreal and Laurent Koscielny, Wenger was forced to rely on his young defenders once more. Shkodran Mustafi, as always, anchored the defence, flanked by Calum Chambers and Rob Holding, the latter of which had had a torrid time chasing after Ben Brereton for 90 minutes on Sunday.

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Collectively and individually, the trio were excellent. They combined for five interceptions, four tackles, eight blocks, and a massive 20 clearances. Chelsea, who had 54.4% of the possession and controlled the game for long periods, certainly tried to pile the pressure on Arsenal. This was a backs-to-the-wall job, and the Gunners’ back-three did it wonderfully.

I would like to single out Holding for special praise. Irrespective of his recent struggles, which culminated against Nottingham Forest, Holding was excellent. He made a number of key blocks from wide crosses, he guarded the near-post bravely when Victor Moses was able to beat Ainsley Maitland-Niles, and his reading of the game seemed to aide his lack of mobility, even against the shimmying and the shaking of a player like Eden Hazard. All three were very good, which is somewhat of a surprise.