Before this game, I had a feeling it might prove an opportunity to enhance Arsenal’s goal difference, and in the event that Manchester City draw one of their six remaining matches, we could end up with a situation in which three teams finish on 89 points, in which case such wins as the Gunners registered last night against Chelsea could prove highly significant.
Arsenal’s history has been shaped by goal difference, and before that goal average. The 1971 title was decided (fortunately) on the latter – otherwise Leeds United would have been champions. In 1989, beating Liverpool at Anfield 2-0 in the final game meant Arsenal’s goal difference was superior – simply because they had scored more goals than Liverpool, the actual difference being identical. The club have history for narrow triumphs, and who is to say we won’t see a similar situation less than four weeks from now? The bookies for one, who still have Manchester City as firm favourites, at 5-4 on.
All Arsenal can do is put the pressure on, and the performance at home last night indicated they are not about to let up. The Champions League elimination to Bayern, and the setback of the home defeat to Villa look to have been processed and with two wins in two potentially tricky games, it feels like Arteta has got his team back on track.
It’s ironic that Arsenal’s Champions League exit, along with the European adventures of three other English sides coming to an end last week, might make the fixtures of both Manchester City and Liverpool a little more challenging. Villa entertain Liverpool on Monday 13th May, whilst Tottenham host Manchester City the following evening. Sunday 12th sees Arsenal visit Old Trafford. Hopefully Gooners will have good reason to find all three games nailbiters. The ideal scenario would see Spurs still in with a chance of fourth place when they face Pep Guardiola’s team, and the incentive of that seeing them raise their game. All ifs and buts, the only certainty being that the Gunners cannot drop any points between now and the end of the season, because you get the sense that at least one of the other two title challengers won’t.
Reflecting on yesterday evening’s game, it was an absolute joy, and key to the fluidity and unpredictability of Arsenal’s attacking game was Thomas Partey starting the game surrounded by first choice players, unlike the Luton game when Mikel Arteta selected him in an eleven without Saka or Odegaard. The Ghanaian was immense in terms of keeping the ball moving and keeping Chelsea guessing. There were many standout performances, not least the tireless Odegaard. Rice, Ben White and Tomiyasu were also exceptional in a top drawer display that did have the look of a team destined for the title. If only it were that simple.
The early goal from Trossard after Rice had driven into the box to set him up eased nerves, although after that, the Gunners had some excellent chances to score, only to be foiled by Petrovic in the Chelsea goal. Much as the home side dominated proceedings in possession and chances, the visitors did pose a threat on a number of occasions, especially on the counter-attack. In terms of the result, a clean sheet might not have been necessary, but psychologically you feel it is important. Not only for the goal difference, but the fact that the defensive solidity of the team takes pressure off the attack to score too many.
It was an eventful first half, and I’ve not seen any replays from the evening but heard so often that Nicholas Jackson should have been sent off for his foul on Tomiyasu that it could have been a different game. He wasn’t even booked. Might Chelsea, with ten men, have gone into damage limitation mode and become more resolute at the back? Or might have Arsenal scored even more?
As it was, the second half saw four more goals and a very empty looking away section long before the game concluded. Kai Havertz was not at his best for the opening 45 minutes, but made up for it after the break, scoring twice against his old club. Two excellent finishes made it 3-0 then 4-0, but his goals were bookended by two from an unlikely source in the shape of Ben White. The right back had blown a great chance in the first leg against Bayern, but there were no such issues last night. On both occasions he got behind the defence, with his second goal like something you’d expect to see from Dennis Bergkamp back in the day, a deft volley over the keeper from the angle. Whether or not it was supposed to be a cross only he knows, but who cares, it looked sublime and put the cap on an excellent display for the player and the team.
This was just the type of performance required ahead of the North London derby on Sunday. The confidence the side will take going into that game will be greater than for almost 20 years. Add to that the fact that Angeball demands Spurs play on the front foot and it should be an end to end game determined by the quality of the defences. Spurs have issues at left back, and could even play three at the back with defensive wing backs to compensate, but I can’t see them not trying to go forward, especially at home. They need wins to keep up with Villa.
Arsenal started the game in first place, and the three points increased their lead ahead of Liverpool visiting Everton and Man City going to Brighton. Neither are foregone conclusions, but at least the Gunners have done what they can and added extra pressure. Four matches left in the season. They can only win them all and hope. If it does go to goal difference, and Arteta’s team do win their remaining games, their minimum possible goal difference will be +60. Liverpool have five matches to make up 17 goals and City have six to make up 16, although as they have to draw one to give Arsenal a chance, then effectively, that makes it five games to get the 16. The more likely scenario is that Guardiola’s team steamroller their way to six wins, but football has the ability to surprise. We live in hope.
Whatever happens between now and the end of the campaign, it’s been a thoroughly enjoyable season with some great moments, not least yesterday evening’s performance. And this observer can only wonder how different things might have been with a midfield trio of Partey, Odegaard and Rice playing more often, because last night it was poetry in motion.
