No, it wasn't and for the most part they weren't. Boring, that is. It was a match wracked (for the most part) with tension, no little fear, and a villain or five. But that song would have been music to their ears.
As far as Arsenal were concerned, it was disappointing. But we were up against a bloody good side who quite rightly came with the attitude of What We Have, We Hold. Who wouldn't have done that very thing? They all know their roles, they are set up professionally and pragmatically, and they are extremely difficult to play against when in that mode. But I hold out some small hope for them dropping points on Wednesday, as it happens; they'll actually be coming out to play then.
And the problem was that for all the huffing and puffing - and there were moments when they were on the ropes - Arsenal simply didn't create enough chances or do enough to get the better of them. Courtois wasn't given enough to do, John Terry (for all that he is a heinous excuse for a human being) was magnificent, and the referee was lenient in not booking the thug Ivanovic early on and especially in allowing Chelsea to take forever on re-starts. Plus there were times when the Arsenal intensity dropped; we needed to be at them all the time.
I choose to make little comment on the penalties. None were given, and that was that. The handballs would have been harsh - although at the time I screamed for the Cahill one. Ospina made a genuine attempt for the ball, but got there late. Dangerous, yes; reckless, no. And the tackle for which their Number 4 was booked; such is life - he made a meal of it. Probably something he'd been taught in their weekly 'diving training' sessions (Tutor D. Drogba esq.; Star Pupils Oscar and Hazard).
So they did what they had to do, and they're bloody difficult to beat. But what I feel it did expose is where Arsenal still lack sufficient quality.
- A new goalkeeper is required - somebody better than we already have.
- The defence was adequate but rarely tested, and continues to worry me - the trademark ball over the top from their Number 4 to Oscar is the sort of thing that shouldn't catch anybody out
- Coquelin did OK but was harried constantly when he had the ball and we can probably do better than him
- Cazorla was subdued and I feel a bit sorry for him in the role he is being asked to play
- Ditto Ramsey; another square peg in a round hole
- Ozil didn't, frankly, show enough urgency
- Giroud was shown up for what he actually is - not top class. Terry had him in his pocket all afternoon
- Plus a top-class wide player, please; Alexis, for all his attributes, is not that
Two things to add:
1. On their Number 4... Personally, I didn't boo him; I gave him the Silent Treatment. But nor did I applaud him when he was substituted. And frankly I couldn't understand the thousands who did. He's the enemy now, and therefore not worthy of our energy being expended on him. He means nothing to me now, for all that he carried our team for a couple of years. I suspect that there was a lot more to his move to West London than we know, for all the 'buy-back clause' may suggest
2. To the bloke first up on 6-0-6 who called for Wenger's head on the back of this match. Well, I switched over in disgust the moment you started down that road, so I have no idea what Wrighty said to you, but today wasn't the day to start on that one again. There are many reasons why one could say Arsene Must Go, but on the back of a long winning run and a repeat Cup Final to look forward to, plus holding our own against the Champions elect? Bonkers.
Second, and another FA Cup, is Progress. Let's aim for that. And then we'll see. As I said yesterday, Mourinho and Chelsea need to be stopped, blow by blow. And we'll need help from elsewhere to do that. But we must start inflicting a few flesh wounds ourselves along the way.
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