Sorry Auba, Arsenal took it personally.
The Gunners produced one of their best performances of the season at Stamford Bridge in a huge 1-0 win against Chelsea to stay top of the Premier League.
There was little to complain about from the match but in the interest of being fair and balanced, that is what I have the tall order of doing today.
3 positives & negatives from Arsenal’s dominant win over Chelsea
Here are three positives and negatives from the dominant victory in west London.
Positive #1: Domination
This was arguably Arsenal’s most impressive performance of the season. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
The scoreline might not reflect it, but this was a dismemberment.
Chelsea failed to show any signs of threat, especially in the second half as Arsenal were relentless. There is this almost gross sense of ego exuding from Arsenal at the moment and when they are playing like that, there aren’t many teams that are harder to beat.
The Gunners’ closest chance in the first half exemplified this with a sweeping team move that was almost capped off with a Gabriel Jesus header but it was not meant to be. Chelsea wanted to try and press but Arsenal were resistant, hitting the Blues with a suffocating press of their own, winning every duel and dominating the game.
Negative #1: Should have been more
The scoreline flattered Chelsea. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Arsenal should have scored more amid their domination. Jesus had that chance in the first half that was tough but not unreasonable and Martin Ødegaard could have put the game fully to rest with 15 minutes to go.
Chances like that have to be taken because there is no room for error.
Arsenal won the match on xG (comfortably) and are showing that they can create well. The finishing will follow, as it often does.
Continued on the next slide…
pic.twitter.com/xaDKQvmyxV
<p>— Scott Willis (@oh_that_crab) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/11/07/3-positives-and-negatives-arsenal-1-0-win-over-chelsea/"https://twitter.com/oh_that_crab/status/1589257584573177857?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>November 6, 2022</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>Arsenal won the match on xG (comfortably) and are showing that they can create well. The finishing will follow, as it often does.</p>
<p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/11/07/3-positives-and-negatives-arsenal-1-0-win-over-chelsea/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #2 positive & negative </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><h2>Positive #2: Return of Zinchenko</h2>
<div id="attachment_130714" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-130714 size-full" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/11/07/3-positives-and-negatives-arsenal-1-0-win-over-chelsea/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1244549044.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2134" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1244549044.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1244549044-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Oleksandr Zinchenko made his first appearance since 1 October on Sunday. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)</p>
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<p>Oleksandr Zinchenko made his return from injury in this match and he has been missed. Kieran Tierney and Takehiro Tomiyasu have filled in admirably while the Ukrainian has been injured, but Zinchenko adds a level of technical quality that’s been lacking.</p>
<p>He is so fluid with his positioning and is the key facilitator in ensuring his side progress upfield efficiently.</p>
<p>Zinchenko’s been missed and it’s huge that he’s back.</p>
<h2>Negative #2: Fouls on Saka</h2>
<div id="attachment_130727" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-130727 size-full" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/11/07/3-positives-and-negatives-arsenal-1-0-win-over-chelsea/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1439538405.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2134" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1439538405.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1439538405-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Is a pattern starting to emerge? (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)</p>
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<p>Saka got the winning assist today but it was a tough match for the winger. He was in a serious physical battle with Marc Cucarella and, once again, Saka was not getting the protection he needs from the referee.</p>
<p>He was penalised more than the Chelsea defender when, most of the time, Saka was the one being fouled. It’s something that needs to change because Saka is a very direct player that needs more protection from officials moving forward.</p>
<p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/11/07/3-positives-and-negatives-arsenal-1-0-win-over-chelsea/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #3 positive & negative </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><h2>Positive #3: William Saliba</h2>
<div id="attachment_130722" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-130722 size-full" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/11/07/3-positives-and-negatives-arsenal-1-0-win-over-chelsea/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1244550229.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2134" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1244550229.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1244550229-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Man, he’s so good. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)</p>
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<p>Man… what a player.</p>
<p>There are frankly too many good things that can be said about William Saliba that I’m not sure where to start. It was a fantastic performance from the young Frenchman in this match as he just continues to prove that he’s among the world’s best defenders despite only being 21 in his first season in England.</p>
<p>He’s got this aura of arrogance around him that the very best defenders possess. The Frenchman never believes he’s going to get beat.</p>
<p>A physical freak with this level of calmness at his age simply shouldn’t be allowed.</p>
<h2>Negative #3: Aubameyang</h2>
<div id="attachment_130729" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-130729 size-full" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/11/07/3-positives-and-negatives-arsenal-1-0-win-over-chelsea/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1439480059.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1439480059.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1439480059-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang didn’t get a sniff of Aaron Ramsdale’s goal. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)</p>
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<p>I just want to take this moment to rub it in Auba’s face. He had plenty to say in some promos for the match but was nowhere to be seen when it came down to it.</p>
<p>Us Arsenal fans know as well as anyone how frustrating it is when your striker doesn’t turn up. Comparing him and Jesus on Sunday was night and day. Neither scored but one contributed and was vital to his team’s win, while the other only touched the ball eight times and got subbed. There are levels to this and Aubameyang not getting his revenge just makes this victory even sweeter.</p>
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<p>Arsenal are still top of the league with one match to go before the World Cup break! Hopefully, with a win against Wolves, we can keep this going for a bit longer.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">
