By Ian Grant
The blues could have been reds; the reds blues, as colleagues (particularly French and Dutch) for the last ten or so days donned different coloured shirts to take their salaries.
A far cry from the first time I went to Chelsea, when the nearest to a foreign sounding name was Peter Bonetti, and the dog track around the circumference gave the ground an impersonal feel. Bobby Tambling terrorised the wide spaces, and Terry Venables used his shrewd footballing brain further in. And you sort of believed the players had a strong physical connection to South West London.
Arsenal lined up in a 4-3-3, with Pires, Grimandi and van Bronckhorst in midfield to compensate for the absence of Vieira, in a modernistic stadium which could have been anywhere in the major capitals of Western Europe.
Bergkamp played sometimes as a centre forward, sometimes in a withdrawn striker role, supporting Wiltord and Henry either side.
Arsenal played the better football using the flanks particularly well.
Henry showed his latent ability when he dribbled past four Chelsea players and unleashed a shot – held by De Goey.
Bergkampwas involved in some neat interchanges with Henry and Cole, but somehow the centre-forward role just didn’t suit him. Maybe he was just too slow.
Arsenal got their reward on 18 when Wiltord linked up with Lauren, and Pires, cut in from the left and fired in. De Goey could only parry the ball to Henry who cooly managed to convert the chance.
Wiltord had a chance to make it two by intercepting a back pass, but it lacked pace.
Chelsea had attacked more directly. And a mistake by Grimandi let in Hasselbaink at a tight angle, but Seaman tipped over.
Zola never seems to age. Adams gave him too much room just outside the area, and Keown gave him a slight tap on the ankle, and over he went for the penalty.
Hasselbaink converted it curling away to Seaman’s right.
Arsenal’s dominance and attractive football had come to nought. Familiar territory. And they lost self belief after the Chelsea goal.
Although Bergkamp had a header saved, John Terry could have made it 2-1 at the break when he headed over from a corner.
In the second, Wiltord set up Bergkamp in the area, but he shot weakly. And Cole and Henry exchanged a dynamic long one-two, which De Goey saved.
But Zola and Hasselbaink were exploiting the age of the Arsenal centre pairing with threatening neat one-twos.
On 68 Kanu – perhaps some psychology here from Wenger given his previous hat-trick – came on for Bergkamp. And the Nigerian did appear to be trying harder.
On 71 Chelsea’s chances of winning became dimmer, as Keown, known as the rash, was super close to Hasselbaink, who appeared to lash out. Keown fell to the ground (yellow), but the Dutchman was red-carded.
This was the time, if Arsenal are to improve on their second place, needed to score.
As it was a neat move saw Gallas and Zola combine to thread the ball dangerously across the goal, for Lampard to arrive just too late.
Arsenal had three good chances in the last ten minutes to wrap it up. Kanu created two by neat turns, but with shots too close to De Goey. And Grimandi, with all the time in the world, put through by Campbell, just plonked a tame, mis-timed header wide.
It could make all the difference come May.
At half time in the super cramped and smoky refreshments area, I heard someone shout: “hey there’s an Arsenal supporter” – some work-mates from a previous job. Years back it would have been tantamount to being handed a Testosterone explosion. Now it was all good natured.
There were players with super skill on show. Next year some will be at different clubs in the international football media driven circus. You don’t get that sense of belonging you did in the sixties, unless of course you love Sega or Emirates Airlines. But there are advantages and disadvantages to everything in life.
RATINGS
Seaman – sound
Lauren – reliable and good link up play with Wiltord
Adams – OK but should have shut out Zola
Keown – shame about the trip, but overall a good performance
Cole – far and away Arsenal’s star man, zest, enthusiasm and self belief
Pires – OK
van Bronckhorst – off the pace, and light in the tackle
Grimandi – solid, if unspectacular
Henry – took goal well
Wiltord – improvement on last season
Bergkamp – not suited to centre forward role
Kanu (sub) trying harder, may get more goals this time around