1
Plplplplplplplplplplplplplplplplplplplplplplplplplplplplpl-
CHELSEA just weren’t at the races — they looked tired, leggy and like a side who had either over-trained or undertrained in the week leading up to the final.
They gave the ball away far too much in that first half, got caught in possession too often and that surprised me given the way they have played this season.
Arsenal’s bright start looked to have caught them by surprise and, frankly, my old side were lucky not to be more than a goal down at half-time.
Aaron Ramsey had a very good chance when he hit a post, Mesut Ozil had a decent opportunity too, and it really ought to have been all over by the break.
Not that the Gunners’ first goal should have stood – it looked a handball and then Ramsey was offside. The Arsenal midfielder was coming out, the ball goes over his head, he turns and runs after it and he’s within the width of the goal as he does.
Ramsey gestures to go for the ball and then stops, puts his arms out, and Alexis Sanchez finishes – the referee or his assistants really ought to have seen either one of those incidents.
Surprised
A lot of those lads in the Chelsea dressing room know what an FA Cup Final is all about. You can’t take your foot off the gas and you have to be up for it from the first whistle.
But Arsenal had nothing to lose, they were the underdogs, they came out and took the game to Chelsea and that was clever from Arsene Wenger.
It surprised Antonio Conte’s side in a way and some of the lads in those blue shirts just couldn’t lift their game. They looked very leggy out there and even though they forced the game in the second half it was always going to be tough after Victor Moses was sent off, which I couldn’t argue with. The yellow card for the foul on Danny Welbeck was correct. And, in the modern game, if you’re coming inside trying to get a penalty and you go down without being touched then the referee — in this case Anthony Taylor (left), who had a great view — is left with no option. If you’re looking for any positives from a Chelsea perspective, Cesar Azpilicueta was excellent, as he has been all season. And Cesc Fabregas tried to get on the ball and pass it when he came on, but there wasn’t a lot of movement from the boys ahead of him. Costa, in particular, looked tired and I wouldn’t be surprised if that was his last game in a Chelsea shirt.
Football moves on but, whether you are champions or not, you have to go out there and get better players, particularly for the Champions League, t o make s ure you move forward and compete on all fronts.
Busy
Conte will know he needs to strengthen and it will be a busy summer, but overall he has been outstanding since changing to three at the back during their early-season defeat against Arsenal.
He has been absolutely brilliant since he has come in and he will have learned a lot about what the FA Cup is about.
That will benefit him and I’m confident Chelsea will go again next season.