CHAMPIONS NEGLECT
Conte downbeat and fearing ‘Wembley curse’ as Blues splutter to shootout loss
THE Wembley curse is looking ominous for a third year running with Antonio Conte fearing he could become its latest victim.
The last two managers – Claudio Ranieri and Jose Mourinho – to win the title were both sacked midway through the following season after also losing the Community Shield.
Conte has already warned of a “Mourinho season” and the danger signs were there for all to see as Chelsea lost on penalties and looked a long way from Premier League champions.
From being rock-solid and untouchable last season, the Blues are suddenly vulnerable, the doubts and question marks are mounting, with the campaign in danger of unravelling even before it has begun.
Boss Conte has voiced his frustration at the lack of new signings, the squad looks waferthin as they approach a new campaign on four fronts and Chelsea desperately need to change the momentum.
Alvaro Morata – their clubrecord signing at £67million – was only a sub and the way they allowed Arsenal to come back will be a major worry.
The Gunners played well, showed a spirit lacking from Chelsea’s performance at times, and Conte’s downbeat mood was in contrast to Arsene Wenger’s optimism after his team won the trophy with a penalty shootout.
Conte had a point about the 81st-minute red card for Pedro, after the Chelsea winger raked his studs down Mohamed Elneny’s Achilles. A yellow, quiet word and substitution should surely have sufficed in such a fixture.
But that was the cue for Arsenal to snatch an equaliser from the resulting free-kick, Granit Xhaka’s wonderful delivery picking out sub Sead Kolasinac, who marked a highly impressive debut with a close-range header.
In truth, it is all very well winning at Wembley on a gloriously sunny day – but it will not be enough to keep Arsenal fans happy. They lifted the FA Cup in May, while Olivier Giroud’s spotkick settled matters here, but their sights must be higher.
Even so, the traditional curtain-raiser can set the tone and that will be the worry for Chelsea and the hope for Arsenal. Wenger’s men looked sharp from the start, Alex Iwobi and Danny Welbeck very lively while Alexandre Lacazette hit the post.
The Gunners were the better team first-half, despite losing Per Mertesacker after his clash of heads with Gary Cahill. But his replacement Kolasinac came on after 32 minutes and looked ready-made for the Prem.
But Chelsea started the second half probably on the back of a half-time rollicking from Conte. Willian’s corner resulted in a poor clearance from Xhaka, Cahill headed the
ball back and Victor Moses stormed in to fire home. From red-card villain in May to redemption in August.
Arsenal kept fighting and Kolasinac’s equaliser took it to penalties. Now with the new ABBA style of shootouts, Gary Cahill went first and scored but, from then on, it went downhill fast with Thibaut Courtois inexplicably taking the second and blasting it over.
Morata also missed while Theo Walcott, Nacho Monreal, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and then finally Giroud were on target to start the Arsenal celebrations.
The mood is certainly more upbeat in the red part of London while it feels all too blue for the defending champions.