Independent:
Arsene Wenger's wait for victory over Jose Mourinho goes on as Blues advance in League Cup
Mata the star as Jose's hex over Gunners manager continues
By SAM WALLACE
Nine matches, five defeats and so the wait goes on for an Arsene Wenger team to beat one managed by Jose Mourinho. At least this season, the League Cup does not represent the only realistic hope that Arsenal have for a trophy.
Wenger's side are still top of the Premier League. They have still played some of the most exciting football in Europe this season. They were, in terms of individuals, the weaker of these two mid-week League Cup XIs before a ball was kicked. Yet even so, the result said much about the depth of Chelsea's resources and the sheer bloody-mindedness of their manager to get a result in a tie that he has, at various points over the last few weeks, proclaimed to give up on.
When you can name Juan Mata in the second string, and when the Spanish No 10 comes up with a goal like the one he scored here, there is not much doubting the talent at Mourinho's disposal. Even so, he still has to marshal it effectively and Chelsea gave very little away, virtually nothing in the way of chances, while punishing Arsenal ruthlessly on the counter-attack.
It is Chelsea who are in the quarter-finals of the Capital One Cup, with a goal in the first half from right-back Cesar Azpilicueta and then Mata's beauty after the hour. Meanwhile, Arsenal were forced to rely on the inadequate Nicklas Bendtner in attack and suffered a Carl Jenkinson error to let Chelsea in for the first.
It is carelessness such as this that has cost them in the past and while the 2013-2014 version of Arsenal looks much more promising there was still some of the old weakness. Wenger could have gambled more on winning this game, but in the end his team risked too little and gained nothing. Worst of all, they looked vulnerable in the face of another Mourinho masterplan.
The team that Mourinho fielded can be valued in transfer fees at around £140m, around three times as much as the side Wenger picked. Neither manager selected extensively from their Under-21s, although it was Wenger's side that looked - on paper at least - the weaker.
There was not the core of homegrown young 'uns in the home team that characterised Wenger's side in the previous round against West Bromwich Albion. He selected Ryo Miyaichi in his starting team but chiefly it was players like Thomas Vermaelen, Nacho Monreal and Carl Jenkinson who have found their first team opportunities restricted this season.
Nevertheless, there was enough in the Arsenal side, including Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere that they would have expected to make a better fist of it than they did. A goal down in 26 minutes, they never really forced Mark Schwarzer into a big save. In the first half a shot from Monreal from the left was deflected marginally wide by Gary Cahill's sliding block.
Wenger had picked a mixed bench, including Mesut Ozil and Olivier Giroud, as well as the lesser-spotted Ju Young Park and the 18-year-old Isaac Hayden. Mourinho also gave himself some options, with Fernando Torres, Eden Hazard, Ramires and Branislav Ivanovic among the substitutes. Once Chelsea had taken the lead, it was hard to see where Arsenal might prise the initiative back from the away side with Bendtner so anonymous.
Arsenal passed the ball beautifully at times, not least when they worked it left to right on 15 minutes, eventually winning a corner. But Chelsea, with Michael Essien and John Obi Mikel in front of the back four, were hard to break down and were gifted a goal on the counter-attack.
That attack might have broken down when Samuel Eto'o passed the ball inside and Essien was obliged to challenge Ramsey for the ball. From their collision it looped forward into the Arsenal box. Wilshere seemed to gesture to Jenkinson that he should leave the clearing up to the midfielder but the latter attempted a header back to Lukasz Fabianski which fell fractionally short and Azpilicueta nipped in to toe it past the Arsenal goalkeeper.
Azpilicueta? It was not immediately clear what the Chelsea right-back, out of favour this season under Mourinho, was doing so far forward other than he must have been blithely following the counter-attack. It was a neat finish for his first goal for the club.
Otherwise, Mourinho's regular bouts of touchline applause seemed to indicate that he approved of the way his defence kept the ball and passed out under pressure from Arsenal. The much-maligned Kevin De Bruyne was given a reprieve and, back in the team, was heavily supervised for the first half by his manager on the near touchline.
In the second half, it was only a matter of minutes after Wenger started to throw his resources at the comeback that Mata's goal put it out of the reach of the home team. In fact, Ozil, on as a substitute, had scarcely given away a foul on the edge of the Chelsea area then the away team, a rapid counter-attack unit all night, ventured to the other end and scored.
The second goal will go down as another pure strike from the right boot of Mata, but it was also the scrapping and the effort that got the ball to him on the edge of the area that marked out Chelsea's night. From a throw-in on the right to Eto'o on from a header from Willian to Mata who struck the ball with enough of the outside of his right to send it spinning away from the glove of Fabianski.
Steve Holland, a substitute himself for Mourinho in the post-match press conference, made the case that Mata has played in his “share” of the bigger games of the season. But there is no doubt he remains an understudy to Oscar in their preferred position. “What appears to be the team that's preferred at the moment won't be the team that's preferred in January,” Holland said, “and that will be different again in March, April and May. We need everybody.”
In the aftermath of the goal, Wenger sent on Giroud for Bendtner whose revival has become a theme of late at Arsenal. Not here, perhaps not ever. Although Bendtner has until January to make an impression when Wenger may well be forced into signing another striker. Unfortunately for Arsenal, the reliance upon Giroud was writ large as Bendtner generally laboured around the place to the annoyance of many of the home fans.
The strangest moment was when he was fed the ball by Tomas Rosicky in the area and seemed to be unaware that he was unmarked and able to turn to face goal. Instead he laid it off to Ramsey and the little patience that remained for Arsenal's Danish striker appeared to ebb away. Even Park was sent on at the end.
There was a warm handshake offered by Mourinho and accepted by Wenger at the end of the game, as there had been at the start. The Arsenal manager warned against snap judgements on his team following this defeat and last week's to Borussia Dortmund, but he could certainly do with a victory over Liverpool on Saturday to placate the fears that his side struggle against this season's leading teams.
Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Fabianski; Jenkinson, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Monreal; Ramsey (Park 82), Wilshere; Miyaichi (Ozil 63), Rosicky, Cazorla; Bendtner (Giroud 66).
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Schwarzer; Azpilicueta, Cahill, Luiz, Bertrand; Essien, Mikel; De Bruyne (Ramires 67), Mata (Kalas 90), Willian; Eto'o (Ba 81).
Man of the match Mata.
Rating 6/10.
Referee P Dowd (Staffordshire).
Perhaps that was inevitable given the weight of resources at José Mourinho's disposal but Wenger will have departed gripped by familiar frustrations. His personal record remains wretched after his ninth brush with the Portuguese, none of which he has won. If he can block out that horrible reality, then he must wonder if successive home defeats, after Borussia Dortmund's win here last week, could erode the confidence that had been growing in the squad since the second week of the campaign. Liverpool's visit on Saturday is looming large and then follow the return against Borussia, a trip to Manchester United and a visit from high-flying Southampton.
How Wenger must have craved a victory here to pep conviction before that awkward sequence, let alone retain one route to rare silverware. Instead he must now convince a squad that has grown used to near misses that normal recent service is not being resumed. His positive response afterwards, drumming home that there is no need for panic and the mistakes being made are freakish, suggested as much. The problem is the imminent fixture list appears brutal and, for all the clear improvement in this calendar year, these games will put a relatively kind first nine matches in the Premier League in proper context. "You can't go to conclusions too quickly," he said. That may be revisited in a month's time.
Chelsea are taking plenty of heart at the damage they have inflicted on fellow contenders this week. A sixth successive win in October in all competitions appeared assured from the moment César Azpilicueta had poked the visitors ahead midway through the opening period following Carl Jenkinson's horrible error.
Chelsea's had ostensibly been a protest selection. Mourinho was outraged at having to play 48 hours after that thunderous meeting with Manchester City at Stamford Bridge and only Gary Cahill was retained from the starting line-up on Sunday. In reality it was a match-day squad which cost in excess of £250m to assemble, and an XI of seasoned international quality crammed with personnel still with much to prove to the new manager. He has tapped into their hunger before and they responded.
Azpilicueta's reward was similar to that of his compatriot Fernando Torres on Sunday. Chelsea had defended a corner stoutly with Juan Mata calmly sending Samuel Eto'o upfield and the Cameroonian, in turn, slipping a pass to Michael Essien.
The midfielder's pass looped up from Aaron Ramsey's snapped challenge, the ball arcing towards the home penalty area and kicking up from the turf. The retreating Jack Wilshere spotted Jenkinson's intention to nod back towards Lukasz Fabianski and bellowed a warning, pleading with his team-mate to let him collect instead. As with Matija Nastasic on Sunday, this call went unheeded.
The rest was inevitable. Jenkinson's connection was weak and Azpilicueta darted through on the blindside to poke his shot beyond the advancing Pole and in off the far post. Only once before in a seven-year professional career had the right-back scored, for Marseille against Auxerre in his final match for the French club. His expression was still tinged with disbelief as he left the pitch at half-time.
Wenger called out the cavalry, with Mesut Özil on the pitch and Olivier Giroud preparing to replace a wheezing Nicklas Bendtner. The Dane's display provoked grumbling discontent, at best, from the locals. But just as Arsenal considered building up a head of steam, Eto'o hooked a throw-in back into the box, Willian nodded on and Mata took a touch before slamming his finish beyond Fabianski with his right foot. He may feel on the margins but this was a reminder that the Spaniard remains a player of sumptuous talent, vision and finesse.
"The manager is the one who makes the decision but I will always try my best for this club," said Mata. "That's what I'll always try and do. We've played City and Arsenal this week, two of the best teams in Europe, and we've beaten them. That shows we're ready to fight for titles."
Whether Arsenal are remains to be seen but the next month will offer a proper indication of their progress. This seemed like a reality check. It is up to Wenger now to prove it was a blip rather than a portent of things to come.
========================
By Henry Winter, Emirates Stadium
Arsenal, barring another strong shift of work from Aaron Ramsey, were deeply disappointing, their fringe players totally failing to take their chance. Nicklas Bendtner was so poor, so anonymous, so much a spectator that he was eventually removed by Wenger probably to save him from the rising wrath of the home support.
Arsenal fans expect commitment at the very least, a willingness to give everything for that famous shirt.
Bendtner let them down on Tuesday night. Again. Bendtner needs to take a long hard look at himself after this.
The man leading the opposition line, Samuel Eto’o, did not look like scoring but at least he kept running, kept looking for a chance, and also helping create Chelsea’s first, nimbly taken by Cesar Azpilicueta after 24 minutes. Juan Mata added the second after 65 and Chelsea could easily have scored more late on.
They were by far the better side, hungrier for the ball, quicker to use it, and sharper in front of goal. Chelsea’s sixth win in October confirmed how they are responding to Mourinho.
It highlighted the contrast in squad depths, a painful reality for Wenger that he needs to address in January. His first-choice XI, the one that sits top of the Premier League, is undeniably impressive, lifted by such stars as Özil and Olivier Giroud. Without those in two particular, the respective creative and finishing forces of the side, Arsenal look so much the weaker.
Three regulars, Laurent Koscielny, Jack Wilshere and Ramsey, began the game and Santi Cazorla demonstrated some of his skills in the first period, including a nutmegging of John Obi Mikel, but Chelsea’s second string were still too strong.
The contrast will surely remind Wenger of the need to bolster the squad in January, particularly in attack where they look so anaemic without Giroud.
The Frenchman, whose name was sung more loudly the more Bendtner laboured, came on and managed Arsenal’s only meaningful attempt on goal.
It also encapsulated the contrast in squad strengths late on when Mourinho removed Eto’o and sent on Demba Ba while Wenger replaced Ramsey with Chu-young Park. Barring Gary Cahill, none of the Chelsea side were automatics for Mourinho. In the dressing-room before kick-off, Mourinho had told them to give him selection headaches for next weekend. They have done.
They simply reminded everyone of their abilities here, of their readiness for action when required. Mata was man of the match, soon having the loud contingent of 9,000 Chelsea fans singing his name with his passing and also earning applause from Mourinho midway through the first half when he went tracking back to regain the ball.
Willian looks to be picking up the frenetic pace of English football, Mikel and Michael Essien largely controlled midfield while Apzilicueta kept raiding down the right.
Mourinho had talked positively about Azpilicueta at the weekend, praising the Spaniard for being patient, for not complaining with Branislav Ivanovic being the manager’s preferred starter at right-back. Azpilicueta, whose lengthy surname has prompted Chelsea fans to call him “Dave”, responded here, scoring after 24 minutes.
The goal was a reward for his decision to make a lung-breaking run in support of a Chelsea counter-attack, and also his gamble on a defensive mistake, which duly came, echoing the Joe Hart-Matija Nastasic mix-up when Fernando Torres pounced in the last minute against Manchester City on Sunday.
After dealing with a Cazorla corner, Mata and then Eto’o sprinted upfield. When Eto’o played a quick forward pass to Essien, Ramsey challenged, and the ball ballooned up, seeming to drop into an area patrolled by Carl Jenkinson and Wilshere. Any danger seemed minimal. It begged only a straightforward header back to Lukasz Fabianski, who had not followed the rash example of Hart and rushed out. Fabianski moved into a sensible position to receive the header. Wilshere indicated to Jenkinson what to do. This was routine stuff. But the Arsenal right-back headed the ball upwards, delaying its arrival towards Fabianski, allowing Azpilicueta to nip and poke the ball in.
Mourinho’s celebrations at a second gifted goal in succession was more muted, more respectful to the opposing manager than his run in front of City’s Manuel Pellegrini. There had been all the usual talk of the old enmity between Mourinho and Wenger yet there has seemed a rapprochement in recent times.
An hour before kick-off, Mourinho was seen climbing off the bus, high-fiving Gunnersaurus, and then, shortly before kick-off, having chatted to Özil, his old Real Madrid player, Mourinho waited at the top of the tunnel to greet Wenger warmly.
The reception from the Chelsea fans was less gracious towards the hosts, reminding the locals that their former player Ashley Cole had won a European Cup with them and that it had been “eight years” since Arsenal won anything. Their volume rose after Azpilicueta’s goal midway through the opening half. “We are top of the league,’’ chorused the home fans.
They were not playing like it, bowing out of this competition with scarcely a fight. Bendtner, the main culprit, did deign to close down Azpilicueta at one point, presenting Nacho Monreal with a chance but he shot just wide. Chelsea’s work-rate was superior, their desire for the ball greater than Arsenal’s.
Ramsey worked hard, going close with a deflected shot, but Bendtner and Ryo Miyaichi did little to justify even temporary ownership of an Arsenal shirt. Bendtner, supposedly a striker, even refused the opportunity to have a strike at goal early in the second half, triggering howls of frustration.
Ramsey gamely tried to drag Arsenal back into the tie, and Özil arrived to replace Miyaichi, but Chelsea soon scored again. Mata’s class had already graced the game but this was truly special. Controlling the ball with his left, Mata then connected with his right, imparting such power that Fabianski had no chance.
Arsenal fans’ desire for the removal of Bendtner was soon granted. Giroud arrived and soon went close, giving Mark Schwarzer something to do. But Ramires twice almost scored while Ba worried Koscielny and Thomas Vermaelen late on. By then, many Arsenal fans were leaving while Chelsea’s were singing about Wembley. Wenger, surely, was thinking about the January transfer window.
====================
Mail:
Arsenal 0 Chelsea 2: Azpilicueta and Mata continue Mourinho's hoodoo over Wenger
By Neil Ashton
At the final whistle there was a touching moment when Mesut Ozil ran towards Jose Mourinho and handed him his jersey.
On Tuesday night, Chelsea’s manager had the shirts off Arsenal’s backs. There is nothing for Mourinho to be afraid of here, nothing to suggest the Gunners have his side’s staying power.
The ‘psychological influence’ that Arsene Wenger spoke of ahead of this Capital One Cup-tie was stripped away with a swing of Juan Mata’s right boot in the 66th minute.
Chelsea are through to the quarter-final of this competition and yet it feels like something so much bigger took place. Arsenal have lost to two proper teams under the lights at the Emirates inside a week. First Dortmund, now Chelsea. Not good enough.
Wenger will only breathe easily if the Barclays Premier League leaders recover to beat Liverpool in Saturday’s teatime kick-off.
They made a dog’s dinner of this, frustrating their fans by allowing Mourinho’s team to dictate the tempo and pace of the game in their own backyard.
Champions don’t allow that to happen. Wannabe champions do.
Chelsea kept Arsenal at arm’s length, easing their way through to the quarter-final with Cesar Azpilicueta’s first for the club and Mata’s beauty.
Wenger had never beaten Mourinho in eight attempts before last night. It will be agony for Arsenal to contemplate it, but the Frenchman must now add another.
Chelsea’s back-up keeper Mark Schwarzer barely had a save to make, an observer as blue shirts swarmed all over Arsenal.
They fell behind after a dreadful defensive mistake by Carl Jenkinson allowed Azpilicueta to nip in and beat Lukasz Fabianski with a cool finish.
It sent Chelsea’s travelling fans into raptures and they taunted Arsenal with one of their favourite songs: ‘Where’s your European Cup?’
The answer is nowhere, of course. After this they will not even be able to add the Capital One Cup. The agony goes on.
It sparked reminders of Mourinho, then at Real Madrid, demanding to know why Wenger was still in a job after failing to land ‘a single little trophy since 2005’.
This cup is fourth on Mourinho’s list of priorities, but he has a real affinity with a trophy he first won with Chelsea in 2005.
They are looking good, full of self-assurance and more than a hint of that familiar Chelsea swagger.
When Azpilicueta scored in the 25th minute, after Jenkinson’s terrible header, they looked capable of scoring whenever they fancied it. It was too easy.
Michael Essien and Samuel Eto’o engineered it, breaking at speed in the centre of the pitch when an Arsenal corner was cleared.
Aaron Ramsey challenged Essien and when the ball spun into the air it forced Jenkinson into a catastrophic attempt to head the ball back to Fabianski. It didn’t reach him.
Azpilicueta took his chance, steering his effort beyond the Arsenal keeper and rolling it inside Fabianski’s far post. He celebrated his first goal for Chelsea with a swan-dive in front of the home fans. Nothing went Arsenal’s way.
Nicklas Bendtner’s touch let him down, making life too easy for Essien and John Mikel Obi to sweep up in front of the Chelsea back four.
He was booed off when he was substituted, but he alone is not to blame for this performance.
Santi Cazorla’s passes were a fraction too long and Tomas Rosicky was having the same problem when he was in possession. They needed precision.
That was Arsenal’s trouble every time they played the final ball. It was nearly there, but nearly is not good enough against a team with Chelsea’s pedigree.
The fact that it’s the fourth round of the League Cup is irrelevant. There is never any let-up against Chelsea. Against Mourinho. Against their fans, who were baiting Arsenal’s from the stands.
The game had its moments of genuine quality. Mata’s elegant backheel 10 minutes into the first half made fools of Cazorla and Ramsey.
Cazorla exacted revenge on Chelsea’s creator, twisting like an eel and scurrying away with the ball when Arsenal were in trouble on the edge of their own area.
But this was not the performance of potential champions. Far from it.
The moment Chelsea sensed danger in the second half, they moved into a different gear and accelerated out of sight.
They scored again when Ryan Bertrand’s throw-in was flicked on by Eto’o and into the path of the onrushing Mata.
It was not a simple finish, but he made it look easy. He took a touch with his left foot and hammered a swerving shot beyond Fabianski with his right. It was a peach.
Wenger had sent for Mesut Ozil, who worked with Mourinho during his spell at Real Madrid, from the bench to bring them back into it.
There was not nearly enough time. Ramsey ran his legs off. He was deep in the red zone when Arsenal went down to 10 men against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday. Wenger called in a favour last night, starting him in the centre of midfield in an attempt to muzzle Essien and Mikel.
He looked almost out of juice.
Even Ozil, for all his obvious skill and craft, couldn’t find a way to prevent Chelsea powering on.
After this, you can put your shirt on Mourinho’s team.
Arsenal: Fabianski 6, Jenkinson 5, Monreal 6, Ramsey 7, Koscielny 6, Vermaelen 6, Miyaichi 6 (Ozil 63, 6), Wilshere 6, Bendtner 4 (Giroud 67, 6), Rosicky 6, Cazorla 6
Subs not used: Sagna, Viviano, Park, Hayden, Yennaris
Chelsea: Schwarzer 6, Azpilicueta 6, Bertrand 6, Mikel 6, Cahill 6, David Luiz 6, De Bruyne 6 (Ramires 69), Essien 7, Eto'o 6 (Ba 81), Mata 8 (Kalas 90), Willian 6
Subs not used: Ivanovic, Torres, Hazard, Blackman
Booked: Mikel, Essien
Goals: Azpilicueta 25, Mata 66
Referee: Phil Dowd
Attendance: 59,455
=====================
Mirror:
Arsenal 0-2 Chelsea: Jose Mourinho beats Arsene Wenger again to reach Capital One Cup quarters
Azpilicueta and Mata goals ensure Gunners boss still hasn't beaten the Special One - and extend his wait for a trophy
By Martin Lipton
The long wait goes on for Arsene Wenger.
Now nine years without a win over Jose Mourinho. Nine games too.
And you start to wonder if he will ever get one over his nemesis.
Here, as the Emirates began to empty from the moment Juan Mata’s right foot sealed a victory that got easier the longer the game went on, that elusive first win over the Portuguese looked further away than ever.
Yes, Mourinho was able to make 10 changes and still field a side that cost nearly £140million to put together, with another £120m-worth on the bench.
But it was Wenger who chose to leave Mesut Ozil and Olivier Giroud on the sidelines for more than an hour, doing nothing as the gulf in class was exposed.
Arsenal remain top of the Premier League.
Wenger, who insisted he had “no regrets”, cares little about this competition - although he had reached the last eight for 10 straight seasons.
Yet on a night that saw the 9,000 travelling fans revel in their mastery, and that of the Special One, the Gunners’ campaign to date was put in perspective.
Suddenly it is back to back home defeats, and their next three games are against Liverpool, Dortmund and Manchester United.
Real tests, with no Mathieu Flamini, and no back-up for Giroud.
And with the knowledge that, from first kick to last, as Ramires and David Luiz whistled over the bar, they were second best.
What will have made it worse, even if the killer blow was struck by Mata - and agent of their destruction before but now playing for a role in Mourinho’s thinking - was that the vital wound was so entirely self-inflicted.
In the past, of course, it was Didier Drogba who took advantage of their defensive deficiencies.
Cesar Azpilicueta is a more unlikely assassin,with just one previous goal in his career, during his spell at Marseilles.
But when Carl Jenkinson suffered his own personal Matija Nastasic moment, panicking as he wondered whether he or Jack Wilshere would deal with a ball that looped into the air and selling Lukasz Fabianski horribly short, the Spaniard nipped in to poke home.
It was the sort of goal, a lightning counter-attack from an opposition corner, that Arsenal scored in their Thierry Henry-inspired pomp, before Mourinho arrived to upset the established order.
Thereafter, while Nacho Monreal was a foot wide almost straightaway and Aaron Ramsey had two close efforts at the start of the second half, Arsenal never looked like breaking through, Mata relishing in his preferred No 10 role, pulling the strings, making his point.
The home fans were turning on Nicklas Bendtner, whose mood will not have been helped by Wenger’s response to a question about the Dane: “I will not go into an individual assessment of players in a press conference. I keep that between myself and the players.”
But just two minutes after Ozil’s arrival, Arsenal’s Capital One Cup goose was cooked.
Samuel Eto’o, always available, hooked back, Willian flicked on and after one touch with his left foot, Mata smashed into the top corner with his right.
Giroud, belatedly on for Bendtner, did force the lone save out of Mark Schwarzer.
Chelsea, though, finished far stronger, only Laurent Koscielny’s goalline clearance denying substitute Ramires after he scampered past Thomas Vermaelen, before the Brazilian and his compatriot Luiz went close in added time.
At the close, Wenger and Mourinho shook, with a smile, although the Frenchman chose not to declare their feud over.
It felt like game, set and match to the Portuguese.
===================
Express:
Arsenal 0 - Chelsea 2: Jose Mourinho's jinx is too hot for Arsene Wenger
JOSE MOURINHO'S stranglehold over Arsene Wenger remains as firm as ever after his Chelsea team dumped Arsenal out of the Capital One Cup at the Emirates last night.
By: Simon Yeend
The Chelsea boss has faced his Arsenal nemesis nine times and never lost, this victory resuming the domination he enjoyed during his first spell at Stamford Bridge.
Cesar Azpilicueta picked a perfect night for Mourinho to score his first goal for the club and man-of-the-match Juan Mata sealed it with a wonderful strike as Chelsea’s season gathers momentum.
Mourinho first arrived at Chelsea in 2004 and won this trophy in his first season, the need to get silverware – any silverware – paramount. Second time around, the urgency is not so great but Mourinho knows an opportunity when he sees one.
As well as a potential trophy, it also offered Mourinho a chance to put Arsenal’s great start to the season in check.
Wenger’s side were outplayed in the first half and Chelsea had plenty in reserve as Arsenal pressed for an equaliser and then mugged them on the break with Mata’s arrow.
It is the first time in 10 seasons that Arsenal have not reached the quarter-finals, but Wenger has never won the League Cup and the eight-year wait for a trophy gets more of a burden with each exit.
Chelsea will fancy their chances after making 10 changes for this game and stifling Arsenal to win comfortably.
Mourinho had threatened to field Chelsea’s under-21 development side as a protest at being made to play 48 hours after the victory over Manchester City. That was bluster but he did leave out all but one of the team that started against City, with only Gary Cahill starting.
Chelsea will fancy their chances after making 10 changes for this game and stifling Arsenal to win comfortably
Wenger revealed his own ambition for this match with a robust midfield selection that included Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere and Santi Cazorla – with Mesut Ozil in reserve on the bench – as well as retaining Laurent Koscielny to partner Thomas Vermaelen in central defence.
But the lack of depth at Wenger’s disposal in a key area was highlighted by Nicklas Bendtner starting up front to give Olivier Giroud’s batteries a much-needed recharge.
Ryo Miyaichi was also given a rare start on the wing.
Mourinho, dressed in the tracksuit-trainer combo favoured by urban youth across the land, waited for a minute or so at the tunnel before kick-off for Wenger to emerge and then greeted him with a warm smile and a handshake. Wenger, in sharp suit, returned the smile. Feud very much over.
It was up to the teams to renew hostilities. Two diminutive Spaniards shone in the early stages – Mata pulling the strings for Chelsea, Cazorla full of tricks for Arsenal, including a cheeky nutmeg on Michael Essien.Yet it was another Spaniard who proved the unlikely safe-cracker in the 25th minute. Chelsea broke quickly from an Arsenal corner with Eto’o feeding Essien and, although Ramsey blocked the through-pass, the ball spun towards the Arsenal area.
Wilshere and Carl Jenkinson looked to have it covered, only for the full-back to misjudge his header back to goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski. Azpilicueta raced on to it and volleyed the ball into the corner of the net.
It was a near carbon copy of the goal that gave Chelsea victory over Manchester City on Sunday and, alarmingly for Arsenal, another example of how vulnerable they leave themselves to counter-attacks from their own corners.
Nacho Monreal kept the Spanish theme going, almost dragging Arsenal level within minutes, intercepting a pass from Azpilicueta, bursting into the area and shooting just inches wide of the far post.
Arsenal were subdued, Wilshere misfiring, the need for reinforcements from the bench obvious.
It was left to Ramsey to lead the Arsenal charge, having one shot blocked and sending another just wide.
On came Ozil to a huge cheer in the 63rd minute. Three minutes later it was game over as Mata pounced on a header from Willian and sent an unstoppable shot into the top corner.
On came Giroud and immediately brought a save from Mark Schwarzer with a smart turn and shot. It was the only time the 41-year-old Schwarzer had to make a save, and that tells its own story.
ARSENAL (4-2-3-1): Fabianski; Jenkinson, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Monreal; Wilshere, Ramsey (Park 81); Miyaichi (Ozil 63), Rosicky, Cazorla; Bendtner (Giroud 67).
CHELSEA (4-2-3-1): Schwarzer; Azpilicueta, Cahill, Luiz, Bertrand; Essien, Mikel; De Bruyne (Ramires 69), Mata (Kalas 90), Willian; Eto’o (Ba 81). Booked: Mikel, Essien. Goals: Azpilicueta 25, Mata 66.
Referee: P Dowd (Staffordshire).
==============================
Star:
Arsenal 0 - Chelsea 2: Carl Jenkinson gifts it to the Blues
IT was Groundhog Day for Chelsea last night, this time with Arsenal’s Carl Jenkinson the culprit.
By David Woods
“This was the Mourinho motivational magic working again!”
Two days after a defensive mix-up gifted Fernando Torres the 90th-minute winner against Manchester City, something similar happened at the Emirates.
A Torres goal in the league is something of a collector’s item. Sunday’s was only his second this year.
But one from another Spaniard, Cesar Azpilicueta, is even rarer. Before last night he had only scored once in 213 games, for Marseille in May 2012.
Still, the right-back decided to go for it in the 25th minute as Chelsea broke at speed from an Arsenal corner.
Samuel Eto’o passed to Michael Essien, who continued bursting forward. Aaron Ramsey challenged and the ball spun up and high towards the home goal as Jenkinson and Jack Wilshere ran back.
There seemed uncertainty between the pair but England right-back Jenkinson opted to head towards keeper Lukasz Fabianski, just as Matija Nastasic had with Joe Hart at Stamford Bridge.
But unlike Hart, Fabianski did not dash out of his box and Azpilicueta gambled, nipping in to volley just inside the keeper’s left post.
Not too many punters would have had the 24-year-old down for first scorer and on this occasion Jose Mourinho’s celebrations were muted, unlike his dash across the City bench to get into the crowd on Sunday.
He had singled out Azpilicueta for praise – something he rarely does – in his programme notes, for coming in to play left-back against Schalke in the Champions League.
Maybe this was the Mourinho motivational magic working again!
Before last night, Mourinho had some sort of hex over Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, although the pair shook hands in a warm manner before kick-off.
In his first spell at Chelsea, the Portuguese coach did not lose any of their eight encounters, winning four and drawing four.
Their one meeting before in this compet-ition came in the final of the Carling Cup in 2007, which the Blues won 2-1.
Both bosses sent out strong teams for this fourth-round tie, Chelsea’s marginally the more impressive. For the Gunners it was a big night for striker Nicklas Bendtner.
But the pony-tailed Dane, who surprised just about everyone by not leaving the club in the transfer window, started poorly, giving the ball away on two of the first three occasions he touched it.
AZ GOOD AS GOLD: Azpilicueta storms toward the Arsenal goal [GETTY]
Kevin De Bruyne was one Chelsea player with his own point to prove after not impressing Mourinho in his last game, the Capital One Cup win at Swindon. He managed a shot on target early on but it was never going to trouble Fabianski.
After the Chelsea goal, Azpilcueta almost undid all his good work, giving the ball to Nacho Monreal as he tried to find De Bruyne. The Spanish left-back was not far off sneaking his low shot inside the far post.
Mourinho seemed to recognise the importance of winning a trophy straight away for Chelsea when he first arrived in 2004, conquering the League Cup.
Since then he has landed 13 other trophies, while Wenger has just the 2005 FA Cup to show in the same period.
The Blues started after the break brighter, with Eto’s sending a shot a couple of feet wide in the 50th minute.
Santi Cazorla was a bit wider with his effort soon after but it was not struck with too much conviction.
A Ramsey effort looked more dangerous, but deflected for a corner off David Luiz.
Bendter tried to tee up Ramsey when a more confident striker might have turned to try and shoot, considering he was in the box with some room behind him.
Ramsey flashed a shot narrowly wide in the 64th minute and seconds later Wenger opted to send on £42.5m Mesut Ozil for Ryo Miyaichi, with Mourinho knowing well the qualities of the German playmaker from their time together at Real Madrid.
But it was Chelsea’s creative genius, Juan Mata, who struck even before Ozil had had his first sprint.
Ryan Bertrand’s 66th-minute throw-in was flicked on by Eto’o, with Willian then getting his head to the ball to find Mata.
He took a deft touch with his left and then struck a sublime angled shot with the outside of his right boot into the far corner to settle this Capital One Cup encounter.
================================
Juan Mata ensures that the long wait goes on for Arsene Wenger
The Times. Rory SmithArsenal 0 Chelsea 2
And the wait goes on. Arsène Wenger has gone nine games and nine years now without a win against José Mourinho. That is bad enough, but there is another wait, one that is a little less long-lasting but of rather more concern. It is eight years and counting since Arsenal won a trophy.
This was their first chance of the season, possibly their best chance, to end that drought. And now it has gone.
It went with a whimper, too, goals from César Azpilicueta and Juan Mata sending Chelsea to the quarter-finals of the Capital One Cup and proving Wenger’s second-string were no match for Mourinho’s. That will soften the blow, of course: this was not Arsenal’s first-choice side, and it was not Arsenal’s first-choice competition. But that does not mean defeat did not matter.
The League Cup may often be written off as an afterthought, the silverware of the desperate man. That this was battle done between reserve squadrons goes some way to augmenting that view.
There are times, though, when this competition’s insignificance provides a rather useful prism through which to glimpse some important truths.
One, of course, is that Arsenal’s resources are simply not as deep as Chelsea’s. A quick glance at the team-sheets proved that: Mourinho made ten changes, but could still name a side full of top-class internationals. Some of them — Michael Essien, Samuel Eto’o, Mark Schwarzer — may be a little over-ripe, but their quality, even if it is dwindling, endures.
Perhaps the best example is Eto’o. Where Mourinho could call on a serial champion, a two-time Champions League winner, as his second-choice forward, Wenger had Nicklas Bendtner, whose most notable contribution to football’s rich and varied annals is that he was the first player to use his underpants as an impromptu advertising hoarding.
That gulf was clear from the start. “José addressed the players before the game and asked to be given selection problems for the weekend,” the Portuguese’s assistant, Steve Holland, said afterwards. “He didn’t want a flat performance. He wants headaches and everyone doing well when they get the chance to play. The players responded to that.”
Chelsea, backed by 9,000 travelling fans, took control from the off. There was no spite to the game, no edge — Mourinho and Wenger, the old enemies, even embraced before kick-off — but maybe that, too, was telling.
Mourinho saves his pantomime villain act for those he deems threats. Wenger, on this showing, does not warrant that status just yet.
It was all too easy for Chelsea. Essien prowled through the midfield, occasionally bursting forward as he did at his peak. He is a little slower, a little more cumbersome, now, but the power is still there, even if it takes a little longer to reach second gear. Mata and Willian flickered and flitted, Eto’o darted and probed.
The visiting side deserved their lead, even if it did come with a healthy dose of good fortune, Aaron Ramsey tackling Essien just inside his own half, the ball ballooning back towards Lukasz Fabianski’s goal. Carl Jenkinson tried to head it back to his goalkeeper, but his touch was too soft. Azpilicueta, the farthest man forward, nipped in and slipped home.
“I am not sure I am allowed to make that run,” he said, rather sheepishly. That was his first goal for the club; if he can be that effective, he will be allowed to do whatever he likes.
There was a parallel, as Holland noted, with the goal that helped Chelsea to beat Manchester City just two days ago. “It was almost identical to the goal Fernando [Torres] scored,” said the Chelsea first-team coach.
“A player chasing a lost cause, hoping to create some doubt and exploit it. It goes to show that willingness, that competitive attitude you look for in your players.”
The gods, it would seem, are smiling on Mourinho, right at the moment while they appear to have deserted Wenger.
Arsenal toiled in vain to get back into the game, but the ease with which Chelsea held the home team off — even when Mesut Özil and then Olivier Giroud entered the fray — does not bode well as Wenger’s side enter a crucial phase of their season.
The Frenchman had hoped to see his side use this game to prove they are genuine contenders, the real deal, to end that long wait for a trophy; if anything, it served as a reminder that there is still some way to go.
There has been a suspicion throughout this season — articulated on a number of occasions by Mourinho — that Arsenal’s position at the summit of the Barclays Premier League table owes as much to a kindly fixture list as it does to the quality of their squad; Wenger’s team did little to disabuse him of that notion here.
They created just a handful of chances, none of them desperately clear cut. Aaron Ramsey fizzed wide just after the break; Özil’s introduction lifted the fans, lifted the team, but it proved illusory. No sooner had the German appeared than Mata had settled things, driving home from the edge of the box, his shot unerring despite being hit with his weaker foot.
Arsenal did not have an answer. Not on the pitch, where Giroud drew one solitary save from Schwarzer and Wilshere fired over, and not in the stands, where Chelsea’s fans crowed in delight. “Nine years, and you’ve won,” they sang, followed by words which were designed to convey an absence of trophies.
Listening to that was bad enough; it might have got worse. Laurent Koscielny cleared off the line to deny Ramires, Demba Ba and David Luiz both sent efforts over as the game petered out. Mourinho wandered onto the pitch after the game, eager to collect Özil’s shirt as a keepsake. He has his trophy. Arsenal will have to wait for theirs.
No comments:
Post a Comment