LONDON (AFP) - Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri labelled his players mentally weak and difficult to motivate after losing 2-0 at Arsenal in a toothless performance on Saturday (Jan 19).
The Gunners blew the race for a top-four Premier League finish wide open as first-half goals from Alexandre Lacazette and Laurent Koscielny closed Arsenal and Manchester United, who beat Brighton earlier in the day, to within three points of Chelsea in fourth.
"I'm extremely angry, very angry indeed. This defeat was due to our mentality more than anything else, our mental approach. We played against a team more determined than we were and I can't accept that," said Sarri, who spoke in his native Italian as he wished to send a message to his players.
"The fact is it appears this group of players is extremely difficult to motivate."
On current form Sarri's men look likely to be caught by Arsenal or United as a fourth defeat in 11 league matches underlined the need for the signing of Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain on loan from Juventus, which is expected to be completed in the coming days.
Chelsea enjoyed 64 per cent possession, but had just one shot on target to again question Sarri's decision to start without a recognised striker with Eden Hazard's impact limited in a central role, even against an Arsenal defence that had kept just one Premier League clean sheet since September.
However, Sarri insisted it was his players' attitude and not his system that was the problem.
"I think when you see this kind of game, when one team is more determined than the other, you can't really talk about tactics," he added.
"From a technical point of view both teams are on the same level, but they were more determined. Tactics don't come into it. Their high level of motivation was obvious throughout, particularly in both penalty areas."
Â
By contrast, Arsenal boss Unai Emery's selection was vindicated as Mesut Ozil was left on the bench for the full 90 minutes and a switch to a 4-4-2 allowed Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to form a potent partnership up front.
Aubameyang should have opened the scoring after just five minutes when perfectly picked out by Lacazette's low cross, but dragged his shot wide.
Kepa Arrizabalaga then produced a brilliant save to deny Koscielny from point-blank range, but it counted for little as from the resulting corner Arsenal took a deserved lead.
Lacazette did well to stay on his feet as he skipped past Marcos Alonso and Pedro Rodriguez before smashing the ball past Kepa at his near post.
Chelsea's start was horribly reminiscent of a 3-1 defeat at Tottenham in November that began their decline in recent months after a fine start to Sarri's reign.
However, Arsenal's defence remained vulnerable when put under pressure and Pedro could have levelled when his lob over Bernd Leno shaved the outside of the post.
Aubameyang came close again, this time in spectacular fashion with an overhead kick that flew inches wide with Kepa beaten.
Yet, Chelsea were repeatedly caught out by Arsenal's well-worked set-pieces and paid for it again, albeit in fortunate fashion for the Gunners, six minutes before the break.
Sead Kolasinac headed down Lucas Torreira's free-kick into the path of Sokratis Papastathopoulos and his cross picked out the unmarked Koscielny.
The French defender mistimed his header, but the ball bounced in off his shoulder for his first goal since the Arsenal captain ruptured his Achilles in April.
Chelsea could have got a foothold in the game before half-time as David Luiz's header came back off the post.
But in keeping with so many of their performances of late, Chelsea created little thereafter despite dominating possession.
Olivier Giroud was given a warm welcome back to the Emirates when he entered as a substitute, but even with the French international as a focal point, the visitors failed to threaten.
Sarri will hope Higuain, who scored 38 goals when the pair first worked together at Napoli in the 2015/16 season, is the answer.
Solskjaer lavishes praise on De Gea after United maintain winning run. It extended caretaker boss Solskjaer's winning start to a club-record sixth successive match in all competitions, but
Man City's title hopes dented, Solskjaer's winning run ends
ZAGREB, March 21 (Reuters) - Croatia were forced to dig deep as they came from behind to beat unfancied Azerbaijan 2-1 at home in their opening Euro 2020 Group E qualifier after forward Andrej Kramaric scored a 79th winner on Thursday. In the group's other fixture, Slovakia eased to a 2-0 home win
Football: Kramaric nets late winner as Croatia beat
German champions Bayern Munich have not yet made an offer for Manchester City winger Leroy Sane despite their long-standing desire to sign him, club CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said on Wednesday.
Unai Emery backs Arsenal's Mustafi ahead of Wolves. Arsenal travel to Wolves on Wednesday evening in a key tie for both sides. After another poor display vs Crystal Palace this past weekend,
Emery on Mustafi: Sometimes players don't play well
We lack rub of the green: Simeone, Football News & Top
Netflix renews Lucifer for fifth and final season. Unai Emery urges Arsenal to focus on Valencia clash. England fans clash with police in Portugal during Nations League match screening.
Unai Emery urges Arsenal to focus on Valencia clash - Article
Dec 18, 2018 · Manchester United parted company with coach Jose Mourinho after its worst Premier League start in 28 years, seeking to recapture the form that made it the world's most valuable soccer team.
Malaysia lost 2-1 to an under-strength Lebanon side in their first qualification match on June 13, before salvaging a 1-1 draw when Hong Kong missed an added-time penalty.
JDT players miss start of Malaysia camp for Asian Cup
Jermain Defoe to Rangers - Gers agree 18-month loan deal with Bournemouth. Keep u p to date with ALL the latest news and transfers from Scottish football plus fixtures,
Jermain Defoe on his 'gift from God' as Rangers seal loan for
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's instant impact as Manchester United interim manager continued in his first home game in charge as two goals from Paul Pogba helped his team secure a 3-1 win over Huddersfield.
Paul Pogba Strikes Twice as Man Utd Win on Ole Gunnar
Pochettino defiant as poor Tottenham form continues. Share. Tweet. Share. By Peter Hall (Reuters) - Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino remained defiant despite his side preparing
Pochettino defiant as poor Tottenham form continues
Real Madrid are "almost 100 percent" certain that they can bring Jose Mourinho back to the Bernabeu for a second spell as manager, according to the Daily Telegraph. Real Madrid are "almost 100 percent" certain that they can bring Jose Mourinho back to the Bernabeu for a second spell as manager, according to the Daily Telegraph.
Mourinho to be confirmed as Real Madrid boss imminently
Super-sub Kim sends below-par Koreans into last eight. Jan 23, 2019, 5:00 am. Football: Saudi Arabia pay price for profligacy as Japan reach quarter-finals for eighth consecutive Asian Cup.
North Korea US summit panic: Kim sends right-hand man for
7 Urgent Issues to Challenge in Your Youth Group! 40 thoughts on " 7 Urgent Issues to That's the kind of faith that will survive the youth's transition
Teenage sensation Moise Kean scored the winner to put Juventus one step away from an eighth consecutive Serie A title on Saturday as a 2-1 comeback win over AC Milan pushed the champions 21 points
Kean winner puts Juventus on brink of Serie A title
watch soccer live - live football streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live batman
watch premier league net live stream channel
watch premier league live streaming juventus
watch soccer aid live stream online
watch coppa america live streaming crictime
watch premier league darts live stream
watch live stream soccer games online free
watch soccer live stream app
watch premier league live streaming zimbabwe
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online reddit
watch champions league live streaming live free
watch champions league draw live streaming
free watch soccer live streaming
watch soccer live streaming juventus
watch soccer am online live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming xbox one
watch soccer live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch premier league live stream reddit
how to watch uefa champions league live streaming
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
watch live streaming soccer games
watch coppa america live streaming in india
best site to watch live soccer streaming
watch coppa america live streaming manchester united
watch soccer games online free streaming live
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online youtube
watch karnataka premier league live streaming
watch champions league live streaming now free
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online india
watch champions league live streaming pakistan
watch premier league live streaming live
watch soccer live streaming xbox
watch soccer saturday live stream
watch coppa america live streaming qatar
watch soccer live football streaming - ronaldo7.net
watch premier league live streaming qatar
watch premier league matches live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming espn
watch soccer live streaming kenya vs ethiopia
watch premier league stream reddit
watch live soccer online free streaming now
soccer tv live football streaming garuda select
watch champions league live streaming vk
watch soccer online free streaming live
watch real madrid vs juventus live streaming of champions league
watch champions league live streaming xbox one
watch coppa america live streaming philippines
watch coppa america live streaming nz
watch iceland soccer live stream
watch uefa champions league final live streaming free online
watch champions league live streaming manchester united
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming free online
watch champions league live streaming live
watch champions league live streaming vf
watch soccer live streaming qatar vs philippines
watch premier league live in stream
watch premier league live streaming free
watch champions league simulcast live stream
watch coppa america live streaming zee5
soccer tv live net stream
watch soccer online free streaming live uk
watch champions league online free live streaming hd
watch champions league live streaming match
watch coppa america live streaming online
watch premier league games live stream
watch live streaming of premier league football
watch premier league live streaming zee tv
watch soccer world cup live streaming
super soccer tv live streaming napoli vs juventus
watch coppa america live streaming bt sport
watch champions league live streaming zee5
watch champions league live streaming juventus
watch soccer games live stream free
watch premier league live streaming youtube
watch premier league live stream hd
watch soccer online free streaming live iphone
watch barclays premier league live streaming online free
watch coppa america live streaming portugal
watch premier league live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch champions league live streaming bola
watch coppa america live streaming india vs england
watch soccer game live now
watch champions league live streaming espn
watch coppa america live streaming vf
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming hd
watch coppa america live streaming cricfree
watch champions league draw live stream total sportek
watch coppa america live streaming hd free
watch coppa america live streaming pc
watch us soccer live stream
watch coppa america live streaming indonesia
watch coppa america live streaming juventus
watch english premier league live streaming
where to watch premier league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming game
watch soccer live streaming zee tv
watch coppa america live streaming ufc
watch coppa america live streaming sctv
watch premier league live streaming vf
watch champions league draw live streaming free
watch champions league live streaming xfinity
watch coppa america live streaming australia
watch champions league live streaming malaysia
watch coppa america live streaming tv
watch soccer online free streaming live in english
watch soccer live streaming xfinity
watch premier league live streaming jamaica
watch champions league live streaming now
#oudmehta #chocolatecoffee #nikesoccer #league1 #livestreaming #juventus #lovefootball #elcasico #footballfans #Liamgallagher #arsenalfantv #transfernews #londoncity #goal #433skills #bayern #pagani #golazo #Vip45 #myfootballuniverse #portsmouthfc #sunderlandafc #sixtimes #watchlive #commentimemorabili #linkstreaming #cristianoronaldo #kopisusu #lionelmessi #paulmcartney #Barca #conference #hotcoffee #liverpool #livesports #sumbertv #adidasslipon #footballdubai #crossfit #kickoff #rugby #premierleague #football #coutinho #villarealcf #mensnightout #roadtrip #klopp #vandijk #freekicks #bayernmunich #thomasmeunier #realmadridcf #gunners #neymar #soccermemes #golf #goodday #acmilan #satira #soccerbible #nutmeg #soccer #cristiano #copaamerica #Sunday #cappucino #afcnews #thebeatles #MSport #gym #Liverpool #nationsleague #4Series #arsenal #oasisandbeatles #americanfootball #liverpoolfc #premierleague #rockstar #messi #manchestercity #romania #ronaldo #comico #hoffenhiem #firmino #freekickerz #JUVENTUS
No comments:
Post a Comment