Chelsea surged twelve points ahead of Arsenal at the top of the table on Saturday with a comprehensive 3-1 victory over the Gunners at Stamford Bridge.
The win highlights the progress Chelsea have made under Conte this season, especially since suffering a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Arsenal in September. Conte’s side powered to an impressive victory and all but ended Wenger’s hopes of a league title this season.
Marcos Alonso, Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas were the Blues’ heroes on the day, punishing their visitors with clinical and precise attacking play.
For Arsenal supporters it was of course a dismal afternoon and they’ve been left soul searching and wondering what the future holds under Arsene Wenger. Many are angry and have lost patience with the legendary Gunners boss.
Here are the FIVE lessons that we can take from the game…
The 3-4-3 is still incredibly effective
The defeat to Arsenal in September at the Emirates was the catalyst for change at Stamford Bridge with Antonio Conte subsequently changing permanently to the 3-4-3 system in the aftermath of the humiliation.
Fitting then that it would be so effective against the Gunners on Saturday. Victor Moses and Marcos Alonso bullied Wenger’s side on the flanks while the likes of Eden Hazard and Pedro ran riot in the final third.
The Italian’s system really has taken the Premier League by storm and continues to produce some of the most exciting football in the entire division.
Is it going to deliver title glory for the Blues?
Conte’s passion transfers to the pitch
The passion that Conte has exuded this season has been a breath of fresh air in the Premier League. He’s not afraid to let his feelings be known on the touchline or even in the aftermath of the goal.
He got right in amongst the Chelsea supporters when they took the lead, showing that he’s loving life at Stamford Bridge.
It’s a passion that can seen on the pitch. Chelsea are full of blood and thunder and determination, typifying what fans see in the dugout. It’s a joy to watch, even for a neutral.
There are moments throughout the season where teams look like champions and Saturday was certainly one of those moments.
Possession vs counter-attack
Arsenal’s patient possession-based football is effective against lesser teams in the Premier League but away to the top six it’s proven to be a surefire recipe for disaster.
They’ve failed to win in their last 10 away games against teams currently in the top six and based on Saturday’s performance, it’s clear to see why. Their style of play, patiently building into the final third, has no guts to it, no determination to win at any cost.
It’s simply no match to the kind of direct and clinical counter attacking play that Chelsea utilised on the day. You could tell from the start they were desperate to pick up the three points.
Arsenal looked weak in comparison and without a plan B from Wenger, struggled to adapt to the occasion.
Petr Cech is well past his best
Petr Cech’s howler summed up Arsenal’s afternoon but also served as a timely reminder he is a shadow of his former self. That it occurred at Stamford Bridge was poetic given how massive he was for Chelsea in his prime.
Cesc Fabregas scoring for Chelsea against Petr Cech in the Arsenal goal is not something you would have predicted ten years ago but it was a strange and unwanted nostalgia for Gunners fans.
Arsenal likely need to look for a long-term solution to their goalkeeping problem with Cech unlikely to do anything but regress at the age of 34. High profile mistakes like Saturday’s will do little to prove to Arsenal fans that he’s the man to take them forward at the back.
Arsenal’s title challenge is over
Before visiting Stamford Bridge, Arsenal fans still held out hope they could haul in Chelsea’s lead. A win would have taken them to within six points of the Blues, with a significant psychological advantage heading into the closing months of the season.
Now their challenge is in tatters and even the most optimistic of Gunners fans would admit they have no chance of overtaking Conte’s side now.
They still have Europe and the FA Cup left but it’s a league title that every Arsenal fan covets and they’ll now have to wait another year to see if they can get back into a position to challenge for the trophy.
