I will take that. Considering we had our three best players unavailable/injured then on top of that Delap also being out, Gusto being out and the already confirmed absentees, then considering we were playing arguably Arsenal’s best team available, we did well. When they went 2-0 up and then again 3-1 up, I feared the worst and they could have put that to bed. Gabriel missed a glaring header.

I am pleased with the fight shown against a top team and we have given ourselves a fighting chance in which hopefully the players aforementioned are back.

Estevao was brilliant tonight. Cannot believe how Maresca stopped playing him. He was up against one of the best FB in Europe in Timber and caused him many problems. He was a shining light.

Well played Garnacho for working on his finishing too. Got us back in game twice and now has given us something to fight for. Realistically 3-1 would have been too difficult to overturn, however 3-2, much better optimism.

COYB!

22 minutes ago, Andy North said:

Is Sanchez the new Jackson?

I thought he had been much improved this season - but looked back to his worst this evening.

29 minutes ago, WhiteWall said:

Think its academic to be honest. No way does this team win at the Emirates. It was a Man City vs Arsenal final as soon as the draw was made.

This....👍..........

+ If the tackle on Trev for their 1st had been committed by a blue shirt, Var would have went into overdrive & red would have been the result, awful decision for them not to intervene in this......he could have pulled out of it, Trev got up too quick...we need to learn Arteta's dark arts

Thanks to Garnacho's goals the Arsenal win was limited to one goal margin. Hard to see us overturning it at their place but you never know. At least it will annoy Arteta and force him to put out a decent team to finish the job off in the second leg.

So were Caicedo, James, Palmer and Delap all injured?

20 minutes ago, Dr. Socrates said:

So were Caicedo, James, Palmer and Delap all injured?

They were not available for selection based on decision from the SD's (ahem I mean medical team). So your guess is as good as mine.

Can’t trust Sanchez, shame because it looked like he might be turning a corner but if you ask me we need to move on. Don’t feel confident in him.

Just back from the game. It was a strange one. Arsenal comfortably the better side and yet barring goalkeeping errors/dubious first goal and we probably snatch a draw at least.

Still alive in the tie just about, Arsenal will be slightly annoyed to only have a 1 goal advantage. Uphill battle but with a full team i think we can get a 1 goal win at the Emirates.

1 hour ago, STATS said:

I will take that. Considering we had our three best players unavailable/injured then on top of that Delap also being out, Gusto being out and the already confirmed absentees, then considering we were playing arguably Arsenal’s best team available, we did well. When they went 2-0 up and then again 3-1 up, I feared the worst and they could have put that to bed. Gabriel missed a glaring header.

I am pleased with the fight shown against a top team and we have given ourselves a fighting chance in which hopefully the players aforementioned are back.

Estevao was brilliant tonight. Cannot believe how Maresca stopped playing him. He was up against one of the best FB in Europe in Timber and caused him many problems. He was a shining light.

Well played Garnacho for working on his finishing too. Got us back in game twice and now has given us something to fight for. Realistically 3-1 would have been too difficult to overturn, however 3-2, much better optimism.

COYB!

Good grief we are now happy to take a one goal home loss to Arsenal...

42 minutes ago, forbzy said:

They were not available for selection based on decision from the SD's (ahem I mean medical team). So your guess is as good as mine.

Caicedo was suspended, James injured his hip this morning in training, Delap was taken ill 3 hours before kick off, and Palmer is still not fit

15 minutes ago, Caps_Lock_King said:

Caicedo was suspended, James injured his hip this morning in training, Delap was taken ill 3 hours before kick off, and Palmer is still not fit

Just hope the injury made his recovery time a bit longer and it's not the groin. 🤞

16 minutes ago, Caps_Lock_King said:

Caicedo was suspended, James injured his hip this morning in training, Delap was taken ill 3 hours before kick off, and Palmer is still not fit

Caicedo was clear. The other 3 we are assuming that the spin from the club is true. What about Essugo? He was on the bench and would have made much more logical sense as a sub than yet another CB.

2 hours ago, STATS said:

I will take that. Considering we had our three best players unavailable/injured then on top of that Delap also being out, Gusto being out and the already confirmed absentees, then considering we were playing arguably Arsenal’s best team available, we did well. When they went 2-0 up and then again 3-1 up, I feared the worst and they could have put that to bed. Gabriel missed a glaring header.

I am pleased with the fight shown against a top team and we have given ourselves a fighting chance in which hopefully the players aforementioned are back.

Estevao was brilliant tonight. Cannot believe how Maresca stopped playing him. He was up against one of the best FB in Europe in Timber and caused him many problems. He was a shining light.

Well played Garnacho for working on his finishing too. Got us back in game twice and now has given us something to fight for. Realistically 3-1 would have been too difficult to overturn, however 3-2, much better optimism.

COYB!

Agreed.

Gift them a 2 goal start and come away only losing 3-2 we cannot complain - still in it.

And IF we can turn it round in the next leg, imagine what it might do to Arsenal title hopes... 😁

The xG score (via Fotmob) :

Chelsea 0.65 : 2.68 Arsenal

30 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

The xG score (via Fotmob) :

Chelsea 0.65 : 2.68 Arsenal

That is pretty damning.

22 minutes ago, forbzy said:

That is pretty damning.

We are pretty sh*t.

3 hours ago, Dr. Socrates said:

So were Caicedo, James, Palmer and Delap all injured?

I only saw the highlights but the commentator mentioned Caicedo was suspended based on picking up two reds in the competition. Given Cucurella played after his straight red against Fulham, it appears there are separate suspension rules in carabao cup. Maybe that’s football league governed vs FA. Unsure.

Having seen the goals Kepas sh*t goalkeeping handed us our two goals as much as Bob gave them their first 2

3 hours ago, Sexyfootball said:

The xG score (via Fotmob) :

Chelsea 0.65 : 2.68 Arsenal

Even our own extended highlights struggle to show us making even a half decent chance.

How merino missed that sitter. S

5 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Good grief we are now happy to take a one goal home loss to Arsenal...

Put it into context. We had several players missing. Arsenal had virtually their best team playing bar 1/2 players. I don't think most of us had much hope when the lineups were revealed. We had a rookie up front who unsurprisingly struggled against the best team in the league. I am sure if Delap was playing, he could have caused problems but he took ill which was a blow for us.

They went 3-1 up and could have had more on occasions. I genuinely was fearing a thumping when they went 2-0 up and 3-1 up but we got back twice. In the context of things, of course I am happy and Arsenal will be kicking themselves that the scoreline ended 3-2. If you are not content with that, then I am not sure what else you wanted.

https://www.skysports.com/football/live-blog/11670/13025486/arsenal-transfer-news-rumours-and-gossip-live-updates-and-latest-on-deals-signings-loans-and-contracts

Redknapp summed it up best himself. Second leg, you could argue that 5 players who were unavailable last night in Gusto, James, Caicedo, Palmer and Delap will all be starters in the second leg. Yes, I will take that for sure.

Edited January 15Jan 15 by STATS

AS others have said, will take the 2-3 and still not sure how we managed to come away with that when for large parts, Arsenal were so superior. Instead of the one goal deficit, it could easily be four, so at least it gives us a slim chance in the return leg if we have the missing players available. Arsenal looked to be playing within themselves and the squad quality was emphasised with their bench compared to ours,

Hated the messing around with the ball at the back. It was amateur stuff so why persevere with it when it keeps going so badly?

We gave a dew very needless free-kicks away around the edge of our box down to bad decision making - luckily none of them cost us but on another night it could have been curtains. Love seeing Josh getting minutes but I see him as a CB - he looks like a fish out of water playing wide right - where Estevao should be getting the ball. And how the f**k did we end the game with Badiashille and Tosin on the pitch together again? We definitely got away with one.

We were poor overall and very lucky to come away with only a 1 goal deficit. I dont care if sanchez has been in a purple patch no team with any aspirations of success should have a goalkeeper who is guaranteed to make at least 5 howlers a season.

Undoubtedly will get trounced at the Emirates.

11 hours ago, Scott Harris said:

How about we stop being a bunch of pussies? We've turned into mid 2000's Arsenal. Crying about fouls that aren't fouls. They're too f**king soft, physically and mentally.

It does not matter. A foul is a foul. Not saying we lost because of that, but Saka clearly tripped him. That is a foul anywhere else on the pitch. Arsenal put the ball back into play and three passes later they score.

Same for their first goal. If Haaland is judged offside because Thiaw can't play the ball, how come Gyokeres is not judged offside when clearly Guiu has no chance of playing that ball because of him?

It is about consistency from the refs. I am not saying this was Ovrebro levels, but Arsenal scored two goals from two decisions that one day earlier were judged differently.

41 minutes ago, petre ispirescu said:

It does not matter. A foul is a foul. Not saying we lost because of that, but Saka clearly tripped him. That is a foul anywhere else on the pitch. Arsenal put the ball back into play and three passes later they score.

Same for their first goal. If Haaland is judged offside because Thiaw can't play the ball, how come Gyokeres is not judged offside when clearly Guiu has no chance of playing that ball because of him?

It is about consistency from the refs. I am not saying this was Ovrebro levels, but Arsenal scored two goals from two decisions that one day earlier were judged differently.

Because it's Chelsea & City vs Arsenal

4 hours ago, STATS said:

Redknapp summed it up best himself. Second leg, you could argue that 5 players who were unavailable last night in Gusto, James, Caicedo, Palmer and Delap will all be starters in the second leg. Yes, I will take that for sure.

Starting all 5 of those will mean Estevao will not start unless he plays LW, THE YES MAN will be told to play Gusto at RB, James alongside Caicedo, Enzo at 10 and Palmer at RW