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The encounter at the Stamford Bridge had a lot at stake, and a victory for Chelsea would have pretty much guaranteed them Champions League football next season, and could have possibly ruled out Tottenham’s surge for a berth in the Champions League. A Tottenham win would have meant that their cross-town rivals Arsenal would have had to settle for a spot in the Europa League. But with the spoils shared at the Bridge, it makes the battle for the Champions League all the more tighter and intense. With two more games to go, Chelsea and Arsenal seem more likely to progress, unless the Gunners slip up on the road ahead. Whatever happens next, we’re in for an exciting finish.
Let’s have a look at the 5 Talking Points from yesterday’s game-
1) Hazardous in midfield
Eden Hazard has been a revelation for Chelsea this season. He has certainly lived up to his price tag, and sometimes even makes it look like a bargain. Always a threat when on the ball, he showed quick feet and great skills to evade challenges. His smart and audacious pass to release Mata on goal from the halfline, that should have resulted in a third Chelsea goal, showed his enormous potential. Walker was a mere spectator at times, as his explosive pace would take him out of the equation.
2) Wasteful Huddlestone
Huddlestone, at the centre of the park, had huge shoes to fill due to the absence of Sandro. But on the night, he was extremely wasteful. Tottenham had opted to go for Adebayor ahead of Defoe, which was an obvious choice given the aerial threat he possesses. And with Tottenham drawing fouls in the final third of the game, all they needed was someone who’d deliver challenging crosses into the box for the likes of Adebayor and Dawson to improvise, and Huddlestone was extremely disappointing with his set pieces. He has immense talent, but his performance on the night was woeful and not worthy of a spot in midfield for a team that aims at Champions League success.
3) Adebayor’s performance leaves Spurs fans wanting for more
When the team sheets were out for everyone to see, I’m sure most of the Tottenham fans would have been disappointed with the inclusion of Adebayor ahead of in-form Jermaine Defoe. But at the end of 90 minutes, they had to take their words back as the Togo international was easily their best player on the night. His aerial prowess was useful for nullifying the aerial threat that Chelsea possess. A well-taken goal and a brilliant assist for the clinical Sigurdsson all contributed significantly to his otherwise frustrating season.
4) Bale out on the left?
Gareth Bale didn’t have the best of games. This season has seen him being deployed as a central attacking midfielder, but with Holtby taking his position, Gareth Bale returned to the left of midfield. He was largely kept at bay by Cesar Azpiliqueta, and couldn’t do much to affect the game. On many occasions, he was caught out of position, which only goes to question his versatility. Was it right to put Gareth on the left even when we all know how much damage he can cause when in a more central position? That would make for an interesting debate.
5) Spoils shared at the bridge, victory at the Emirates
Every Arsenal fan feared for the worst when the points table showed that Tottenham had a game in hand and were just 2 points adrift. A win for Chelsea would mean they would secure their place in next season’s Champions League, and a loss to Chelsea meant Arsenal would find themselves trailing Tottenham by a point. And with two relatively easy fixtures for Tottenham, they would be in the driving seat. A draw, however, puts Arsenal in a great position. even though they are trailing Chelsea by 2 points, it’s important to keep in mind that Chelsea have one eye on their Europa League final at Amsterdam. Rafa Benitez has to rotate his squad to maximum efficiency, and if he were to win the Europa League for Chelsea and guarantee them Champions League football for next season, the ‘Interim’ tag in his designation could very well be removed. If it stays this way, Chelsea and Arsenal would progress into the Champions League. Hence, the draw was hugely significant for Arsenal.
