But back down the time tunnel, for a while at least, as on a powder blue afternoon at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal and Chelsea produced an opening half-hour that felt like a throwback to prime Barclays of the early 2000s. In that period this really did feel like a twist on a classic: spells of midfield murder-ball, stretched and flustered full‑backs, players hurling themselves at the defensive lines like the fall guys in a cowboy western being tossed out through the saloon-bar doors. Arsenal had 10 shots in that period and played breathless, physically overwhelming attacking football.
The game settled after they scored their equaliser. In the second half it became simply gripping and episodic, broken up by subs and stoppages, which is the current dynamic. Second halves: these are a problem.
But Arsenal never really looked like losing their 2-1 lead. The key to the day was that agreeably wild opening half‑hour, evidence that both teams have will and the energy to progress this season. Which will, in turn, be good news for the Premier League.
Quite a lot of demo-mode football. Games that were like watching someone knitting a scarf. Teams with such elite levels of defensive organisation the experience is like watching one of those police motorbike display teams doing a pyramid, while a group of men on laptops furiously study the data.
All very orderly, and disciplined. Just lacking in colour and fire. And more significantly, the higher gears that mean you might actually be able to run step for step with Paris Saint-Germain, or blow away, rather than slowly strangle, an opponent.
It is about balance of course, about releasing the urge for total control. There was a moment on 87 minutes that captured both sides of this. Chelsea were awarded a free-kick 25 yards out in front of goal: high drama, a moment to be seized, necks craned forward in the seats.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
