Arsenal v Chelsea: Five classic encounters
Arsenal entertain Chelsea this afternoon in a game that promises to be full of goals, excitement and drama. The two sides have met 177 times down the years and produced some classic encounters.
Squarefootball's Steve Coulter has gone through the archives and picked out five of the best modern-day clashes between the two at the home of the Arsenal.
ARSENAL 3 CHELSEA 1
2010 FA PREMIER LEAGUE
Arsenal
produced a stirring performance to end their Chelsea hoodoo. The Gunners hadn't beaten their capital rivals in 11 attempts before this convincing victory.
Arsene Wenger's men were good value for their win. Goals from Alex Song, Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott gave the North London side all three points.
The home side made the breakthrough on 44 minutes. Song slipped the ball past Cech after some good work from Jack Wilshere. Two goals in two minutes effectively ended the contest before the hour. On both occasions Carlo Ancelotti's men were the architects of their own downfall.
Seven minutes into the second half Arsenal doubled their advantage. The visitors looked comfortable as Michael Essien gained possession. The midfielder's errant pass was intercepted by Walcott just inside his own half. Walcott outpaced the Chelsea defence before
supplying Fabregas. The Spaniard tapped the ball home to make it 2-0.
The third goal arrived is similar fashion. This time slack play from Florent Malouda let the Gunners in. The Frenchman was dispossessed by Febregas. The Arsenal captain immediately released Walcott on the right, who raced clear and hammered a right foot drive past Petr Cech.
The champions pulled one back through Branislav Ivanovic, but it was too little too late. The damaging defeat heaped further pressure on Ancelotti - the Blues had now failed to win any of their last six games. Chelsea were now six points behind leaders Manchester United.
ARSENAL 0 CHELSEA 3
2009 FA PREMIER LEAGUE
Arsenal fans must have breathed a sigh of relief when Didier Drogba departed these shores. The Drog had been a constant thorn in the Gunners side for nearly a decade. The big striker was signed from Marseille
in 2004 and he certainly repaid the £24 million fee Chelsea spent to secure
his services.
Arsenal were certainly his favourite opponents. Drogba plundered 13 goals against Arsene Wenger's men. Having
broken Arsenal hearts in several high profile cup ties, the Ivorian
found his scoring boots at the Emirates.
Chelsea were looking to extend
their lead at the top of the table. A win would put the Pensioners
five points clear of Manchester United. Arsenal were having an
indifferent campaign. The home side lay fourth in the table, eight
points adrift of their visitors.
It took 41 minutes for the Arsenal nemesis to strike. Ashley Cole's leg wing cross was diverted home by Drogba. Cole was enjoying
a field day against his former club. With half time approaching
another Cole centre led to Thomas Vermaelen's own goal. The West
Londoners wrapped up victory four minutes from time. Drogba's thumping
free kick gave Manuel Almunia no chance.
Chelsea went on to complete
the domestic league and FA Cup double.
ARSENAL 1 CHELSEA 0
2007 FA PREMIER LEAGUE
A William Gallas header ruined Ashley Cole's return to the Emirates. The England defender was making his first return since his controversial switch to Stamford
Bridge.
Stepney-born Cole joined the Gunners in 1999 and became a firm favourite on the
North Bank. Things turned sour in 2006 when Cole refused to renew his
contract. Arsenal offered to increase the left back's salary to £55,000 a
week. Cole took exception to the offer and signed for The Blues. The
transfer saw the Blues shell out £5 million for Arsenal's prized asset,
the deal also saw William Gallas leave Chelsea for Arsenal.
The Arsenal faithful were in no mood for forgiveness when the two teams entered
the pitch. Cole was booed from the off by angry Gooners. Ironically it
was Gallas who made the bigger impact on proceedings. The big defender
nodded home Cesc Fabragas 45th minute corner.
In an open game the
visitors always looked liable to equalise. Shaun Wright-Phillips
squandered a great chance to restore parity. Claudio Pizzaro's left
wing cross picked out the unmaked wide man. From close range Wright-Phills screwed his shot wide of the far
post.
As Chelsea committed more men forward, Arsenal sensed the opportunity of a goal on the break. A lightening counter attack nearly led to a second
goal. Emmanuel Adebayor broke clear on the Arsenal left. The
striker's cross field pass found Alexander Helb, who broke into the
penalty area and slipped the ball to Robin Van Persie. For once RVP
lost his composure, the Dutchman lifted his close range over the bar.
ARSENAL 1 CHELSEA 2
2004 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUARTER FINAL 2nd LEG (CHELSEA WON 3-2 ON AGGREGATE)
We all know football management
involves pressure, but few men have felt the heat like Claudio Ranieri. In the summer of 2003, Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich bought
Chelsea Football Club. From the outset the Italian boss appeared the
fall guy. When a new owner takes over a club he understandably wants his own man at the helm, particularly when you have parted with £140 million
It was impossible not to feel a tinge of sympathy for Ranieri. Every day rumours circulated
of his impending sacking. The name Jose Mourinho loomed in the
background. The Special One had led Porto to the 2003 Champions
League and was strongly linked with the Chelsea job. Despite the
constant speculation Ranieri managed to hang on to his job as the Blues
progressed to the Champions League quarter-final.
Chelsea faced Arsenal in the last eight, the
Gunners were on the verge of winning the Premier League and Arsene Wenger's
side were still undefeated in the league. The first leg ended 1-1 at
Stamford Bridge. With an away goal in the bank Arsenal were strong
favourites to go through.
The script seemed to have been followed when Jose
Antonia Reyes gave the home side a half time lead. But midway through
the second half Frank Lampard equalised. The midfielder pounced after
Jens Lehman's error. With extra time on the cards, Chelsea silenced
Highbury. Wayne Bridge played a slick one-two with Eidur Gudjohnsen. The quick
interchange gave Bridge a sight of goal. The full back didn't need a
second invitation and hammered a left foot shot past Lehman. The last-minute goal gave Arsenal no time to reply. Ranieri celebrated on the
touchline, his emotional response will never be forgotten.
Chelsea
went on to lose the semi-final with French side Monaco ending hopes of a
Raneri fairytale. Soon after the Tinkerman was sacked and replaced by
Mourinho. Arsenal recovered in style. The Wenger Boys remained
unbeaten throughout the entire Premier League season. The Invincibles were the first team in a Century to achieve the milestone.
ARSENAL 1 CHELSEA 1
1984 FIRST DIVISION
The
early 1980s were a difficult time for Arsenal as manager Don Howe was
still struggling to make an impact at Highbury. Howe was appointed
caretaker boss in December 1983
and took full-time control a few months later. The new boss couldn't
grumble at his transfer budget. Big money signings Paul Mariner, Tony
Woodcock and Viv Anderson were all recruited by the Gunners. Despite
this the team continued to underachieve.
A new low was reached when
Third Division Walsall knocked them out of the League Cup. The
Saddlers won 2-1 at Highbury to pile more pressure on Howe.
Their
opponents were enjoying a resurgence in fortunes. Chelsea had won the
Second Division title the previous season. The Blues side included
Kerry Dixon, Pat Nevin and David Speedie. This Chelsea team were going
places. The First Division new boys opened their campaign at big
spending Arsenal.
Mariner
gave the home side the lead. The tall striker headed home Kenny
Sansom's free kick. Woodcock almost made it when he screwed his shot
across the face of goal. But nothing was going to spoil Chelsea's
return to the big time. Dixon showed great strength
to escape the shackles of his marker. His initial shot was parred by
Pat Jennings. But Dixon made no mistake from the rebound, his rasping
shot sending the visiting hoards into ecstasy.
Both
sides had chances to win the game, but the London derby ended 1-1.
Kerry Dixon went on to become a Chelsea legend. The Luton-born striker
scored 193 goals for the Stamford Bridge club. Chelsea enjoyed a
splendid return to the top flight. John Neal's side finished sixth, one
place above Arsenal.
Well we hope that has got you in the right mood ahead of today's lunchtime kick off. Who will come out on top this weekend? Find out what our pundits think by clicking here
