English Premier League: Gunners blow away Chelsea at the Emirates
At the weekend, Manchester United amassed a five point lead at the top over Arsenal, and a six point one over Chelsea. So, one of either Arsenal or Chelsea needed to get back into the mix of things with a win over the other.
Arsenal versus http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786 is traditionally a big match, only made bigger this time by the close proximity they shared in this year’s league standings. Both teams, before this game, were separated by a meagre one point, as Arsenal lied in third place while Chelsea
were in fourth.
Arsenal last time around saw themselves go to Old Trafford in a top of the table clash and come out on the wrong end of a 1-0 score-line. Chelsea however have been on an immensely poor run of form, winning just one game out of seven, hardly something the
Chelsea of old were notorious for.
But, Carlo Ancelloti was pretty much upbeat and optimistic for this game, as recent history has it, Chelsea are virtually unbeatable for Arsenal. In their last two visits to The Emirates Stadium, Chelsea have won 4-1 and 3-0 respectively. And the last two
times Arsenal had visited Stamford Bridge, they fell to 2-0 score-lines on both occasions. In all those games, one player had an enormous part to play in Arsenal's demise, that player is Didier Drogba. So often the bane of Arsenal's aspirations, he has time
and time again ripped them to shreds, scoring a whopping 13 goals in 13 games against them while also setting up many others.
Arsene Wenger himself admitted that he needed to formulate a plan to keep Drogba quiet. And that plan included bringing http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Andrei-Arshavin-c5771, and
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Marouane-Chamakh-c24294 whose form has suffered of late. Cesc Fabregas came back to reclaim his place in the starting-line up from Tomas Rosicky.
Carlo Ancelloti welcomed back Frank Lampard to his line up for the first time since September this year. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Florent-Malouda-c13838 and Solomon Kalou.
Both teams were sent out with attacking formations, but both started nervously. Arsenal, it seemed, were suffering again from their obvious lack of big game mentality and Chelsea, it seemed, were nervous because of their miserable run of form of late. But,
the battles in midfield were feisty enough, with Wilshere and Song continuously shackling the likes of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Frank-Lampard-c14097 and Malouda.
Nothing substantial came of the game until Nasri tested Cech’s reaction with a stunning chipped shot destined for the back of the net. Around the 40th minute, the ball broke to http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Samir-Nasri-c32360. He saw Cech of his line and immediately lobbed the ball
over him. But, it pays to have Cech’s height as he so aptly demonstrated by backtracking and diving to somehow prevent Nasri’s sublime effort from being acquainted with the back of the net.
But, Chelsea could not hold on for much longer. Five minutes later, Clichy passed inside to Alex Song who further passed to Wilshere. The http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/England-c749 International cut inside of Mikel and passed into the box to Fabregas. The Arsenal captain turned Ferrera to
fashion a shooting opportunity but Ferrera brought him down, Song though did not stand around to wait for the referee to whistle for a penalty as he gathered the ball and finished clinically with his left peg past the onrushing http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Petr-Cech-c29837. The Emirates went
wild as the fans could hardly believe that they’d finally taken the lead against Chelsea.
After the halftime, the game resumed with Arsenal being the team more eager to force the issue. In the 51st minute, Fabregas passed to Van Persie who was suddenly surrounded by Ivanovic, Terry and Essien. He managed to shield the ball admirably
before Essien toe poked the ball out of his possession, but in doing so, he released Walcott straight through on goal, and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ashley-Cole-c6809 had no chance of catching him. Fabregas ran straight into the box, and just as Cech dived into Walcott’s feet, he released
the ball to his skipper who applied the finishing touch by nodding it into the empty net. It was 2-0 and there was still more to come from Arsenal who in the past couldn’t even buy a goal against the champions.
Two minutes later, Walcott robbed Essien who was caught in possession and passes to Fabregas. Walcott though continued his run and as Terry dove into Fabregas, he dinked the ball over him to Walcott’s path. He controlled the ball and buried a deft finish
into the far corner of the net. It was dead and buried now as far as Chelsea were concerned as Arsenal tore through the cracks that Chelsea have most recently acquired.
Chelsea did get one back through Ivanovic when he headed Drogba’s free kick past Fabianski, but it was a lost cause. Arsenal kept the possession admirably well and nobody made mistakes to give Chelsea even a shadow of a chance.
For Arsenal, this win was beyond anything they could’ve fathomed. Even the staunchest of Arsenal fans were more in anticipation of a score draw, and many were preparing for another Drogba master class. But, kudos to Wenger whose gamble to play Djourou paid
off, as the big Swiss centre half proved more than just a match for Drogba, and Koscielny eliminated any aerial threats.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Alex-Song-c4804 had a game he could be proud of, he scored a goal and wiped out every threat Chelsea could muster. But, Chelsea will feel like something’s amiss at the West London club, and they will be devastated by their horrendous showing. Now, they are six
points off United, and United have a game in hand which could see United make it nine points clear. For now though, just let Arsenal revel in their victory, and Chelsea ponder what has gone wrong at The Bridge.
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