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Played
February 7, 2010 4:00 PM GMT
Stamford Bridge
February 7, 2010 4:00 PM GMT
Stamford Bridge
90′ +5
FULL TIME!!! Well Drogba made all the difference today-as he often does against Arsenal. But the Chelsea defence was superbly marshalled by Cech and John Terry. Arsenal enjoyed plenty of possession, but surely have to be out of the title race now. Thanks for following, have a good evening.
90′ +5
Calm defending from Chelsea, a bouncing ball in the area is calmly headed back by Cole to Cech. Super defensively all day the home team.
90′ +3
Super from Ashley Cole. Eboue is charging down the right, and knocks it past the full back, who then puts in a superb recovering challenge to deny the Ivorian.
90′ +2
Bendtner is taking on Ivanovic, but his quick feet are probably too quick for him and he eventually hits the ball behind him. Rather comical!
90′ +1
Substitution 
Didier Drogba 
Salomon Kalou
Didier Drogba Salomon Kalou
90′ +1
Drogba's off to a hero's welcome, replaced by Salomon Kalou.
90′
OH!! Nasri fires an excellent cross into the Chelsea area, Fabregas beats Ivanovic in the air but can only direct his header wide of goal.
89′
Decent play from Clichy is spoilt by a poor cross which Chelsea clear.
88′
Yellow Card Joe Cole
88′
Yellow Card Yuri Zhirkov
87′
Substitution 
Nicolas Anelka 
Joe Cole
Nicolas Anelka Joe Cole
87′
Eboue tackles Drogba and then charges forward only to be brought down by Zhirkov who is booked.
85′
Decent passing move from Arsenal breaks down when Arshavin receives Rosicky's pass but opts to pass rather than shoot and it's intercepted. Song then brings down Lampard and consider himself fortunate not to pick up a second booking.
84′
OOOOOOOOH! Arsenal concede a freekick down their left flank when Fabregas is booked for bundling over Drogba. Lampard fires the cross in low, and Anelka ALMOST gets on the end of the pass but Vermaelen clears.
83′
OOOOOOOOOOOOH!!!! HOW UNLUCKY!! Drogbna should have a hat-trick! His freekick is wonderfully struck but hits the Arsenal crossbar. Almunia didn't move.
83′
Yellow Card Alexandre Song
82′
Song is booked, for a silly kick on Lampard which is late and fairly blatant. Chelsea have a freekick about 30 yards from Almunia's goal. Drogba and Lampard certainly look interested.
81′
Substitution Michael Ballack Yuri Zhirkov
Michael Ballack Yuri Zhirkov
80′
Arsenal break, but with men over-including Gallas who has charged forward from defence-Nasri's cross is woeful and Chelsea can clear.
79′
SUPER GOALKEEPING!!! Cech is out superbly quick to claw out Fabregas dinked header into the Chelsea box before Bendtner can pounce.
77′
Couple of excellent crosses from Eboue, one from deep in the Chelsea half, and the other breaking to the byline are repelled by John Terry. Super defending.
76′
Decent play from Eboue who cuts inside and runs into the centre of the Chelsea half. He feeds Bendtner down the left hand side of the Chelsea area, he cuts to the byline but his left footed cross is tame and Cech claims.
75′
OOOOOOOOOH! Ballack should do better. Rising highest he heads Malouda's corner over the Arsenal crossbar. Big chance that for the German.
75′
Ashley Cole wins a corner off Nasri as Chelsea look to put the seal on this game.
74′
Substitution Bacary Sagna Emmanuel Eboue
Bacary Sagna Emmanuel Eboue
74′
Substitution Abou Diaby Tomas Rosicky
Abou Diaby Tomas Rosicky
73′
OH!! Malouda is JUST flagged offside when receiving Lampard's pass. Meanwhile, Sagna and Diaby are off for Rosicky and Eboue for Arsenal.
72′
Chelsea respond to Arsenal's upsurge in this second half by pressing them higher up the pitch. Arsenal still maintaining plenty of possession.
70′
Arsenal are certainly giving a spirited response, but Drogba wins a freekick midway through the Arsenal half off Song.
68′
OOOOOOOH! Fabregas' low effort is superbly saved by Cech!!! Down quick to palm the ball out! Super save!!!!
67′
Some decent possession from Arsenal, eventually sees Bendtner win a freekick off Carvalho on the edge of the area. Bendtner's height has certainly added something to Arsenal's offensive options.
65′
Well he's back on John Terry and immediately heads out Clichy's cross. Eventually Nasri's quick feet culminates in him firing a tame left footed shot wide of Cech's goal.
64′
Substitution Theo Walcott Nicklas Bendtner
Theo Walcott Nicklas Bendtner
64′
Bendtner on for the disappointing Walcott for Arsenal. Worryingly for Chelsea, Terry is down and he's having his thigh strapped. He's certainly struggling here the Chelsea skipper.
63′
OH! Walcott is put free by Arshavin as Arsenal look to break but the England winger miscontrols and eventually puts a tame cross into the box.
61′
Drogba breaks away from Vermaelen, and is one on one with Gallas but the Belgian gets back with a super challenge to nick it off the Ivorian.
60′
OOOOOOOOOH! WHAT A CHANCE!!! Nasri has Arsenal's best chance of the second half! He is put through by Arshavin, and when one on one with Cech opts to take an extra touch rather than knock it past the Chelsea keeper and is tackled by the covering Terry. Big chance, and should have done much better!
59′
Ballack hits a low cross shot which dribbles right the way across Almunia's goal and wide of the far post.
57′
Arsenal are just struggling here as Chelsea have moved up a gear or two. Drogba charges down the left before feeding Malouda, but Sagna is across quick to nick the ball off his toe.
56′
Some super play from Ivanovic, who holds off Clichy and Song to charge forward. He then tries to feed Anelka, who is in space in the box, he chooses to shift the ball inside and is well challenged by Gallas.
54′
Super play from Chelsea. Ivanovic feeds a neat pass to Drogba down the right, he charges down to the byline before hanging a super cross to the backpost which finds Malouda unmarked. He fires a cross shot in which Lampard flicks goalwards but it's too weak and easy for Almunia to claim.
53′
Excellent defending by Ashley Cole, Arshavin picks up possession and tries to slip a neat through ball to Walcott, but Cole is closed in tight to cut out the pass.
52′
Some very good possession again from Arsenal, eventually see's Clichy win a corner. Fabregas plays it short to Arshavin who finds Diaby with a lightning fast pass inside, but he is closed down quickly by Chelsea defenders who knock it off the Arsenal man for a goalkick.
50′
Super turn from Drogba, who leaves Clichy and Diaby in his wake. But as he shoots from 30 yards, he slips and his shot skews well wide.
49′
Heavy challenge from Song on Mikel concedes a freekick, but still no yellow card from referee Mike Dean.
48′
Some decent possession from Arsenal, eventually sees Sagna whip a low cross into the area which Cole miskicks behind for a corner. Fabregas' delivery is poor and Chelsea clear.
47′
Couple of errors from Clichy who miscontrols for a throw, and then Gallas who miscontrols when intercepting give Chelsea a corner which Vermaelen clears easily at the near post.
46′
Walcott picks up possession right at the start of the second half, and beats Ashley Cole with a neat flick. Chelsea clear with ease though as Sagna's cross is poor.
45′
Arsenal kick us off for the second half.
45′ +39
Yellow Card Cesc Fàbregas
45′ +2
HALF TIME!! Well, that was all Didier Drogba. Two classic finishes from the Chelsea man have put his side two nil up. Arsenal again looking outmuscled, and increasingly vulnerable to the counterattack. Two nil half time, and a big second half awaits. See you in fifteen.
45′
Clash of heads involving Malouda and Vermaelen, sees the Frenchman concede a freekick. Both players seem a bit shaken, but should be ok.
44′
Wonderful play from the Chelsea captain John Terry. He tackles Walcott, and then charges onto the loose ball and knocks it to Mikel who then plays him in again. He loses the ball to Sagna, but then wins it back before feeding Anelka who is tackled well by Clichy.
43′
Decent play from Diaby feeds Nasri down the Arsenal left, his cross in is excellent, but Cole is well positioned to clear.
42′
Chelsea win a freekick midway through the Arsenal half, but Ballack's delivery is poor and Sagna rises highest to clear.
41′
Some decent possession from Arsenal is constantly repelled by this dogged Chelsea backline. Eventually Fabregas hits a tame shot from 35 yards out which is hopelessly wide. Smacks of desparation a bit that.
40′
Hesitation in the Arsenal backline as Vermaelen waits for Almunia to come and claim with Anelka bearing down on him. The Belgian eventually hoofs the ball clear.
39′
Walcott's down after a collision with Alex Song, but he looks like he'll be alright.
38′
Chelsea's turn for a decent spell of possession, and Malouda breaks free down the left beating Sagna and Walcott's weak challenges. But his low cross is cleared by Gallas.
36′
Clichy hits an optimistic strike from 35 yards out which flies high and wide of Cech's goal.
35′
Some decent play from Arsenal, who are enjoying plenty of the ball, eventually sees Arshavin play a wasteful pass into the box which Cech rises highest to claim easily.
33′
Some lovely play from Arshavin sees him cut into the Chelsea half and loft a lovely pass out wide to Nasri whose cross is blocked for a corner, which is then cleared.
32′
Lampard's corner is poor and Clichy clears with ease on the front post.
31′
OOOOOH! Ashley Cole breaks into the Arsenal box and picks up Ballack's lovely through pass, but Walcott is back quick to force him wide and eventually Almunia gets down well to palm the ball behind for a corner.
30′
Drogba really is playing well today. Dropping deep to receive the ball, he holds of Diaby's fouling challenge before running into Song. He wins a freekick for his team, but that was Drogba at his powerful best.
28′
Decent move involving Sagna and Song, eventually finds Fabregas in space on the edge of the box but his low left footed shot is dragged far wide of Cech's goal.
27′
John Terry and Carvalho look rock solid, both Clichy and Sagna swing crosses into the Chelsea box and those two are up highest to head clear with ease.
25′
Well, this could be a rout for Chelsea at the way this is going, Arsenal look very poor defensively. The home team are stroking the ball home with utter ease.
23′
GOAAAL!!! DROGBA MAKES IT TWO NIL! Chelsea hit Arsenal on the counter attack, Arsenal caught short with Lampard feeding Anelka. He then feeds Drogba who beats Clichy and then Vermaelen's weak challenges before firing past Drogba. Superb from the Ivorian, but awful from Arsenal. Two nil Chelsea!!!
23′
Goal Didier Drogba
22′
OOH!! Fabregas almost breaks through with a one-two with Arshavin.
20′
Arshavin AGAIN gets the ball in space in the proximity of the Chelsea area, but this time he shifts the ball onto his left foot and hits his shot straight at Carvalho who clears. Arsenal playing well, but with little to show for it.
19′
Arsenal are looking very bright today-despite the early goal. Arshavin makes some space and whips in a cross which is deflected behind for a corner which Cech claims easily.
17′
OOOOOOOOOOH!!! WHAT A CHANCE FOR ARSHAVIN! Fabregas' delightful throughpass finds the Russian unmarked in the Chelsea box with only Cech to beat. He volleys the shot first time, but straight at the goalkeeper who clears well. BIG CHANCE!
16′
OH! Nasri beats the offside trap, and is one on one with Cech. His touch forces him wide, and the keeper does well to block his attempted cross for a corner which is then cleared.
15′
OOOOOH!! Drogba is almost put through, but he just mistimed his run.
13′
Clichy wins a corner off Ivanovic, but Fabregas' delivery is poor and easily claimed by Cech.
12′
OOOOOOOH! Anelka almost breaks the Arsenal offside trap, but he JUST mistimes his run.
10′
Some decent passing play from Arsenal, but there's little in the way of sustained threat as Chelsea sit deep and soak up the pressure fairly comfortably.
8′
Arshavin breaks into the left hand channel of the box and beats the offside trap, but his low shot dribbles harmlessly across goal.
8′
Goal Didier Drogba
7′
GOOOOOOOOOAL!!! GOAL FOR CHELSEA!!! DROGBA SCORES! Ballack whips the corner in and Terry rises highest to flick the ball into the six yard box, where Drogba rifles the ball in from close range. Poor marking from Arsenal but a great start for Chelsea.
6′
Ballack whips the freekick in, but Walcott of all people clears it out for a corner.
5′
Chelsea win a freekick about 30 yards from the Arsenal goal, as Clichy bundles over Anelka. Pretty silly challenge.
4′
First shot in anger, and it's from Arsenal. Lovely move involving Song and Fabregas eventually see's the Spaniard roll the ball across the Chelsea area to Nasri, who cuts inside and hits a low shot which deflects off Ivanovic.
2′
Gallas has started nervously for Arsenal, as he miscues a relatively straight forward clearance, but Diaby is in quickly to challenge Malouda. Fabregas then breaks free down the right, but his cross is cleared.
1′
First glimpse of Drogba against this Arsenal backline in the first minute, a quick kick from Cech is won by Drogba against Gallas. He then tries to charge onto the rebound but Clichy is back quickly to clear.
And Chelsea get us underway!
The team's are out and we'll be underway shortly at the Bridge.
Well, I'm sure I need not tell you that this is a key game for both team's. Chelsea will want to win to regain top spot in the league, while Arsenal must surely have to win in order to remain in contention for the title.
Meanwhile for Arsenal its: Almunia, Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Clichy, Song, Diaby, Fabregas, Walcott, Arshavin and Nasri.
First up it's the team news. Chelsea are lining up: Cech, Ivanovic, Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole, Ballack, Mikel, Lampard, Malouda, Drogba and Anelka.
Good afternoon all, and welcome to Goal.com's live commentary of this key Premier League clash between Chelsea and Arsenal. My name's Alex Stamp and I'll be taking you through all the action live from Stamford Bridge.
Results
Times In BST
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Robin van Persie
Striker Arsenal |
30 | 2 |
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Wayne Rooney
Striker Manchester United |
27 | 6 |
|
Kun Agüero
Striker Manchester City |
23 | 3 |
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Aiyegbeni Yakubu
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17 | 4 |
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Emmanuel Adebayor
Striker Tottenham |
17 | 3 |
