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Arsenal - Chelsea Special: Top Five Premier League Clashes Since 2003

Ahead of Sunday's big showdown, Goal.com's Amoy Ghoshal looks back at five of the best league clashes between the two London rivals during the Roman Abramovich era.

27-Nov-2009 9:28:24 PM

EPL: Francesc Fabregas , Arsenal - Chelsea (PA)

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EPL: Francesc Fabregas , Arsenal - Chelsea (PA)

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Chelsea 1-2 Arsenal - 21st February, 2004

Arsenal were chasing their 13rd league title and coming into this game they had a four point lead over nearest rivals Chelsea. The two teams met the week before at Highbury in a FA Cup fifth round clash in which the Gunners came from behind to win 2-1. Chelsea were determined to avenge that defeat and reduce the gap at the top. They got off to a dream start as Gudjohnsen put them ahead after 27 seconds following a fine cross by Geremi, who dispossessed Arsenal skipper Vieira before creating that chance. Chelsea were not allowing Arsenal to settle in the game but Wenger’s men scored a brilliant team goal to level the scores.

Pires' run created space down the middle and Bergkamp's delightful pass with the outside of his right foot found Vieira who made up for his earlier error by slotting the ball past Chelsea keeper Neil Sullivan. Close to the twenty minute mark Arsenal took the lead when Sullivan completely misjudged Gilberto's in-swinging corner and the ball fell perfectly for Edu who found the back of the net from close range. Chelsea kept pushing for the equalizer and had a few chances before the break but couldn't take them. Arsenal got stronger defensively in the second period and once Gudjohnsen was sent off in the 60th minute after a second bookable offence, the comeback was beyond the Blues. The Gunners picked up three valuable points and it proved to be an important win in their unbeaten title triumph.

Arsenal 2-2 Chelsea - 12th December, 2004

Arsenal were the defending champions this season but were facing Chelsea for the first time under Jose Mourinho. Coming into the game, the Blues held a five point advantage over the Gunners but the home side were the favorites to win this despite missing key midfielders like Vieira, Edu and Gilberto Silva. Henry gave Wenger’s team the lead as early as the second minute with a fantastic left footed strike from outside the box. Arsenal were looking good in the early stages but always looked vulnerable while defending set pieces and from one Lampard corner Terry found the equalizer with a sumptuous header past Almunia.

Henry put Arsenal back in front with a controversial goal from a freekick as he curled in a shot with Cech still organising his wall. Referee Graham Poll had allowed Henry to take the freekick early and the Frenchman made the most of it. Just a minute into the second period, Chelsea leveled the scores for the second time in the game and yet again it came from a set-piece. Lampard swung in a cross which Gallas knocked back across goal and a fine header from Gudjohnsen made it 2-2. Mourinho’s team always looked dangerous from set-pieces and crosses but it was Arsenal who had the better chances to win the game as Henry squandered a great opportunity while Flamini was denied a penalty. Chelsea held on for a vital away point and kept their five point lead in tact which eventually helped them win their first ever Premier League title.

Chelsea 1-2 Arsenal - 30th November, 2008

Prior to this fixture, Arsenal were struggling in the league having lost five of their first fourteen matches. There were also problems off the pitch as a much publicized interview of William Gallas raised questions about the unity of the squad and eventually forced Wenger to strip the French defender off the Arsenal captaincy. Cesc Fabregas was made the new skipper and his debut in the league as the leader would be in this game. Chelsea’s long unbeaten home record in the league was ended earlier in the season by Liverpool but still they always looked strong at Stamford Bridge so it wasn’t a surprise as they took the lead through a Johan Djourou own goal just after the half an hour mark. The Blues were not creating too many chances but throughout the first half, they looked the most likely team to open the scoring while Arsenal just couldn’t get going.

Even in the early stages of the second half anything other than a Chelsea win looked improbable however Dutchman Robin Van Persie had other plans. He scored a quickfire double in two minutes to give Arsenal the lead. The first was in controversial circumstances as Van Persie looked offside when he was played in by Denilson but there was nothing wrong with the finish as a powerful right footed shot gave Cech no chance. The second was one was a left footed finish on the turn after Adebayor had won the initial header from a Fabregas freekick. Despite playing at home, Chelsea hardly threatened to get the equalizer as Arsenal held on for three very important points. It was their first victory at Stamford Bridge since February 2004.

Chelsea 1-0 Arsenal - 21st August, 2005

In terms of quality this game was by no means a classic but in terms of significance it would go down as one of the most important matches between this two London rivals. Chelsea had won their first league title in fifty years the previous season, finishing 12 points ahead of Arsenal. The Gunners sold their long time captain Patrick Vieira to Juventus and were in a rebuilding process but like Chelsea made a hundred percent start to the season with two league wins in as many games. The Blues were unbeaten in their last five matches against Arsenal and had beaten them 2-1, two weeks back in the Community Shield but they were without a league win against the Gunners for over a decade.

The game produced very few chances but Chelsea always looked the stronger of the two. A goalless draw was on the cards but seventeen minutes from time Didier Drogba scored a fortuitous winner which helped the Pensioners finally end their winless streak in the league against Arsenal. Jose Mourinho’s team did the double over Arsenal that season and went on to win their second consecutive league title.

Arsenal 1-4 Chelsea - 10th May, 2009

Both the teams came into this game after crashing out from the Champions League semis in contrasting ways. The title was already beyond the two but third place – which would guarantee automatic qualification to next season’s Champions League group stages – was still up for grabs with Arsenal needing a win to go level on points with the Blues. The Gunners were unbeaten in 21 league games and were confident of making the most of their home advantage. But despite making a good start, Chelsea took the lead against the run of play when Alex headed in a Lampard freekick which was controversially won by Drogba.

Arsene Wenger’s side were stunned by the goal and before they could recover from that shock, former employee Nicolas Anelka made it 2-0 with a long range effort. Arsenal were determined to get one back in the second half but Chelsea hit them on the break and scored the third as Kolo Toure bagged an own goal. The game looked as good as over at 0-3 but Nicklas Bendtner gave the Emirates crowd some hope by reducing the deficit and suddenly a dramatic comeback looked a possibility as Arsenal threatened to make it 2-3. But the Blues killed the game off four minutes from time by scoring the fourth which was credited to Florent Malouda after a goal mouth scramble in the Arsenal box following another lightning Chelsea break. The West Londoners secured third place with that win while Arsenal suffered one of their heaviest home defeats under Arsene Wenger.

Amoy Ghoshal

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