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Premier League Player Ratings: Chelsea 2-0 Arsenal
Drogba at the double as Arsenal fail to make possession pay...
07-Feb-2010 11:46:00 PM
By Alex Dimond
CHELSEA
Petr Cech - 7.5 - Made an instinctive save from Arshavin in the first half and a great parry from Fabregas's free kick in the second, two good saves at important times in the match. An encouraging performance.
Ashley Cole - 6.5 - Wenger tried to stall the rampaging left-back by presenting him with Walcott to deal with, and Cole rose to the challenge. Might not have been his usual attacking threat, but that wasn't really needed from him today.
John Terry - 7 - Got his head to the ball from Malouda's corner to present Drogba with a straightforward chance. Few people cannot be impressed with the Blues' captain's ability to block out his off-field dramas to keep putting in solid performances.
Ricardo Carvalho - 7 - Seemed to struggle a bit more once Bendtner came on, but for much of the match Carvalho's ability to read the game was invaluable as he closed down Arsenal in and around the box.
Branislav Ivanovic - 6.5 - Tended to stay in his own half, a sensible move as Arsenal looked to exploit any gaps in defence. Nasri caused him problems on occasion, but nothing he couldn't deal with.
John Obi Mikel - 6.5 - A positive return to action after national duty, Mikel did good work screening his defence as Arsenal passed the ball round. Inconsistent with his distribution while on the ball, however.
Florent Malouda - 6.5 - Outswinging cross led to Drogba's opener. Created width and an attacking option for his side, but is less of threat when he cannot rely Cole for an overlap.
Michael Ballack - 6 - Put in a solid defensive shift, helping Mikel try and deal with Arsenal's intricate passing moves. Was eventually withdrawn as the effects of his efforts became evident.
Frank Lampard - 7.5 - Another solid performance from the England man, who intercepted numerous balls in midfield and also provided the assist for Drogba's decisive second.
Nicolas Anelka - 6.5 - Intelligent movement created the space for Drogba's emphatic second, a moment that summed up Anelka's afternoon. Few moments of note while on the ball, but range of movement off it made a difference for his team-mates.
Didier Drogba - 8 - Presented with the easiest of opportunities for the opening goal, after peeling away from his marker. Second was an emphatic display of individual skill, taking advantage of defensive indecision.
Substitutes
Yuri Zhirkov - 6 - Replaced Ballack. Managed to pick up a booking in his short cameo.
Joe Cole - n/a - Late arrival for Anelka. Had little time to make an impact.
Salomon Kalou - n/a - Brought on to allow Drogba his ovation.
ARSENAL
Manuel Almunia - 5 - Much-maligned 'keeper didn't exactly silence the doubters today. Chelsea's two shots on target found the net, something that arguably the Spaniard couldn't do too much about, but nevertheless paints him as little more than a spectator.
Gael Clichy - 5.5 - Didn't look fully recovered from last week's horror show against Manchester United. Had his moments defensively and going forward, but was exposed brutally for the game's second goal.
William Gallas - 6.5 - Not a memorable return to his former stomping ground. Stuck well with Drogba for much of the game, but saw the Ivorian nevertheless make the telling contributions of the match as the Gunners' defence failed to organise at crucial points.
Thomas Vermaelen - 5.5 - Mix-up with Clichy opened the space for the second goal. Still looks jittery in the big games, something that Wenger will be worried about.
Bacary Sagna - 5.5 - Up-and-down afternoon, the right-back was occasionally caught out by Malouda and Cole on the few occasions they pressured him. Withdrawn early for Eboue.
Abou Diaby - 6.5 - Sorely missed last weekend, Diaby's return shored up the Arsenal midfield and gave them a more physical presence. But despite share of the possession he failed to create something with it.
Cesc Fabregas - 7 - Often shadowed by Mikel, the Spaniard worked hard to try and create something for his side. Was agonisingly close to success on a number of occasions — especially when he saw Cech deny him from a clever low free kick.
Alex Song - 7 - Failed to track Drogba for the opening goal, an early mark against his name. But was an effective ball-winner and distributor for his side in an eventually futile attempt to make amends.
Samir Nasri - 6.5 - Arguably looked the most likely to grab something for his side, the Frenchman had a couple of decent chances to create what could have been a crucial goal for his side.
Theo Walcott - 5 - Winger's pace and attacking intent was intended to keep Ashley Cole pegged back in his own half, but failed to fulfill the job. Did some good things defensively, but generally wasn't a threat going forward and still looks some way short of top form.
Andrei Arshavin - 5 - Had a good early opportunity to equalise kicked away by Cech. Was largely anonymous, especially in the second half, as Chelsea somewhat predictably gave him little to live on as his side's lone striker.
Substitutes
Nicklas Bendtner - 6.5 - Replaced Walcott. Physical presence gave his side an added dimension, certainly looked more likely to score with the Dane on the pitch.
Tomas Rosicky - 6 - Arsenal hardly needed more trickery in midfield, but he added to that in replacing Diaby. Made little difference to game, however.
Emmanuel Eboue - 6 - Replaced Sagna to provide fresher legs out wide.
Petr Cech - 7.5 - Made an instinctive save from Arshavin in the first half and a great parry from Fabregas's free kick in the second, two good saves at important times in the match. An encouraging performance.
Ashley Cole - 6.5 - Wenger tried to stall the rampaging left-back by presenting him with Walcott to deal with, and Cole rose to the challenge. Might not have been his usual attacking threat, but that wasn't really needed from him today.
John Terry - 7 - Got his head to the ball from Malouda's corner to present Drogba with a straightforward chance. Few people cannot be impressed with the Blues' captain's ability to block out his off-field dramas to keep putting in solid performances.
Ricardo Carvalho - 7 - Seemed to struggle a bit more once Bendtner came on, but for much of the match Carvalho's ability to read the game was invaluable as he closed down Arsenal in and around the box.
Branislav Ivanovic - 6.5 - Tended to stay in his own half, a sensible move as Arsenal looked to exploit any gaps in defence. Nasri caused him problems on occasion, but nothing he couldn't deal with.
John Obi Mikel - 6.5 - A positive return to action after national duty, Mikel did good work screening his defence as Arsenal passed the ball round. Inconsistent with his distribution while on the ball, however.
Florent Malouda - 6.5 - Outswinging cross led to Drogba's opener. Created width and an attacking option for his side, but is less of threat when he cannot rely Cole for an overlap.
Michael Ballack - 6 - Put in a solid defensive shift, helping Mikel try and deal with Arsenal's intricate passing moves. Was eventually withdrawn as the effects of his efforts became evident.
Frank Lampard - 7.5 - Another solid performance from the England man, who intercepted numerous balls in midfield and also provided the assist for Drogba's decisive second.
Nicolas Anelka - 6.5 - Intelligent movement created the space for Drogba's emphatic second, a moment that summed up Anelka's afternoon. Few moments of note while on the ball, but range of movement off it made a difference for his team-mates.
Didier Drogba - 8 - Presented with the easiest of opportunities for the opening goal, after peeling away from his marker. Second was an emphatic display of individual skill, taking advantage of defensive indecision.
Substitutes
Yuri Zhirkov - 6 - Replaced Ballack. Managed to pick up a booking in his short cameo.
Joe Cole - n/a - Late arrival for Anelka. Had little time to make an impact.
Salomon Kalou - n/a - Brought on to allow Drogba his ovation.
ARSENAL
Manuel Almunia - 5 - Much-maligned 'keeper didn't exactly silence the doubters today. Chelsea's two shots on target found the net, something that arguably the Spaniard couldn't do too much about, but nevertheless paints him as little more than a spectator.
Gael Clichy - 5.5 - Didn't look fully recovered from last week's horror show against Manchester United. Had his moments defensively and going forward, but was exposed brutally for the game's second goal.
William Gallas - 6.5 - Not a memorable return to his former stomping ground. Stuck well with Drogba for much of the game, but saw the Ivorian nevertheless make the telling contributions of the match as the Gunners' defence failed to organise at crucial points.
Thomas Vermaelen - 5.5 - Mix-up with Clichy opened the space for the second goal. Still looks jittery in the big games, something that Wenger will be worried about.
Bacary Sagna - 5.5 - Up-and-down afternoon, the right-back was occasionally caught out by Malouda and Cole on the few occasions they pressured him. Withdrawn early for Eboue.
Abou Diaby - 6.5 - Sorely missed last weekend, Diaby's return shored up the Arsenal midfield and gave them a more physical presence. But despite share of the possession he failed to create something with it.
Cesc Fabregas - 7 - Often shadowed by Mikel, the Spaniard worked hard to try and create something for his side. Was agonisingly close to success on a number of occasions — especially when he saw Cech deny him from a clever low free kick.
Alex Song - 7 - Failed to track Drogba for the opening goal, an early mark against his name. But was an effective ball-winner and distributor for his side in an eventually futile attempt to make amends.
Samir Nasri - 6.5 - Arguably looked the most likely to grab something for his side, the Frenchman had a couple of decent chances to create what could have been a crucial goal for his side.
Theo Walcott - 5 - Winger's pace and attacking intent was intended to keep Ashley Cole pegged back in his own half, but failed to fulfill the job. Did some good things defensively, but generally wasn't a threat going forward and still looks some way short of top form.
Andrei Arshavin - 5 - Had a good early opportunity to equalise kicked away by Cech. Was largely anonymous, especially in the second half, as Chelsea somewhat predictably gave him little to live on as his side's lone striker.
Substitutes
Nicklas Bendtner - 6.5 - Replaced Walcott. Physical presence gave his side an added dimension, certainly looked more likely to score with the Dane on the pitch.
Tomas Rosicky - 6 - Arsenal hardly needed more trickery in midfield, but he added to that in replacing Diaby. Made little difference to game, however.
Emmanuel Eboue - 6 - Replaced Sagna to provide fresher legs out wide.
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