Arsenal 0 - 3 Chelsea
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By Mandeep Sanghera
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Premier League leaders Chelsea left Arsenal's title challenge reeling by beating the Gunners to increase the gap to 11 points on their London rivals.
Striker Didier Drogba guided an Ashley Cole cross into the top corner to put the visitors ahead.
Another Ashley Cole delivery was then diverted into his own net by Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen.
Drogba put an elaborate seal on a deserved victory when he powered in a 25-yard free-kick late on.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger had said the game was a moment for his players to show their strength but, instead, the defeat only served to blow a massive hole in his side's title hopes.
Chelsea, however, move five points clear of Manchester United at the top of the table and have now kept clean sheets in their previous six Premier League matches.
The last time Arsenal had been beaten at home was by Chelsea in May and, despite five free-scoring wins at the Emirates Stadium so far this season, the Blues again showed their power was superior to Arsenal's panache.
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606: DEBATE
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Wenger's side had quickly got into their passing stride but struggled to pierce the visitors' backline and Chelsea could have had an early penalty in their favour.
Striker Nicolas Anelka had a shot blocked by keeper Manuel Almunia when through on goal but, in the process, seemed to have been pulled down by Bacary Sagna.
There was little protest from Chelsea and they worked another opportunity which saw Drogba fail to get enough power on a header he angled straight at Almunia.
For all their possession, Arsenal had little to show for it and they were handed the harsh lesson in the necessity of having a ruthless streak to their play.
Former Gunners left-back Ashley Cole responded to the boos greeting his every touch by curling in a cross which Drogba finished with aplomb for his ninth goal in his last nine appearances against Arsenal.
Soon after, a whipped Ashley Cole cross to the near post was diverted into his own net by Vermaelen as Arsenal were left stunned on the stroke of half-time.
This was the cue for Wenger to introduce Theo Walcott at the break in an attempt to get behind the formidable Blues back line.
His introduction gave Arsenal fresh impetus and the hosts thought they had pulled a goal back when Andrey Arshavin drove in a shot at the far post. But the goal was disallowed for an earlier foul on Chelsea keeper Petr Cech by Eduardo.
The visitors showed why they boast the top-flight's meanest defence as they continually thwarted Arsenal to deny them any clear-cut chances.
It was a defensive performance the home side might do well to take note of as they seek to add the steel to their style that many critics argue they lack.
The Gunners were also clearly feeling the absence of injured striker Robin van Persie, who had scored two goals in a victory over Chelsea this time last year, as they lacked a cutting edge to their play.
And the home side almost fell further behind in bizarre circumstances.
A Drogba strike ricocheted off both William Gallas and Frank Lampard and was set to creep into the bottom corner before Almunia, at full-stretch, palmed the ball wide.
But Drogba continued to prove a chief tormentor for Arsenal as he beat Almunia with a free-kick which gave him his 11th Premier League goal of the campaign and 14th in total.
It was three points earned with authority from Chelsea and proved the show of strength from them that Wenger was looking for from his own side.
Live text and stats
Sunday, 29 November 2009
Premier League
| Home Team | Score | Away Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenal | 0-3 | Chelsea | R |
| (HT 0-2) | |||
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Arsenal
- 01 Almunia
- 03 Sagna
- 05 Vermaelen
- 10 Gallas
- 30 Traore yellow card
- 04 Fabregas yellow card
- 08 Nasri (Rosicky 65)
- 15 Denilson
- 17 Song Billong (Walcott 46)
- 23 Arshavin
- 09 Eduardo (Vela 57)
Substitutes
Chelsea
- 01 Cech
- 02 Ivanovic
- 03 A Cole (Ferreira 72)
- 06 Carvalho
- 26 Terry
- 05 Essien
- 08 Lampard
- 10 J Cole (Deco 68)
- 12 Mikel yellow card
- 11 Drogba yellow card (Malouda 87)
- 39 Anelka
Substitutes
- Final Result
- Full Time
- 90:00+5:21 The match has reached full-time.
- 90:00+4:49 Foul by Francesc Fabregas on Florent Malouda, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Mikel.
- 90:00+4:38 Booking Francesc Fabregas booked for unsporting behaviour.
- 90:00+3:03 The ball is sent over by Nicolas Anelka, blocked by Bacary Sagna.
- 90:00+1:00 Francesc Fabregas challenges Florent Malouda unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Paulo Ferreira.
- 89:18 Andrey Arshavin concedes a free kick for a foul on Branislav Ivanovic. Direct free kick taken by Deco.
- 88:56 Nicolas Anelka is caught offside. Manuel Almunia takes the free kick.
- 88:12 Bacary Sagna takes a shot from a long way out which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
- 87:22 Foul by Francesc Fabregas on Deco, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Branislav Ivanovic.
- 86:42 Substitution Florent Malouda joins the action as a substitute, replacing Didier Drogba.
- 85:41 GOAL - Didier Drogba:Arsenal 0 - 3 Chelsea Didier Drogba scores a goal direct from the free kick from just outside the area to the top right corner of the goal. Arsenal 0-3 Chelsea.
- 84:36 Francesc Fabregas challenges Michael Essien unfairly and gives away a free kick.
- 83:57 Theo Walcott crosses the ball.
- 83:25 A cross is delivered by Michael Essien, save by Manuel Almunia.
- 82:37 Theo Walcott concedes a free kick for a foul on Paulo Ferreira. Petr Cech restarts play with the free kick.
- 79:35 Didier Drogba gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Thomas Vermaelen. Armand Traore restarts play with the free kick.
- 74:02 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Tomas Rosicky by Mikel. Manuel Almunia takes the free kick.
- 71:23 Free kick taken by Branislav Ivanovic.
- 71:23 Substitution Ashley Cole leaves the field to be replaced by Paulo Ferreira.
- 71:23 Neves Denilson challenges Didier Drogba unfairly and gives away a free kick.
- 71:04 A cross is delivered by Francesc Fabregas, Petr Cech gets a block in.
- 70:07 Thomas Vermaelen has an effort at goal from 20 yards.
- 69:04 Francesc Fabregas takes the direct free kick.
- 69:04 Booking Mikel receives a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
- 68:58 Unfair challenge on Tomas Rosicky by Mikel results in a free kick.
- 67:23 Substitution (Chelsea) makes a substitution, with Deco coming on for Joe Cole.
- 65:25 Carlos Alberto Vela is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Direct free kick taken by Petr Cech.
- 64:55 Substitution Tomas Rosicky on for Samir Nasri.
- 63:42 Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Frank Lampard, Manuel Almunia makes a save.
- 63:20 Frank Lampard takes a shot. Save by Manuel Almunia.
- 62:23 Corner taken right-footed by Frank Lampard from the right by-line, Armand Traore manages to make a clearance.
- 61:15 Frank Lampard gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Theo Walcott. Direct free kick taken by Samir Nasri, Francesc Fabregas takes a shot. Comfortable save by Manuel Almunia.
- 60:20 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Andrey Arshavin by Branislav Ivanovic. Free kick crossed right-footed by Francesc Fabregas, save made by Petr Cech.
- 59:59 Bacary Sagna takes the free kick.
- 59:46 Nicolas Anelka is caught offside. Bacary Sagna takes the direct free kick.
- 58:39 Foul by Armand Traore on Branislav Ivanovic, free kick awarded. Petr Cech restarts play with the free kick.
- 57:37 Centre by Bacary Sagna, comfortable save by Petr Cech.
- 55:59 Substitution Carlos Alberto Vela joins the action as a substitute, replacing Da Silva Eduardo.
- 54:43 Joe Cole is ruled offside. Direct free kick taken by Armand Traore.
- 54:03 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Andrey Arshavin from the right by-line, Didier Drogba manages to make a clearance.
- 53:56 Andrey Arshavin produces a cross, Ashley Cole gets a block in.
- 53:31 The referee blows for offside against Nicolas Anelka. Armand Traore restarts play with the free kick.
- 51:52 Unfair challenge on Bacary Sagna by Didier Drogba results in a free kick. Neves Denilson takes the direct free kick.
- 51:17 Theo Walcott delivers the ball, John Terry manages to make a clearance.
- 50:29 Mikel challenges Samir Nasri unfairly and gives away a free kick. Francesc Fabregas delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from left channel, Didier Drogba makes a clearance.
- 48:26 Da Silva Eduardo gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Petr Cech. Free kick taken by Petr Cech.
- 47:00 Short corner worked by Francesc Fabregas.
- 45:35 Andrey Arshavin concedes a free kick for a foul on Michael Essien. Ricardo Carvalho restarts play with the free kick.
- 45:01 The second half has started.
- 45:01 Substitution Theo Walcott comes on in place of Alexandre Song Billong.
- Half Time
- 45:00+2:09 The match has reached half-time.
- 45:00+1:44 Drilled left-footed shot by Andrey Arshavin. Michael Essien gets a block in.
- Correction - 44:39 Ashley Cole provided the assist for the goal.
- Correction - 44:39 GOAL - Thomas Vermaelen:Arsenal 0 - 2 Chelsea An own goal is scored by Thomas Vermaelen. Arsenal 0-2 Chelsea.
- 44:38 Assist on the goal came from Ashley Cole.
- 44:38 GOAL - Thomas Vermaelen:Arsenal 0 - 2 Chelsea An own goal is conceded by Thomas Vermaelen. Arsenal 0-2 Chelsea.
- Correction - 44:26 Ashley Cole crosses the ball,
- 44:26 The ball is sent over by Ashley Cole,
- 42:17 Alexandre Song Billong concedes a free kick for a foul on Ashley Cole. Branislav Ivanovic takes the direct free kick.
- 40:57 Ashley Cole provided the assist for the goal.
- 40:57 GOAL - Didier Drogba:Arsenal 0 - 1 Chelsea Goal scored by Didier Drogba from close range to the top right corner of the goal. Arsenal 0-1 Chelsea.
- 39:56 Free kick awarded for a foul by Andrey Arshavin on Ashley Cole. Free kick taken by Frank Lampard.
- 38:25 Didier Drogba has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the goal.
- 36:15 Manuel Almunia takes the free kick.
- 36:15 Booking Didier Drogba goes into the referee's book for unsporting behaviour.
- 36:08 Didier Drogba gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Thomas Vermaelen.
- 34:21 Branislav Ivanovic fouled by Andrey Arshavin, the ref awards a free kick. Petr Cech takes the direct free kick.
- 31:40 Joe Cole concedes a free kick for a foul on Samir Nasri. Armand Traore takes the free kick.
- 28:30 Da Silva Eduardo is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Petr Cech takes the indirect free kick.
- 26:45 Andrey Arshavin produces a cross, save by Petr Cech.
- 26:01 John Terry has an effort at goal from 18 yards. Blocked by Bacary Sagna.
- 25:02 Free kick crossed right-footed by Frank Lampard from right wing, Armand Traore manages to make a clearance.
- 25:02 Booking Booking for Armand Traore for unsporting behaviour.
- 24:50 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Branislav Ivanovic by Armand Traore.
- 24:21 Bacary Sagna delivers the ball, clearance made by Ricardo Carvalho.
- 23:06 Samir Nasri has an effort at goal from 25 yards. Save made by Petr Cech.
- 22:08 Didier Drogba takes a shot. Save by Manuel Almunia.
- 21:39 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Frank Lampard, clearance made by Alexandre Song Billong.
- 19:58 William Gallas gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Nicolas Anelka. Free kick crossed by Frank Lampard, William Gallas makes a clearance.
- 17:59 Long distance shot from Frank Lampard misses to the left of the goal.
- 16:25 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Andrey Arshavin, Petr Cech makes a save.
- 15:29 Samir Nasri crosses the ball.
- 13:44 The official flags Didier Drogba offside. Manuel Almunia takes the indirect free kick.
- 10:42 Foul by Mikel on Francesc Fabregas, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Francesc Fabregas.
- 7:09 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Francesc Fabregas from the right by-line to the near post, Frank Lampard makes a clearance.
- 6:47 Didier Drogba handles the ball and concedes a free kick. Direct free kick taken by William Gallas.
- 6:15 Da Silva Eduardo gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Michael Essien. Direct free kick taken by Petr Cech.
- 3:53 Frank Lampard fouled by Francesc Fabregas, the ref awards a free kick. Mikel takes the direct free kick.
- 2:34 Mikel concedes a free kick for a foul on Neves Denilson. Francesc Fabregas restarts play with the free kick.
- 1:47 The official flags Andrey Arshavin offside. Petr Cech takes the indirect free kick.
- 1:16 Didier Drogba is flagged offside by the assistant referee. William Gallas restarts play with the free kick.
- 0:14 Unfair challenge on Neves Denilson by Joe Cole results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Francesc Fabregas.
- 0:00 The game begins.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
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