Sport
5 of the best Arsenal vs. Chelsea matches ever
This weekend sees the first big London derby of the new Premier League season when Arsenal welcome Chelsea to Emirates Stadium. The rivals had contrasting opening fixtures with Chelsea enjoying a routine 3-0 home win over Crystal Palace while an Arsenal side, without some star names, collapsed away to Brentford. Pressure is already growing on Mikel Arteta after Arsenal missed out on European qualification last season, in contrast to Thomas Tuchel leading Chelsea to Champions League glory. Here, we take a look at five of the best Arsenal and Chelsea matches ever.
5 of the best Arsenal vs. Chelsea matches ever
Chelsea 4 Arsenal 1, 2019 Europa League final
The first time two teams from the same city had met in a European final saw Chelsea celebrate glory, despite Arsenal having Europa League expert Unai Emery in the dugout
Olivier Giroud struck first in Baku, giving Chelsea the lead against his old club with a trademark header, with Eden Hazard then setting up Pedro to make it 2-0 to the Blues.
The tie was effectively over when Giroud won a penalty that Hazard converted, though substitute Alex Iwobi briefly gave Arsenal hope before Hazard wrapped it up with a late fourth.
Hazard dominated the game and it proved his final appearance before leaving for Real Madrid, bringing an end to an era where the Belgian winger was Chelsea’s regular match-winner.
Arsenal 2 Chelsea 1, 2017 FA Cup final
A couple of years prior, it was Arsenal lifting a trophy after beating Chelsea at Wembley one of the best Arsenal vs. Chelsea matches in recent years.
In a rematch of the 2002 final, which Arsenal won 2-0, an early Alexis Sanchez goal put the Gunners ahead. Arsenal could have had the final in the bag in the first half, but Gary Cahill cleared Mesut Ozil’s shot off the line before the woodwork twice came to Chelsea’s rescue.
This meeting is memorable for the drama in the second half, though. Victor Moses was shown a second yellow card and was sent off by referee Anthony Taylor after being adjudged to have dived in the Arsenal box, but Chelsea’s 10 men equalised soon afterwards through Diego Costa.
Parity was short-lived though as super-sub Giroud came on and set up Aaron Ramsey to win it. Arsenal’s victory was their 13th FA Cup triumph, with Arsene Wenger celebrating his seventh.
Chelsea 6 Arsenal 0, 2013-14 Premier League
That FA Cup final was a high point of the late-Wenger era, but this was certainly a low. In what was the Frenchman’s 1,000th game in charge of Arsenal, they slipped to a humiliating defeat.
Early goals from Samuel Eto’o and Andre Schurrle got Chelsea off to a flyer at Stamford Bridge before one of the most remarkable refereeing mistakes in Premier League history. The Blues were awarded a penalty when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain handled the ball on the goal line but, in an incredible case of mistaken identity, referee Andre Marriner sent off Kieran Gibbs instead.
Hazard made it 3-0 from the penalty with Oscar then scoring twice and Mohamed Salah coming off the bench to net the sixth goal, sealing Jose Mourinho’s biggest Premier League win. Certainly one of the Arsenal and Chelsea matches which The Gunners will be keen to forget.
Chelsea 3-5 Arsenal, 2011-12 Premier League
A brilliant Robin van Persie hat-trick lit up this autumn encounter, with the Dutchman in prolific form on his way to bagging 30 Premier League goals and claiming that season’s Golden Boot.
Chelsea defender John Terry was on the scoresheet but his late slip to let in Van Persie to claim the match ball proved decisive, handing Arsenal an advantage that they would not surrender.
A Juan Mata stunner proved in vain as Arsenal secured what was their eighth win in nine games, with Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas powerless to stop the Gunners. He would not last much longer, with Roberto Di Matteo coming in to lead Chelsea to the Champions League title.
Chelsea 2 Arsenal 1, 2007 EFL Cup final
Another cup final wraps up our selection of Arsenal vs. Chelsea matches, with Didier Drogba the hero for Chelsea in a 2-1 win
Arsenal had nudged ahead through Theo Walcott’s first Gunners goal in Cardiff but a great ball from Michael Ballack sent Drogba through to beat Manuel Almunia.
This clash was notorious for Abou Diaby inadvertently kicking John Terry in the face when attempting to clear the ball, which saw the Chelsea defender knocked out and substituted.
Drogba’s late header put Chelsea ahead and they saw the game out after an extended period of stoppage time that saw Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Adebayor and Mikel John Obi all sent off by the referee Howard Webb after a mass brawl. A three-game ban was later also given to Arsenal’s Emmanuel Eboue after he struck Wayne Bridge during the melee, which Webb had missed.
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