10 12 2006 Chelsea 1 Arsenal 1
Despite the result, I thought this was the best league game I had seen this season. Chelsea only have themselves to
blame for not snatching all three points - you can play magnificently and still not win - you need to put the ball in the
onion bag first though!
Before the game I was confident we would beat Arsenal by two or three. At the back of my mind I remembered they had
beaten United at Old Trafford, but with no Henry in the side and a few others missing I thought they would capitulate.
Instead, Arsenal came out fighting and with their young team did not look out of their depth. During the game Chelsea
hit the woodwork three times but had no luck in front of goal.
The Arsenal fans were at their amusing best - with inflatable mobile phones and mock £20 Cashley Cole notes at hand.
At least Cole had the guts to play against his former side - unlike Gallas who was coincidentally injured for the game. To
have a player leave a club he supported as a kid because he felt he was being underpaid is one thing, but for Gallas to
leave the club and within minutes call Arsenal fans the best in the world is another. I am wondering when he is going to
sue Chelsea after the claim that he would score an own goal against us if we forced him to play left back again? Good
riddance, in any case. I hope Arsenal finish out of a Champions League positions just for his sake.
The atmosphere was very strange. There was no persistent chanting from Chelsea fans - but the Bridge felt electric. It
was one of those matches where you felt you were watching a real drama unfold in front of your eyes.
In the second half Chelsea continued to create many chances. Drogba should have earned a penalty. The referee let
Arsenal players off the hook for similar fouls that he had booked Ashley Cole for. Drogba and Lehmann then acted like
two schoolboys in the penalty area.
Jose changed it with not long to go. He brought Robben... and SWP on. Immediately Chelsea looked far more menacing
with Robben on the left. SWP, for all his effort, cannot be playing much longer for the Blues. What a poor player he has
become. Losing balls in nothing situations - I suspect this will be one of his last games. Sheva was anonymous again at
a time when he should be playing with confidence and banging the goals in. God forbid Drogba is injured for any large
period of time. At the moment I would prefer Kalou up front ahead of Andrei any day of the week.
WIth less than ten minutes to go - the unthinkable happened. Arsenal scored from outside the box. Cech would have
saved it. I sat in my seat thinking there could be no worse thing this season than losing to the club I probably detest the
most out of the red three. I had not had such a feeling of stress or sadness over the fact we may lose to someone for a
very long time.
Then, Essien ran up to take a shot. Everyone, myself included, shouted, "Don't shoot you xxxxer".... Michael must have
heard the "shoot" part and scored one of the greatest ever Chelsea goals. The fans were in delirium and it made it all
the more sweeter after the Gooner fans started giving it the bigun. A defeat for Chelsea would have been embarrassing.
In the last few minutes Chelsea should have won the game but only have themselves to blame for poor finishing.
I left the game in a strange mood... euphoric from the Essien goal and an acceptance that maybe this year won't be the
won where we win the league. I cannot see anyone stopping United in their present form. Games they tended to struggle
in against the likes of Bolton, Boro and Man City are now turning into emphatic wins. If they continue playing as they are
they will win the league - and they will deserve it. Chelsea will have only themselves to blame unless the Red Devils
somehow slip up. In any case, there is finally some excitement over league fixtures unlike before when we have won the
division at a canter. The mind games have started it, and I think we are in for a very exciting second half of the season.
Finally, some have decided to criticise Jose for not playing a more attacking lineup. I have not seen many games where
we have had less that ten attempts on target - maybe we need to brush up on our finishing in training first!
blame for not snatching all three points - you can play magnificently and still not win - you need to put the ball in the
onion bag first though!
Before the game I was confident we would beat Arsenal by two or three. At the back of my mind I remembered they had
beaten United at Old Trafford, but with no Henry in the side and a few others missing I thought they would capitulate.
Instead, Arsenal came out fighting and with their young team did not look out of their depth. During the game Chelsea
hit the woodwork three times but had no luck in front of goal.
The Arsenal fans were at their amusing best - with inflatable mobile phones and mock £20 Cashley Cole notes at hand.
At least Cole had the guts to play against his former side - unlike Gallas who was coincidentally injured for the game. To
have a player leave a club he supported as a kid because he felt he was being underpaid is one thing, but for Gallas to
leave the club and within minutes call Arsenal fans the best in the world is another. I am wondering when he is going to
sue Chelsea after the claim that he would score an own goal against us if we forced him to play left back again? Good
riddance, in any case. I hope Arsenal finish out of a Champions League positions just for his sake.
The atmosphere was very strange. There was no persistent chanting from Chelsea fans - but the Bridge felt electric. It
was one of those matches where you felt you were watching a real drama unfold in front of your eyes.
In the second half Chelsea continued to create many chances. Drogba should have earned a penalty. The referee let
Arsenal players off the hook for similar fouls that he had booked Ashley Cole for. Drogba and Lehmann then acted like
two schoolboys in the penalty area.
Jose changed it with not long to go. He brought Robben... and SWP on. Immediately Chelsea looked far more menacing
with Robben on the left. SWP, for all his effort, cannot be playing much longer for the Blues. What a poor player he has
become. Losing balls in nothing situations - I suspect this will be one of his last games. Sheva was anonymous again at
a time when he should be playing with confidence and banging the goals in. God forbid Drogba is injured for any large
period of time. At the moment I would prefer Kalou up front ahead of Andrei any day of the week.
WIth less than ten minutes to go - the unthinkable happened. Arsenal scored from outside the box. Cech would have
saved it. I sat in my seat thinking there could be no worse thing this season than losing to the club I probably detest the
most out of the red three. I had not had such a feeling of stress or sadness over the fact we may lose to someone for a
very long time.
Then, Essien ran up to take a shot. Everyone, myself included, shouted, "Don't shoot you xxxxer".... Michael must have
heard the "shoot" part and scored one of the greatest ever Chelsea goals. The fans were in delirium and it made it all
the more sweeter after the Gooner fans started giving it the bigun. A defeat for Chelsea would have been embarrassing.
In the last few minutes Chelsea should have won the game but only have themselves to blame for poor finishing.
I left the game in a strange mood... euphoric from the Essien goal and an acceptance that maybe this year won't be the
won where we win the league. I cannot see anyone stopping United in their present form. Games they tended to struggle
in against the likes of Bolton, Boro and Man City are now turning into emphatic wins. If they continue playing as they are
they will win the league - and they will deserve it. Chelsea will have only themselves to blame unless the Red Devils
somehow slip up. In any case, there is finally some excitement over league fixtures unlike before when we have won the
division at a canter. The mind games have started it, and I think we are in for a very exciting second half of the season.
Finally, some have decided to criticise Jose for not playing a more attacking lineup. I have not seen many games where
we have had less that ten attempts on target - maybe we need to brush up on our finishing in training first!
