11:35pm Sunday 7th February 2010
ARSENAL were all but dumped out of the Premier League title race as two Didier Drogba goals ensured Chelsea claimed all three points at Stamford Bridge.
The dye was cast as early as the eighth minute, when the Ivorian was given ample time and space at the back post to turn in John Terry’s header from a corner. And the points were effectively sealed after just 22 minutes when more lax Arsenal defending allowed the striker to cut in from the left and smash home his second.
That proved to be enough to see off the Gunners, who now lie nine points behind the Blues in third, with Manchester United also enjoying the comfort of a seven point cushion over Arsene Wenger’s side.
The Arsenal boss urged his players to learn the lessons they were taught against the defending champions at Emirates Stadium last week, but a comedy of errors once again led to the opening goal.
Florent Malouda’s corner landed squarely on the head of under-fire Chelsea skipper Terry, who was allowed to rise unchallenged to meet the ball. His header saw the ball loop to the back post, where Gael Clichy should have been to mop up the danger. But the Frenchman left his station and Alex Song lost Drogba, who was left with the simplest of tasks.
Clichy was at fault again for the second, as the left-back was sucked in field along with centre-half Thomas Vermaelen, giving Drogba an open invitation to gallop towards goal, which he did before cutting inside and firing past a helpless Manuel Almunia in the visitors’ goal.
The 2-0 scoreline did not reflect the pattern of the game, as Arsenal dominated large swathes of possession, but whereas Chelsea ruthlessly made the most of their few chances, so Arsenal squandered theirs, Andrey Arshavin the prime culprit after he volleyed Cesc Fabregas’ superb pass straight at Petr Cech from eight yards out.
The second half saw Wenger’s men step up the pace of the game, but all too often they were met by a solid wall of blue shirts. Samir Nasri bizarrely declined the opportunity to shoot when the chance presented itself, while substitute Nicklas Bendtner had a penalty appeal turned down.
Fabregas’ free-kick was well-saved by Cech, and the keeper was at it again to pinch the ball off the toe of Bendtner, with the striker ready to pull the trigger.
Next up is the visit of Liverpool, in a game which signals the end of Arsenal's four-game run which was tipped to define the team’s season.
A defeat then would leave the Gunners looking nervously over their shoulders as the battle for the Champions League places hots up, but their rivals for the title appear to be out of sight in front.
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