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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal | Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Chelsea slipped eight points behind leaders Manchester United as Michael Essien's superb shot rescued the Blues. | Chelsea slipped eight points behind leaders Manchester United as Michael Essien's superb shot rescued the Blues. |
| Ashley Cole, facing old club Arsenal for the first time, picked up a booking in the first half, while a Frank Lampard shot hit the post for Chelsea. | Ashley Cole, facing old club Arsenal for the first time, picked up a booking in the first half, while a Frank Lampard shot hit the post for Chelsea. |
| It was Arsenal who took a 78th minute lead against the run of play, Mathieu Flamini shooting past Henrique Hilario. | It was Arsenal who took a 78th minute lead against the run of play, Mathieu Flamini shooting past Henrique Hilario. |
| Six minutes later Essien's shot made it 1-1, with the Ghanian and Frank Lampard hitting the woodwork in stoppage time. | Six minutes later Essien's shot made it 1-1, with the Ghanian and Frank Lampard hitting the woodwork in stoppage time. |
| 606: DEBATE class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A18063704">Chelsea showed lots of heart and could have won it at the end DT class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/606/default.stm">606: Have your say The draw leaves Chelsea eight points adrift of United, who have played a game more than the Premiership title-holders. | |
| As well as deciding whether Chelsea could close the gap on leaders United, this game's sub-plot was Cole becoming reacquainted with his old club after his acrimonious departure earlier in the season. | |
| For the Arsenal fans, Cole played the part of pantomime villain perfectly when he was rightly booked for an ugly challenge on Alexander Hleb midway through the first half. | For the Arsenal fans, Cole played the part of pantomime villain perfectly when he was rightly booked for an ugly challenge on Alexander Hleb midway through the first half. |
| The yellow card was justified but it raised the hackles of Chelsea's players, who remonstrated with referee Alan Wiley, pointing out he had earlier failed to book Philippe Senderos for a mistimed tackle on Didier Drogba. | The yellow card was justified but it raised the hackles of Chelsea's players, who remonstrated with referee Alan Wiley, pointing out he had earlier failed to book Philippe Senderos for a mistimed tackle on Didier Drogba. |
| Just past the hour the pantomime sideshow took centre stage when Jens Lehmann and Drogba engaged in some pushing, shoving and theatrical diving. | Just past the hour the pantomime sideshow took centre stage when Jens Lehmann and Drogba engaged in some pushing, shoving and theatrical diving. |
| Both were booked for their antics. | Both were booked for their antics. |
| As to the football, if Arsenal's game was pleasing on the eye in the way Cesc Fabregas orchestrated their attacking movements, Chelsea were altogether more brutally efficient in their modus operandi. | As to the football, if Arsenal's game was pleasing on the eye in the way Cesc Fabregas orchestrated their attacking movements, Chelsea were altogether more brutally efficient in their modus operandi. |
| Brutal efficiency won out in those early stages as Michael Ballack flashed a shot past Lehmann's left-hand post, while Lampard's half-volley rattled the woodwork. | Brutal efficiency won out in those early stages as Michael Ballack flashed a shot past Lehmann's left-hand post, while Lampard's half-volley rattled the woodwork. |
| Equally rattled was Senderos, who endured a nervy start - notably when he completely miskicked in trying to clear a Claude Makelele pass. | Equally rattled was Senderos, who endured a nervy start - notably when he completely miskicked in trying to clear a Claude Makelele pass. |
| Seven minutes before the break, Lehmann was rescued when Fabregas cleared Essien's shot off the line after the Arsenal goalkeeper was unable to gather a Chelsea corner. | Seven minutes before the break, Lehmann was rescued when Fabregas cleared Essien's shot off the line after the Arsenal goalkeeper was unable to gather a Chelsea corner. |
| At the start of the second half Arsenal took a leaf out of Chelsea's book and adopted a more direct approach, spearheaded by some strong running from Emmanuel Adebayor. | At the start of the second half Arsenal took a leaf out of Chelsea's book and adopted a more direct approach, spearheaded by some strong running from Emmanuel Adebayor. |
| Midway through the second period, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho revamped his attack by bringing off the anonymous Andriy Shevchenko and introducing Arjen Robben and Shaun Wright-Phillips. | Midway through the second period, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho revamped his attack by bringing off the anonymous Andriy Shevchenko and introducing Arjen Robben and Shaun Wright-Phillips. |
| Robben made an immediate impact, outsprinting the Arsenal defence and forcing a good save from Lehmann, who - unable to gather the ball cleanly - had to make a second stop from Lampard. | Robben made an immediate impact, outsprinting the Arsenal defence and forcing a good save from Lehmann, who - unable to gather the ball cleanly - had to make a second stop from Lampard. |
| Just as Chelsea threatened to take complete control of the game, Arsenal took the lead after a sumptuous move. | Just as Chelsea threatened to take complete control of the game, Arsenal took the lead after a sumptuous move. |
| That move was concluded with Hleb and Flamini swapping passes before the former Marseille midfielder swept the ball past Hilario. | That move was concluded with Hleb and Flamini swapping passes before the former Marseille midfielder swept the ball past Hilario. |
| At the end of November, Chelsea had to come from behind to secure a draw against leaders United, a game that highlighted how vital Essien is to Mourinho's side. | At the end of November, Chelsea had to come from behind to secure a draw against leaders United, a game that highlighted how vital Essien is to Mourinho's side. |
| And it was Essien who came to his side's rescue, when he launched a shot that swerved its way past Lehmann. | And it was Essien who came to his side's rescue, when he launched a shot that swerved its way past Lehmann. |
| In a frantic finish, Chelsea struck the woodwork twice in stoppage time, first through Essien and then Lampard, who hit the post after an awful error from Lehmann. | In a frantic finish, Chelsea struck the woodwork twice in stoppage time, first through Essien and then Lampard, who hit the post after an awful error from Lehmann. |
| Chelsea: Hilario, Geremi (Wright-Phillips 66), Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole, Essien, Ballack, Makelele, Lampard, Shevchenko (Robben 67), Drogba.Subs Not Used: Hedman, Boulahrouz, Mikel. | Chelsea: Hilario, Geremi (Wright-Phillips 66), Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole, Essien, Ballack, Makelele, Lampard, Shevchenko (Robben 67), Drogba.Subs Not Used: Hedman, Boulahrouz, Mikel. |
| Booked: Ashley Cole, Drogba. | Booked: Ashley Cole, Drogba. |
| Goals: Essien 84. | Goals: Essien 84. |
| Arsenal: Lehmann, Eboue, Djourou, Senderos, Clichy, Hleb, Fabregas, Silva, Flamini, Van Persie (Ljungberg 83), Adebayor.Subs Not Used: Almunia, Julio Baptista, Hoyte, Walcott. | Arsenal: Lehmann, Eboue, Djourou, Senderos, Clichy, Hleb, Fabregas, Silva, Flamini, Van Persie (Ljungberg 83), Adebayor.Subs Not Used: Almunia, Julio Baptista, Hoyte, Walcott. |
| Booked: Flamini, Lehmann. | Booked: Flamini, Lehmann. |
| Goals: Flamini 78. | Goals: Flamini 78. |
| Att: 41,917. | Att: 41,917. |
| Ref: A Wiley (Staffordshire). | Ref: A Wiley (Staffordshire). |