Arsenal – Chelsea

1. Afternoon all and welcome to live coverage of Chelsea's trip to the Emirates.

2. <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2012/0309/robinvanpersiewave20120306_275x155.jpg"><br> Most of the pre-match talk is about this man, and whether he'll be staying at Arsenal past this summer.

3. Robin van Persie has explained those pictures showing him in Barcelona's hotel this week - he was there to see his pal Ibrahim Afellay, not for contract talks. He was in his Arsenal tracksuit after all!

4. As for the team news, Chelsea make eight changes from the team that beat Barca. Only Cech, Cahill and Terry remain.

5. Laurent Koscielny returns from suspension for Arsenal, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Aaron Ramsey are also drafted in for the injured Mikel Arteta and ineligible Yossi Benayoun.

6. With 15 minutes to go before kick-off, why not have a read of <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/preview/_/id/318206?cc=5739" target="_blank">John Brewin's preview of the match</a>.

7. Opta stat: Arsenal have won one of 14 games v Chelsea in all competitions with Drogba playing, but won three of the last four (one draw) when he has been missing.

8. The teams are out and we're all set...

9. 1'

   <b>KICK OFF</b>

10. 2'

    The return fixture earlier in the season provided as many goals as Chelsea have made changes today - eight. I'd settle for a repeat.

11. 3'

    The stat of the moment is that Chelsea are yet to win a London derby this season. They'e never gone through a Premier League season without winning one.

12. 4'

    Song nicks the ball from Torres but a foul is given. Odd decision from Mike Dean.

13. 5'

    First effort on goal as Rosicky bursts through and has a pop from 20 yards. Cech is down to save comfortably.

14. 6'

    Ramsey gives the ball away and Sturridge tries find Torres but Vermaelen is across quickly to snuff out the danger.

15. 7'

    Slightly embarrassing from Kalou, who nips past Sagna but never gets the ball under control before diving to the turf. Mike Dean having none of it.

16. 8'

    Hardly a kick for RVP yet. He is caught offside then.

17. 9'

    Brighter start from Chelsea you'd have to say. Sturridge and Kalou looking lively. Arsenal yet to find their stride.

18. 10'

    Bertrand's cross finds Torres in space but he fails to make contact with the ball from ten yards. He was offside anyway.

19. 11'

    Cracking, full blooded challenge between Koscielny and Romeu. Both piled in, both got straight up. Rare these days.

20. 12'

    The Ox gets his first run at Chelsea and wins a free kick off Essien. To the left of the penalty area, about 25 yards out.

21. 13'

    Off the post! Walcott's delivery is excellent, RVP gets ahead of Terry and he misses from three yards! Incredible miss!

22. 14'

    RVP tried to poke it home as the ball came cross him - he may have been better going with his right. Still can't believe he missed.

23. 15'

    Well worked between Walcott and the Ox - Terry intervenes to concede a corner.

24. 16'

    Cech claims the corner easily.

25. 17'

    A snapshot from Bosingwa as he edged round Gibbs to find some space. Szczesny claims on the bounce.

26. 18'

    RVP races on to a ball over the top but the flag goes up again.

27. 19'

    Another poor cross from Arsenal - this time Gibbs floats it up for Cech to claim. Terry is down too.

28. 20'

    Bit naughty from Vermaelen as he barges Terry during that last cross. Mike Dean has a stiff word with him.

29. 21'

    Arsenal finding it hard to work a way through Chelsea's packed midfield. The Ox staying central when he should be wide really.

30. 22'

    Lovely trickery from Gibbs to get into the area but Cahill tackles him well.

31. 23'

    Chelsea break and after Sturridge plays Bambi, he finally finds Malouda and Koscielny does well to cut out the cross. Corner.

32. 24'

    Danger for Arsenal as Cahill wins a free header, Torres picks it up but his shot is blocked - it diverts back to Cahill who then volleys over from an angle.

33. 25'

    In Wenger's time at Arsenal he has faced TEN Chelsea managers.

34. 26'

    Ramsey caught in possession again, Malouda then shoots but it hits Kalou and flies over.

35. 27'

    More danger as Malouda plays Kalou over the top, Szczesny comes out but fails to get a touch - Koscielny had tracked the run and gets a vital block.

36. 28'

    A break in play as Sagna and Malouda clash heads, Both off the field getting treatment.

37. 30'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> First yellow of the game, for Rosicky after a late lunge on Essien.

38. 31'

    Very much an end of season feel to the game - strange given there is so much riding on it.

39. 32'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2012/0421/robinvanpersieshootsvcfc_275x155.jpg"><br>Arsenal's Robin van Persie hits the post from three yards out

40. 33'

    Good ball into the box for Chelsea - Torres misses a header and Sturridge can't profit at the far post.

41. 34'

    Bosingwa crosses this time - Vermaelen clears.

42. 35'

    Some quick passing from Arsenal, and neat interchanges between RVP, Song and Ramsey. Terry then concedes a free kick, clattering into the back of Walcott.

43. 36'

    RVP floats in the free kick and Terry gets a crucial touch as Vermaelen lurked.

44. 37'

    Arsenal just aren't themselves so far. No crisp passing or pace to their game. It's all a bit flat.

45. 38'

    Chelsea will be very happy with how the game is panning out. They look the fresher of the two teams.

46. 39'

    That's better - Bertrand gets into the area and wants a penalty as Sagna cuts across him. Then Arsenal break and Walcott wins a corner.

47. 40'

    The Ox again staying central, this time winning a free kick. I think he should be hugging the touchline and taking on either Bertrand or Bosingwa.

48. 41'

    Off the bar! A free header for Koscielny, eight yards out, and his flick cannons back off the bar. Another glorious chance.

49. 42'

    Even that incident was greeted with a gentle "oooh" from the crowd - nothing more. It's all very pedestrian.

50. 43'

    Now Terry gets a free header six yards out but he mistimes his jump and gets underneath it.

51. 44'

    Another chance for RVP as Song clips a ball into the box, the striker chests down but fires right at Cech who is out smartly.

52. 45'

    <b>HALF TIME</b> A funny sort of half, Arsenal twice hit the post but Chelsea have had a few half chances too. A very sedate pace to it though, we hope for better in the second half.

53. Here is the <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/tables/live/_/league/eng.1/barclays-premier-league?cc=5739" target="_blank">live Premier League table</a>, so you can follow all the ups and downs in the second half.

54. You'd have to think that Chelsea are the ones most likely to open up in the second half - they need a win more than Arsenal. A point isn't really good enough for either side, though.

55. 46'

    We begin again...

56. 47'

    Decent start from Chelsea as Terry nearly finds Sturridge over the top, then Torres beats the Ox a few times befdore crossing to no-one in particular.

57. 48'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> RVP wants a card for Malouda after he was tripped. Dean thinks about it, then duly produces one.

58. 49'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Perhaps justice, as RVP is now carded for a late lunge on Essien.

59. 50'

    Great turn fro Torres in the area to trick Koscielny and Sagna - the former gets back to concede a corner.

60. 52'

    Arsenal have started this half in the same fashion as the first - sedately. Chelsea looking the more dangerous.

61. 53'

    Another excellent last-ditch tackle from Vermaelen as Torres found Kalou.

62. 54'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Cahill is late on the Ox and is the latest to go into the book.

63. 55'

    Song looks for RVP again but the Dutchman had strayed offside again.

64. 56'

    Walcott hits the turf holding his ankle. Not sure what the cause was. The replay shows he slipped and immediately clutched his hamstring.

65. 57'

    Walcott is back on but Gervinho is warming up. Bosingwa just can't reach a ball inside Gibbs.

66. 58'

    RVP beats the flag this time but he can't burn off Cahill, then his cross is claimed at the near post by Cech.

67. 59'

    What a waste from the Ox - his corner is poor, then the ball is fed back to him and his cross evades everyone on account of being too strong.

68. 60'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Walcott has pulled up fully now - no idea why he went back on in the first place. Gervinho replaces him.

69. 61'

    That was brainless from Arsenal and Walcott. He pulls up with a hammy tweak but insists he is fine to continue, now he could be out for the season.

70. 62'

    Gervinho gets involved right away but fouls Bertrand as he tried to latch onto a return pass.

71. 63'

    Now a chance for RVP as Malouda fouls him. the free kick is about 30 yards out and central.

72. 64'

    His effort is flying over from the moment it leaves his boot.

73. 65'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Abou Diaby comes on for Rosicky, who has been very good today.

74. 66'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Chelsea make a change now as Mikel replaces Romeu. Plenty of ammo on the Blues' bench of course.

75. 67'

    An ambitious effort from RVP as he tries another volley from a Song long ball. Fiendishly difficult to pull off, and he can't do it this time.

76. 68'

    Great touch from Kalou to take him clear of Koscielny but then he chooses to try and find Torres when the ball was left to Sturridge.

77. 69'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Final Arsenal change as the Ox comes off, to be replaced by Andre Santos.

78. 70'

    Wenger cuts a frustrated figure on the bench. RDM looking more content but I still think he needs to try and win this one more than his opposite number.

79. 71'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2012/0421/laurentkoscielnyhitsbar_275x155.jpg"><br>Petr Cech watches Laurent Koscielny's attempt hit the bar

80. 72'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> A blatant shirt pull from Bosingwa on Santos and a yellow.

81. 74'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Finally, some intent from Chelsea as Mata replaces Kalou.

82. 75'

    Chelsea take a free kick short to Essien, his shot deflects into Mata's path but he was miles offside.

83. 76'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Daiby is back with a booking, the wrong side of Essien as he slides in and that is a nailed on booking.

84. 77'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Not a popular change with the Emirates, as Ashley Cole replaces Bertrand.

85. 78'

    Still not quite there from Arsenal as Gibbs and RVP's link up is slightly off.

86. 79'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2012/0421/fernandotorresandlaurentkoscielny_275x155.jpg"><br>Chelsea's Fernando Torres runs at Aaron Ramsey and Laurent Koscielny

87. 80'

    A big shout for a penalty as RVP backs into Cahill and hits the turf. Looked dramatic but probably the right call.

88. 81'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> A very popular booking as Cole is mugged by Song, then kicks out at his former team-mate.

89. 82'

    Another snapshot of Sturridge's hogging nature as he holds onto the ball for ages when Torres was up in support.

90. 83'

    Another chance for RVP, as Terry slips when chasing a long ball. He had time to take on Cahill but lashes wide with his right foot.

91. 84'

    Still Arsenal doing all the pressing - Chelsea playing on the break.

92. 85'

    Typical overplaying from Arsenal as Gervinho creates a chance for RVP, who twists and turns about four times before his shot is blocked behind for a corner.

93. 86'

    Great tenacity from Santos to set up that break too, two excellent tackles.

94. 87'

    Superb tackle from Koscielny as Sturridge had a sight of goal. Mata's ball was nodded into the air by Vermaelen but it dropped for the striker before the Frenchman came across.

95. 88'

    So nearly a glorious ball from RVP to the onrushing Ramsey, he neglected to shoot on the edge of the box and in hindsight, it was probably the wrong call.

96. 89'

    After eight goals in the first PL game between these two, perhaps we were destined for a goalless draw.

97. 90'

    Four minutes added. Arsenal corner.

98. 91'

    A woeful ball from Diaby - symptomatic of Arsenal today. Lacklustre.

99. 92'

    Ryan Bertrand is handed the man of the match - interesting.

100. 93'

     Torres has been very poor today - totally anonymous in the second half as he wastes good possession.

101. 94'

     Fine block from Mikel as Gervinho lined up a strike. Chelsea have defended really well today. As they break Bosingwa wins a corner.

102. 95'

     <b>FULL TIME</b> Well, a draw was probably the right result and despite the odd flash of interest here and there it was largely disappointing. Arsenal hit the bar twice but Chelsea had their chances too. Arsenal pull six clear of Newcastle & Spurs but have played two games more. The Blues are seven behind Arsenal, one point behind the other two.

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