Chelsea – Arsenal

Skipper John Terry has been declared fit to lead Chelsea into their all-London Carling Cup final against Arsenal at the Millennium Stadium. Jose Mourinho picked all his big guns, including Andriy Shevchenko, a move which saw Arjen Robben left on the bench.

As expected, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has stuck with his policy of leaving out all his major men. Thierry Henry, Gilberto, Freddie Ljungberg and William Gallas will play no part at all. In fact the average ago of the Arsenal outfield 10 is 20, with 19-year-old Brazilian Denilson anchoring the midfield.

The teams are lining up. Baptista, in particular, looks excited. A little bit too excited, actually.

The National Anthem is sung. Not too lusty a rendition from either side, it must be said, nor from the supporters. I can't blame them - it's a rubbish anthem.

And we're off! Arsenal get us underway.

The Gunners get us going with s bit of inocuous tip-tap at the back.

Makelele fouled by Fabregas.

Ballack almost feeds the ball into Drogba in the box, but it's cut out by Lampard. How greedy. Having said that, Drogba was offside anyhoo.

Nice attempt from Baptista, who chipped the ball into the Chelsea box with the outside of his right boot. Just too far in front of Aliadiere, though.

The Arsenal supporters are making the most noise at the moment. They know they've nothing to lose today.

Fabregas gets the first shot on target, from about thirty yards, but that's easy for Cech.

Aliadiere should have scored then. Great build-up work from Baptista and Fabregas set him up in front of goal but he scuffed his shot.

It's mostly Arsenal at the moment. They don't look overawed, even though their average age is seven. Amazing.

Good interplay from Diaby and Aliadiere almost gets the former in, but a little deflection from Carvalho rolls the ball into the arms of Cech.

Cech just tips a rasping drive for Baptista around the post! Great stuff from the Gunners, and a top save from Cech too.

Walcott scores a fantastic goal for Arsenal! Good one-two with Diaby put him in and he kept his head to put the Gunners in front.

Arsenal have been superb so far. Say what you likev about Wenger's myopia, their media fans, their silent ground - the footballing ethos of the club is spot on. Just wonderful.

Baptista falls in the box under a Diarra challenge - and the referee rules no penalty! Probably the right decision.

Essien trips and the ball dribbles out of play. Chelsea have been comically inept so far.

It's all Arsenal. The Blues are chasing shadows, the fools!

Senderos blocks a Shevchenko shot on the edge of the box - a timely reminder that Chelsea only need one chance to get back in this.

Drogba equalises for Chelsea! Ballack put him in - there was a hint of offside - but the Ghanain finished well through Almunia's legs.

That's goal number 27 for Drogba this year.

Now it's Chelsea with the pitter-patter football. They've done nothing so far and it's 1-1.

Bridge almost puts Drogba in with a floated ball, but Toure is strong and he belts it into touch.

Now it's the Chelsea fans in full voice. 'You're not singing anyomre', they are chanting. True but somehat redundant.

Clumsy tackle by Diaby on Makelele. Free-kick for Chelsea just inside the Arsenal half.

Lampard belts the ball into the stand.

Denilson fouled by Drogba inside the Chelsea half. Free-kick in a dangerous spot, some forty yards from goal on the right.

Drogba heads it clear.

Diarra defends well to rob Denilson.

Denilson is then yellow-carded for a trip on Makelele. A bit harsh, perhaps.

Walcott breaks forward for Arsenal, but the move is snuffed out.

Lovely run from Traore, who weaved through three Chelsea challenges into the box - but could only get a weak shot off at Cech.

Great challenge by Traore, who tackled Shevchenko and won a goalkick for his side.

Fabregas is all over the place (in a good way), tackling, making passes and generally orchestrating things. But the entirety of the Arsenal team has been good so far.

Here comes Bridge - but Drogba is called offside from his cross-field ball.

Toure fouls Shevchenko just inside the Chelsea half.

Esien booked for a sliding tackle on Baptista, who took a boot to the chest. Nasty.

Diaby finds Fabregas on the edge of the box - but the ball balloons from his foot into Cech's arms.

Cech fumbles a Traore cross - but Aliadiere can't squeeze it in from a very narrow angle.

Walcott burst into the box after a fine run - but then tried to pull the ball back when he should have shot.

Aliadiere blocked by Diarra on the left side of the Chelsea box. Cynical, but just a free-kick.

Fabregas takes it, but it's straight into the goalkeeper's arms.

Diarra fouled on the right byline.

We are experiencing a brief lull in what has been a very entertaining first half.

Aliadiere breaks into the box - but is tackled. He should have passed.

A Fabregas shot from the edge of the box is deflected, making it an easy stop for Cech.

Two minutes added time.

Brillaiant stuff from Arsenal. Diaby ran into the box and flicked it to Fabregas, who gave it to Walcott - but he was tackled before he could shoot. Corner.

Some Chelsea scumbags were chucking plastic bottles at Fabregas as he tried to take the corner there. They don't make it easy to like them.

And that's half-time. It's 1-1, but Arsenal should be ahead. They have dominated.

We're almost ready to get back underway. Robben is on for Makelele.

Chelsea kick off.

Shevchenko shows some courage in beating a few Arsenla tackles. But then he gave it away.

A cross from Fabregas is 'easy meat' for Cech.

Diaby through on goal after a clever ball from Baptista - but he made it obvious where it was going and Cech made a simple save.

Carvalho booked after a trip on the edge of the box on Aliadiere.

This is dangerous. Baptista is looking to take it... but he drives it against the wall. What a waste.

Fabregas breaks into the box after a one-two and shoots inches wide of the far post! Great stuff. This boy is special.

Robben dribbles the ball into the box, beating Traore on the way - but his bending shot is wide of the left upright.

Diarra takes Diaby out - and gets a yellow card. That was so cynical.

Shevchenko breaks for Chelsea but it breaks down. The Champions are rather lumpen at the moment. They're like a bowl of school rice pudding next to Arsenal's lovingly prepared cassoulet, or something.

Lampard has been quiet so far. He looks rather mediocre, I must say, compared to Arsenal's starlets.

Diaby does Ballack for the umpteeth time. The German has been even worse than Lampard.

Chelsea corner.

Robben takes it - and John Terry gets a boot in the face as he looks to head it in. This does not look good. He is out cold.

Jesus. That was bad. Diaby swung his boot to clear the ball, and connected with Terry's face. You could see he was out by the time he hit the ground. It was pretty unpleasant.

Terry is being given oxygen. Mourinho looks understandably worried.

All the players are gathered around Terry's prone form. He is moving, which is good. When he went down players from both sides signalled or the physio. It was that bad.

Terry is going to be stretchered off. He has a neck brace and an oxygen mask on. It looks, however, that he is awake and responding. Thank goodness for that.

Mikel is on for Terry and Almunia gets us re-started.

Essien has dropped back into the centre of defence and Mikel goes into the middle.

Robben's cross is met by a defensive header from Traore and Arsenal bring it clear.

Walcott beats Bridge but his cross is too long.

Chelsea corner.

Fabregas brings it clear for Arsenal.

Eboue on for Traore.

Drogba's shot is palmed away by Almunia. You just get the feeling Chelsea are going to nick this.

Hleb on for Diaby, who is injured.

Arsenal corner.

Great take from Cech, who launches it downfield, but it's straight through to Almunia.

Poor effort from Denilson after good build-up from Arsenal. Given that, it's no wonder he's never scored for the Gunners.

Shenchenko shins it out of play. Where has the Milan goal machine gone?

Chelsea free-kick after a rash tackle by Fabregas.

Lampard pings one off the crossbar from 35 yards! That is typical Lampard - nothing for 70 minutes then an absolute screamer.

This is a messy period of play - both sides have given the ball away in the past minute.

Senderos takes out Drogba, but there was nothing wrong with that. Drogba, by the way is sporting a naty cornrow hair cut today.

Arsenal corner.

Toure balloons the ball over from the corner - I think it hit his shoulder.

Almunia catches a Bridge cross.

Baptista penalised for a little push on Bridge.

Aliadiere off for Adebayor.

That is Arsenal's third and final sub.

Poor touch by Shevchenko mars a decent Chelsea chance. Arsenal harry the Blues back up the pitch.

Droga scores for Chelsea! A fine header into the corner of the goal from a fine Robben cross.

Great finish, that. The likelihood is that will win this final. It's a shame because Arsenal have played all the football but it did seem inevitable after their opponents somehow survived level until half-time.

What can Arsenal conjur? They need something special now. The best player on the pitch is Fabregas. Can he do it?

Bridge gets the better of Walcott and Robben breaks.

Eboue booked after protesting at a Chelsea free-kick. Robben fell on the left-hand byline under Eboue's challenge and the Arsenal man felt that he had dived.

There should be plenty of injury time for Arsenal here. Terry was down for at least six-and-a-half minutes.

Shevchenko pings one off the crossbar! That could have been it, right there.

Ballack caught offside.

Seven minutes added time to be played. It should be more than that.

Arsenal corner.

Cech gets a fist to the cross just as it seemed to be dropping onto the head of Senderos.

Arsenal free-kick after Shevchenko fouls Denilson.

Kalou is getting instructions - looks like he'll be coming on.

Adebayor gets free in the box - but he's called offside.

Toure has lost it! He's after Mikel. There's a lot of pushing and shoving - Mourinho and Wenger are on the pitch!

Mikel sent off - and is Toure!

Adebayor has also been sent off!

He doesn't want to leave. He looks irate - he's bellowing at someone on the touchline.

And a yellow for Lampard and Fabregas. Wow.

Kalou on for Shevchenko. There's a bit more argy-bargy on the far side.

Fabregas with the free-kick, but Chelsea get it clear.

Chelsea free-kick after a poor Fabregas tackle.

Arsenal free-kick from forty yards out. Almunia is up... but it's headed out. And that's the final whistle! Chelsea have won the Carling Cup!

What an incredible contest. Arsenal played some magic stuff, Drogba was superb, there was the sickening sight of a prone John Terry, three red cards, twelve minutes of injuy time... just incredible. English football may not be the best in the world, for sure, but it is frequently the most dramatic.