Arsenal – Chelsea

1. Good afternoon. My name is Alex, and I'm here to guide you through Chelsea's trip to Arsenal.

2. It's difficult to overestimate the importance of this game. IT'S TRULY MASSIVE. KING KONG-MASSIVE.

3. Some team news: French midfielder Claude Makelele is recalled for Chelsea, while Asier del Horno's leg injury ruled him out with William Gallas switching to left-back. Didier Drogba was given the striking role instead of Hernan Crespo.

4. Arsenal made one change from the side beaten by Newcastle - the suspended Gilberto being replaced by Mathieu Flamini, while Bergkamp was handed a place on the bench.

5. The players are lining up in the tunnel. John Terry looks mean and focused as he leads his men out.

6. We're off. Arsenal begin the game as the stadium rocks with noise and passion.

7. 1'

   Arsenal seem to have asked Van Persie to play out on the left wing; a slightly unusual move from the home side.

8. 2'

   Cole and Drogba combine, and the England winger puts in a low cross that Senderos is forced to clear for a throw.

9. 3'

   CHANCE! Hleb gives the ball away inside his own half. Lampard chips to Drogba, who nods the ball down to Cole in the area. Unfortunately for Chelsea, he rather slices his first-time shot well wide.

10. 3'

    Chelsea are playing with their usual 4-3-3 formation, with Cole and Robben providing the support for Drogba in the middle.

11. 4'

    It's been a good start from Chelsea, who are committing men forward with pace. They win a free-kick out oun the left wing...

12. 4'

    ...Lampard curls the ball in to the crowded penalty area, and Lehmann is forced to tip it over his crossbar for the first corner of the match...

13. 5'

    Lampard curls the ball in to the middle, but Arsenal clear. Great start from the visitors.

14. 5'

    Arsenal, and Hleb in particular, are being a bit sloppy with their passes in the early minutes, and Chelsea are taking advantage.

15. 6'

    It might even be said that Arsenal look a little nervous; this is a bigger match for them than it is for Chelsea.

16. 6'

    Arsenal are really penned in to their own half; they have only once crossed the half-way line. Great pressure from Jose Mourinho's men.

17. 7'

    Chelsea win another free-kick when Essien is brought down on the right. Lampard slings the ball in to the middle, but Essien heads high over the crossbar.

18. 8'

    The undersoil heating was on all night at Highbury - it's been a very cold last few days in London. Many of the players are wearing gloves or vests under their shirts.

19. 9'

    At last, Arsenal have some meaningful possession in the Chelsea half. They knock the ball about, probing for an opening, but Chelsea look solid at the back.

20. 10'

    GREAT DEFENDING! Lampard lofts a cute ball over the top for Drogba and Robben to chase, but Campbell does wonderfully to bundle them off the ball.

21. 11'

    Television replays suggest that Lehmann gave Drogba a tug as they tussled for the loose ball after Campbell's great defending a moment or two ago.

22. 12'

    Again, Hleb is wasteful in possession as a loose pass goes straight to Lampard on the halfway line. He needs to settle down - he looks very edgy.

23. 13'

    Lauren is adjudged to have handled as Drogba tried to flick the ball past him on the edge of the penalty area. Dangerous spot...

24. 14'

    Lampard and Drogba stand over the ball...

25. 14'

    Robben eventually takes the shot, but his low effort is blocked by the wall. A poor effort from the Dutchman.

26. 15'

    Lehmann is currently applying an ice-pack to a knock he has taken on his knee, but he looks to be moving freely enough.

27. 16'

    BLOCK! A swift, slick Chelsea move ends with Cole laying the ball in to the path of Essien, but Lauren flies across to block the midfielder's shot.

28. 17'

    Arsenal seem to be struggling with this new formation they are playing; it is a 4-5-1, with Hleb trying to support Henry up-front.

29. 18'

    Arsenal have been bombarded in these opening minutes; Chelsea have been completely dominant. I can't remember Cech touching the ball as yet.

30. 19'

    Senderos fouls Cole as he attempted to break down the Chelsea left. It's very tough and attritional in that midfield area at the moment.

31. 19'

    The Gunners fans are really trying to get behind their side, but it's tough when they're so under the cosh.

32. 20'

    POST! Brilliant skills from Henry as he glides past two challenges on the edge of the penalty area and slides a shot past Cech, though it rebounds off the far post.

33. 20'

    GOAL! NO! OFF-SIDE! Van Persie is wrongly flagged for off-side as he breaks the trap and curls the ball inside the post. He looks mortified.

34. 21'

    Arsenal have come to life in the last couple of minutes; they have been all over the place in the first twenty minutes, but are now looking slick and confident.

35. 22'

    Lehmann does well to come out and claim a bouncing ball inside the penalty area as Drogba comes flying in to challenge.

36. 23'

    Arsenal, although they have been fairly average so far, should be a goal-up. Van Persie was being played on-side by Gallas, and the official got it wrong.

37. 24'

    Hleb is starting to find his passes now; he slides a good ball down the left channel for Ljungberg, but Carvalho comes across to cover.

38. 25'

    Van Persie takes a knock to the back of the head as he and Makalele challenge for a high ball.

39. 26'

    Van Persie is down again, this time holding his face. He receives some treatment from the Arsenal physio, but is soon up on his feet.

40. 27'

    Ljungberg sends over a left-footed cross from the right, but Henry seems to whimp out of a header with Terry and the ball goes behind for a goal-kick.

41. 28'

    Van Persie is booked for dissent after a free-kick decision goes against him. The referee really had no choice after he banged the ball hard in to the turf in frustration.

42. 29'

    Chelsea are forced backwards by some good Arsenal pressure in their own half.

43. 30'

    Robben lays a nice pass in to the path of Joe Cole, although he can't turn Campbell in the area. Corner to Chelsea.

44. 31'

    Robben is shown the yellow card after the referee spots him stamping down on Senderos' boot as the defender took the ball from him in a tackle.

45. 32'

    Drogba is unfortunate not to win a free-kick after Senderos barges him off the ball as the two chase down Lampard's lofted pass over the top.

46. 33'

    Now Essien is booked for using his arm to fend off Lauren as he tried to hold on to the ball on the half-way line. Arsenal are furious about the challenge, and surround the referee.

47. 34'

    Lauren is receiving some treatment for the blow he took to his face, but he seems to be okay. The Arsenal fans get on Essien's back for the challenge.

48. 35'

    With play still stopped, Drogba wanders over to the Arsenal bench and has a few words with Wenger. Drogba is someone who likes a moan, and he's jabbering away to anyone who'll listen.

49. 36'

    Ashley Cole is spotted in the crowd, wearing a thick coat and hood. He is expected to be back in action in around three weeks' time following his injury.

50. 37'

    Play has finally begun again following Lauren's treatment.

51. 37'

    Lauren sends over a low cross from the left after he had escaped the attentions of Ferreira on the touchline.

52. 38'

    GOAL! Robben is played in by a good ball ball by Drogba. He scampers goalwards and tucks a low shot past Lehmann and in off the far post.

53. 39'

    It was a tight off-side decision, but Robben was just, just onside as he got in behind Toure and sprinted on to Drogba's simple pass.

54. 40'

    Arsenal can consider themselves unfortunate to be a goal down; they have fought back well after a poor start, and were competing well until Robben got in the clear.

55. 41'

    A great tackle from Toure, deep in the Chelsea half. He wins the ball from Gallas, chips a good cross in to the middle, and Carvalho is forced to put the ball behind for a corner.

56. 42'

    Arsenal have scored in their last 28 Premiership games at Highbury, so will be confident of getting back in to this game. But Chelsea are defending very well; they are tight and compact and Arsenal are finding it tough to get through.

57. 43'

    Arsenal cannot afford to lose this game; they are already so far behind Chelsea in the title race. So they are going to need a massive effort in the second half to keep their season alive.

58. 44'

    Arsenal seem to be a bit short of ideas; they have had plenty of the ball since Chelsea went in front, but just can't get close to the visitors' goal.

59. 45'

    HALF-TIME: Not an attractive half of football, but it's certainly been interesting. Arsenal need to change something if they are to get back in to the game, as Chelsea look very solid at the moment.

60. 45'

    No changes at half time as Chelsea kick off the second half.

61. 46'

    Van Persie seems to have been moved a little further in-field in this second half. Will the change provide them with more spark going forward?

62. 47'

    Robben is brought down by Senderos as the winger sprinted towards goal. There is some debate whether the Swiss defender was the last man, but the youngster is only shown the yellow card.

63. 47'

    Lampard stands over the free-kick, on the edge of the area...

64. 47'

    He curls the ball around the wall, but is seems to strike Drogba inside the area and runs clear.

65. 48'

    Toure goes on a spirited run down the right touchline, winning a throw deep in Chelsea territory.

66. 49'

    Van Persie slides the ball in to the feet of Henry, but his cute first-time pass towards Hlab is too strong and Cech collects.

67. 50'

    Henry is booked for a silly, late trip of Carvalho as the defender looked to cross the halfway line with the ball.

68. 51'

    Chelsea are taking their time over the free-kick, trying to take the sting out of the game and waste a little time.

69. 52'

    Arsenal have plenty of attacking options on the bench, should Wenger decide to change things around. Pires and Bergkamp are spotted warming up on the touchline.

70. 53'

    Essien earns another talking to from the referee after a lazy tackle on Van Persie. Having already been booked, he is a little lucky to stay on the field.

71. 53'

    Lampard is foced to take some treatment on a head wound; I'm not entirely sure how the injury occurred.

72. 54'

    SHOT! Makalele's first-time pass to Robben finds the winger in a lot of space. He beats his marker and rolls a good ball in to the feet of Gallas, but the defender's turn-and-shot finds the side-netting.

73. 55'

    SAVE! Van Persie shows good strength to hold off his marker on the touchline. The ball is then worked out to Lauren, who advances towards goal before unleashing a fierce shot, which Cech does well to turn around the post.

74. 56'

    Lampard has returned to the field, sporting a lovely bandage wrapped around his head. No longer is he the dream-boat darling of a million teenage girls.

75. 57'

    Arsenal need to get more people up to support Henry if they are to get back in to the game.

76. 58'

    Makalele is the latest player to be booked after diving in on Hleb on the halfway line. That's seven players, I believe, to have gone in to the book.

77. 59'

    Chelsea are so quick to press and harry the Arsenal players. They are putting them in so much pressure that they can't create anything.

78. 60'

    WHAT! Robben sprints on to a hack uo-field from Carvalho; he is one-on-one with the keeper, on his left-foot, but instead of shooting, he chooses to try and cut the ball back. Unfortunately, there is no Chelsea team-mate near him and Arsenal easily clear.

79. 61'

    That was a really strange decision from Robben; he was clear through on Lehmann with a great chance to put the game beyong Arsenal, but he seemed to lack the confidence to do so.

80. 62'

    Campbell's trailing arm catches Cole in the face; he screams and hits the turf, but receives little sympathy. Replays show that the Chelsea man took an elbow in the face, though it was probably accidental.

81. 63'

    Cole receives some treatment from the physio - it was quite a whack he took, but he seems to be fine now.

82. 64'

    The game is getting a little spicey as it approaches crunch-time; the tackles are flying in, and with so many players already on yellow cards, I wouldn't be surprised to see someone dismissed.

83. 65'

    Still no sign of a change from Wenger.

84. 65'

    CHANCE! Robben is through on goal for the third time. On this occasion, he perhaps should have laid a pass in to the path of Drogba; instead he takes it on himself, but his low shot is well saved by Lehmann.

85. 66'

    SHOT! Henry spins and hits a volley goalwards, but Cech is down quickly on his line to save.

86. 67'

    Pires and Bergkamp seem to be readying themselves to get on the pitch.

87. 68'

    Chelsea seem content to keep the ball and frustrate the home side, who are hunting desperately to get it back.

88. 69'

    Mourinho is furious with the referee after a free-kick decision goes against his side when Robben and Ljungberg clash.

89. 70'

    ARSENAL SUBS: Ljungberg and Hleb off, Bergkamp and Pires come on. Attacking changes from the home side as they take a chance on getting back in to the game.

90. 71'

    Arsenal seem to be playing with three up front now, and three in midfield. They desperately need an equaliser to keep the title alive.

91. 72'

    GOAL! Cole robs Lauren in his own half, runs at Campbell and curls a superb left-foot shot inside the far post.

92. 73'

    Wonderful finish by Cole from the edge of the penalty area. Surely that's game over now; Arsenal don't look capable of getting back in to this.

93. 74'

    Cole is in superb form at the moment, and that was a superb curling shot. Chelsea look invinceable.

94. 74'

    Arsenal win a free-kick in a dangerous spot, just outside the penalty area. Henry and Van Persie stand over the ball...

95. 75'

    Henry strikes the shot, but it's straight at Cech, who claims easily.

96. 76'

    Chelsea prepare to make a change, with Geremi receiving some last-minute instructions from Mourinho.

97. 76'

    SAVE! Cole strikes a low shot from the edge of the penalty area. The ball comes through a crowd of players, but Lehmann is down superbly to his right and tips the ball around the post.

98. 77'

    CHELSEA SUB: Geremi on, Robben off. The Chelsea winger takes an age to leave the field as he is replaced by the more defensive-minded Cameroonian international.

99. 78'

    That second goal has really killed the game; any confidence that the home side had has evaporated. "There's only one team in London," chant the Chelsea fans. Not strictly true, but I understand their sentiment.

100. 79'

     Arsenal are so narrow in attack that it is easy for Chelsea to defend; they simply pack the middle of the field, and Arsenal have no space to play their way through.

101. 80'

     Chelsea are taking their time over set-pieces and really doing a good job of killing the game off - much to Arsenal's frustrations.

102. 81'

     ARSENAL SUB: Van Persi off, Quincy Owusu-Abeyie on. A rare first-team appearance for the pacey youngster.

103. 82'

     SHOT! Superb work from Bergkamp as he works himself some space, 25 yards out, and unleashes a low, curling shot. Cech is down to his left to turn it around the post.

104. 84'

     Chelsea are finding some space behind the Arsenal back-four as the home side go searching for a goal. Lampard has his first shot of the match, though it's wayward.

105. 85'

     Lampard goes in to the book, seemingly for a succession of tame but noticeable second-half fouls.

106. 86'

     The game is rather limping to its conclusion; Arsenal are passing the ball about nicely, but there is simply no way through the Blue wall.

107. 87'

     CHELSEA SUB: Huth replaces Drogba. A defensive change from Mourinho as he tries to preserve their two-goal cushion.

108. 88'

     A cheeky Henry backheel releases Lauren inside the penalty area, but Chelsea skipper Terry flies across to make the block as Lauren shoots.

109. 89'

     The Arsenal fans are very quiet as they contemplate how toothless their side has been against this efficient Chelsea team.

110. 90'

     This will be Arsenal's third Premiership defeat on the trot - the first time in Wenger's reign that will have happened.

111. 92'

     FULL-TIME: Chelsea power to a huge victory - and one that will dishearten the entire Premiership, who had been hoping that Arsenal could put a seed of doubt in the Champions' minds.

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