Chelsea lost this London derby to a Gallas goal having lost John Terry to injury following a bad foul by Eboué. A game that saw little to choose between the two sides was in the end decided by that rarest of moments, a misjudgement from Petr Cech.
He would later make a string of important saves to keep the game alive and Chelsea can draw strength for the rest of the season in the way we pushed the league leaders hard in the second-half without the like of Drogba, Essien and Carvalho, plus the captain.
There was little surprise before kick-off when Wenger’s three injury maybes made the starting line-up - Fabregas, Flamini and Hleb all returning, the third name to play behind Adebayor in home side’s favoured 4-4-1-1 shape this season.
Avram Grant too went for his most regular formation - the 4-3-3 back after the use of 4-2-3-1 against Valencia.
Wright-Phillips kept his place to patrol the right flank with Joe Cole on the left of Shevchenko. Makelele came in for suspended Essien and Ferreira was preferred to Belletti at right-back.
The most newsworthy selection however was that of Ashley Cole, returning to his old club for the first time since leaving 16 months ago.
After a slow opening to the game on a bitter early evening, matters began to heat up a little when Flamini’s surge into the Chelsea half was policed well by Mikel, the Chelsea man overtaking and then being fouled by the Arsenal midfielder.
Then on eight minutes, Lampard tripped Eboué who was heading towards the Chelsea area and was a little fortunate not to be booked.
Shevchenko was sharp in catching Gallas in possession soon after but the move petered out and then on 12 minutes, Alex put too much height on a back header and cleared Cech. With Chelsea hearts in mouths, he fortunately cleared the goal too, the ball bouncing five yards wide.
The Blues went straight up the other end after Joe Cole nicked possession and Wright-Phillips saw the first on-target shot of the game deflect off a defender but it was saved by Almunia.
Ashley Cole responded to the high decibel booing in the best way possible, winning a crunching but fair tackle on Sagna.
The same could not be said for Adebayor who on 24 minutes caught the Chelsea left-back high on the knee with his studs and became the game’s first booking.
Arsenal were on top territorially but Chelsea were stretching them at times on the break. This was so far an even derby contest. It was also a contest that had a competitive edge to it - evidenced when Terry sprung forward to hack clear a ball that had escaped Fabregas, taking out team-mate Makelele in the process.
The fiery Arsenal midfielder reacted angrily and players closed round but incredibly, referee Wiley chose to book the Chelsea skipper when no foul had occurred, plus Lampard for an earlier foul on Hleb. Fabregas escaped without a caution.
Out of the blue, Shevchenko unleashed a 20-yarder that dipped and Alumina hurriedly it palmed down. On 34 minutes Eboué became the home side’s second booking after leaving his foot high and going through on Terry’s foot, the ref indicating the punishment was for an accumulation of offences.
Rosicky was the next player to shoot, towards Chelsea’s near post but it flew wide with Cech none-too-worried.
On 38 minutes, Terry dropped to the turf, the effects of the Eboué foul lingering. He could not continue. Ben-Haim was called upon to fill the skipper’s boots.
The game was heading for stalemate at the break when the goal no Chelsea fan ever wished to see was scored.
Arsenal won a corner in stoppage time after Cech’s low clearance bounced away from Mikel. Fabregas swung it over, Cech came but for once misjudged the flight. The ball fell beyond Ben-Haim and Gallas had simple task of heading in.
Undeterred, Chelsea pressed well in the opening minutes of the second-half and a testing near-post cross by Ferreira was not too far from the reach of Joe Cole.
Wright-Phillips swung a cross-cum-shot across goal on 59 minutes, and then Mikel fired in a much more convincing effort that Alumina dived to save, Shevchenko’s follow-up too tame to beat the keeper.
The second Chelsea substitution was made on 64 minutes, Makelele sacrificed for Pizarro as the formation switch to 4-2-3-1.
The undercurrent of strong challenges continued. Joe Cole caught Eboué from behind, the Arsenal player turning somersaults and Mikel checked Fabregas on the wing. The ref booked Joe for the first and missed the second foul totally.
Eboué was carried off to even up the injuries. He was replaced by Van Persie who was soon in the action, shooting low for Cech to save.
Ben-Haim became the next booking for a foul on Fabregas and then on 74 minutes came the Blues’ golden chance to equalise.
Pizarro chipped into the area, the ball skimmed off Gallas but from point blank range, Wright-Phillips skewed the ball across goal. He was instantly replaced by Kalou.
Then it was Arsenal’s turn to waste a great opening, Van Persie blasting over from in front of goal after Adebayor and Hleb had carved Chelsea open.
Suddenly it was end to end, Kalou flashing a shot wide. Mikel was booked on 83 minutes for catching Flamini late.
Arsenal thought they had killed the game with five minutes remaining when Van Persie finished off a quick break but the offside flag had long been up.
Chelsea were driving Arsenal back impressively during these late stages, the pattern for this fixture last season, however Arsenal were needless to say, threatening on the counter. It needed an incredible double save by Cech from Fabregas to keep the deficit down to one goal.
This was breathless action. Chelsea were awarded free-kick 25 yards out. All were expecting an Alex strike but Shevchenko caught the ball sweetly and Alumina at full-stretch just reacted quickly enough to tip over.
Into the last minute of normal time and Shevchenko got on the end of a chip forward but his downward header was stopped by the keeper.
The game came to a messy conclusion when Fabregas saw another shot blocked before he clashed with Ashley Cole. The ref dealt with it by finally booking the Arsenal midfielder and then blowing the final whistle. Our ten game unbeaten run against Arsenal was at an end.
Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Ferreira, Alex, Terry (c) (Ben-Haim 38), A Cole; Mikel, Makelele (Pizarro 64), Lampard; Wright-Phillips (Kalou 74), Shevchenko, J Cole.
Booked Lampard 32, Terry 32, J Cole 66, Ben-Haim 73, Mikel 83.
Arsenal (4-4-1-1): Almunia; Sagna, Touré, Gallas (c), Clichy; Eboué (Van Persie 69), Flamini, Fabregas, Rosicky; Helb (Gilberto 77); Adebayor (Bendtner 90+3).
Scorer Gallas 45+1.
Booked Adebayor 24, Eboué 34, Toure 62, Fabregas 90+4.
source : chelseafc.com
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