Strap yourselves in and enjoy the latest edition of our iconic Premier League battles. Arsenal welcome Chelsea to the Emirates Stadium this week for the latest instalment of a historically feisty rivalry. Ahead of the game, we’ve taken a look back at some of the classic meetings between these two English footballing giants.
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Chelsea 2-3 Arsenal (1999) – 15 Minute Hat-Trick
Some serious talent graced the pitch at Stamford Bridge in this meeting, but it was Nwankwo Kanu who stole the show. Arsenal found themselves 2-0 down with just 15 minutes to go, but up stepped the Nigerian striker to deliver the travelling Gunners a memorable comeback.
He slotted his first home with the outside of his boot in the 75th minute, before drawing Arsenal level on the 83rd. In the final minute, Kanu pounced on a failed clearance, skipped past an onrushing Ed de Goey from the Chelsea net, and lifted the ball in from an impossible angle. An iconic comeback hat-trick marked by some equally iconic commentary courtesy of Martin Tyler – ‘Kan-u believe it’.
Arsenal 1-2 Chelsea (2004) – Champions League Magic
The 2003/04 Champions League quarter-final second-leg between these two was finely poised after a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge. When Jose Antonio Reyes fired home from close range on the stroke of half-time, the Gunners looked to be edging towards a place in the semi-final. But when Jens Lehmann spilled a Claude Makelele stinger into the path of Frank Lampard, it was game on.
With just a couple of minutes of regular time remaining, an unlikely hero in blue emerged. Wayne Bridge played a delightful one-two with Eidur Gudjohnsen and drove the ball into the bottom corner to silence Highbury and book Chelsea’s place in the last four.
Chelsea 6-0 Arsenal (2014) – Wenger’s 1000th Game
What should have been an incredibly proud moment for Arsene Wenger quickly became a day to forget. The two London rivals were locked in battle at the top ahead of Wenger’s milestone match, but it turned out to be the most one-sided meeting in the fixture’s Premier League history. Just seven minutes in Chelsea were two goals to the good thanks to fine finishes from Samuel Eto’o and Andre Schurrle.
Things went from bad to worse 15 minutes in when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s handball on the line gave Chelsea a third from the spot. In one of the most insane moments in football history, the referee gave Kieran Gibbs his marching orders in a case of mistaken identity! Two more goals from Brazilian Oscar and a sixth from Mo Salah rounded off a quite remarkable London derby.
Chelsea 2-1 Arsenal (2007) – Carling Cup Final Brawl
What to say about this one – a good old fashioned London derby. The type of game you just don’t see anymore. Theo Walcott gave Arsenal an early lead with his first ever goal for the club, but Didier Drogba levelled the tie just minutes later with a finish that would have been ruled out by VAR in today’s game. In a tight affair, captain John Terry was stretchered off after an hour when he was knocked out cold by Abou Diaby’s right boot.
In a game Chelsea had the better off, Drogba powered home a trademark header from a delicious Arjen Robben cross to give the Blues the lead with just five minutes remaining. It would prove to be the winner, but the game descended into chaos in injury time when Kolo Toure and John Obi Mikel broke out into a tussle. Handbags ensued, and of course Jose Mourinho rushed on to get involved in the action. Mikel, Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor were all sent off for their petulance and Chelsea lifted the trophy.
Chelsea 3-5 Arsenal (2011) – Three for RVP
An all-time Premier League classic, this meeting featured some legends of English football. Goals from Lampard and Terry either side of Robin van Persie gave Chelsea a 2-1 lead at the break. Just 10 minutes into the second half, the Gunners flipped the game on its head with a tidy finish from Andre Santos and a wonderful solo goal from Walcott.
When Juan Mata drew Chelsea level once more with 10 minutes to go, there was a sense around the Bridge that the Blues would go on and win the game. But those dreams were shattered when Terry’s slip allowed van Persie to drift in for his second. The Dutchman finished off his hat-trick with a typically thunderous strike of the left boot and earned Arsenal an unforgettable three points in their neighbours’ backyard.
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