Chelsea 2-0 Arsenal
Drogba scored twice to send Chelsea back to the top of the league
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By Darren Estwick. |  |
Sunday, 07, Feb 2010 06:00
By Matt Hallam.
Didier Drogba continued his fine scoring record against Arsenal, netting both goals in Chelsea's victory over the Gunners at Stamford Bridge.
Arsenal found themselves behind early on when Drogba volleyed in John Terry's glancing header from a corner.
Andrey Arshavin had an excellent opportunity soon after but he was denied by Petr Cech.
Chelsea then hit Arsenal on the counter attack with Drogba cutting inside to fire a powerful shot past Manuel Almunia.
And Drogba continued to threaten Arsenal's goal in the second-half, hitting the cross bar whilst Arsenal toiled to no avail against a tight Chelsea defence.
The result puts Chelsea back on top of the Premier League - two points clear of Manchester United, but leaves Arsenal nine points off the top of the league with a trip to a resurgent Liverpool to come in midweek.
Arsenal began the game confidently and had an early sight of goal when Samir Nasri had a shot deflected wide by Bransilav Ivanovic.
They found themselves behind inside eight minutes though when Terry glanced Frank Lampard's corner to the back post where Drogba was on hand to volley the ball in.
Arsenal responded well after conceding so early but neither Nasri or Arshavin could find a way past Cech after latching onto two sublime passes from Fabregas, with the Czech goalkeeper making two smart saves with his legs.
The Gunners vulnerability to the counter-attack was exposed with brutal precision by Chelsea though, with Lampard picking up the ball in his own half and feeding it to Drogba who cut inside and smashed a left foot shot past Manuel Almunia.
Lampard then clipped a ball through to Ashley Cole on the left, but Theo Walcott was able to get back and force the former Arsenal full-back wide, allowing Almunia to come out and make a vital block.
Drogba continued to torment the Arsenal defence after the break, sending a high cross to the back post that Malouda headed down for Lampard in the penalty area. The England midfielder couldn't get the ball under control though and could only send a weak effort straight at Almunia.
Arsenal continued to have a good share of possession and had a great chance to pull a goal back on the hour mark when Nasri exchanged passes with Diaby allowing him to get behind the Chelsea defence. The Frenchman hesitated though, allowing Cole to come across make a vital block.
Cech was then forced to make a save low down to his right as Fabregas fired a free kick towards the bottom corner after substitute Nicklas Bendtner had been brought down by Ricardo Carvalho outside the box.
Chelsea continued to threaten Arsenal's goal though and came closest to getting the third goal of the match when Drogba sent a free-kick from thirty yards thundering off the cross bar with Almunia rooted to his goal line.
Arsenal continued to look for a way back into the game in the final minutes, but for all their possession and neat passing, they were unable to find a way past Chelsea's stubborn defence.