Didier Drogba forces Arsenal to yield to Chelsea's greater efficiency

If the breath is leaving Arsenal's bid for the title so early, the cause of death will be registered as suffocation by stereotype. It is hard to avoid the focus on losers who put so much into the match for no return whatever. Nonetheless it would be implausible to suggest that they had been unfortunate. A sequence of five consecutive defeats by Chelsea in all competitions is no statistical freak.

Few observers at Stamford Bridge would have been surprised that the victors made thorough use of limited opportunities. It is natural that there should be expertise in so seasoned a line-up. The squad, broadly speaking, is an ageing one but, so far as other contenders are concerned, it is taking far too long for them to drift into feebleness.

Despite a further success for Chelsea, not all stereotypes about Arsenal continue to be valid. They were not really innocuous. The openings did exist and the inability to exploit them was, in one particular case, uncanny. Wenger's men began the afternoon with great verve, as if rebuking everyone who scorns them as feeble aesthetes. Despite that, it does remain true that they are not clinical enough on occasions such as this to get the maximum benefit from their excellence.

In the first minute a Marouane Chamakh header was deflected behind and from the corner Laurent Koscielny contrived to nod the ball over the bar when the target was a mere couple of yards in front of him. While Chelsea had no influence on that, they are seldom shaken by endeavour from their opponents. The obvious prototype for the win might have been the Champions League contest at this ground last Tuesday.

Marseille have little of Arsenal's finesse yet often went on the attack, before being picked off in a 2-0 defeat. At the second goal yesterday's visitors also saw how Chelsea's patience can abruptly turn into vehemence. There was no fault on Arsenal's part once Koscielny had brought down Nicolas Anelka to earn a yellow card five minutes from the close.

The ensuing 25-yarder from the centre-half Alex had both power and movement as it roared past the left arm of the goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski. That clincher ensured a handsome prize. The Premier League leaders now stand seven points ahead of Arsenal and four ahead of second-placed Manchester City. The old claim that they are merely functional should also fall into disuse.

Chelsea might have bided their time against Arsenal but they still have 23 goals from seven league matches. The rampage has been in progress for well over a year now. It was triggered by the appointment of Carlo Ancelotti and the manager, returning from Italy following the death of his father, could see again the degree to which he has recast the style and reputation of Chelsea.

Arsenal, all the same, had a foretaste of that incisiveness well before the advent of Ancelotti. For then the lethal trait is embodied in the imposing Drogba. He now has 13 goals in 11 starts against Wenger's men, so long as a Community Shield game is included in the reckoning.

For all the visitors' endeavour and technique, Ancelotti's line-up had the air of patient men biding their time. Even when pinned back, Chelsea carried a threat. Drogba would acknowledge some excellent work in the fashioning of his chance in the 39th minute. Ramires has been rather subdued since the summer move to England but his presence was felt fully in the goal.

After he had made a tackle he found the ball played back to him and the Brazilian showed an unexpected finesse with the pass that released Ashley Cole on the left. The low cross from the former Arsenal full-back was backheeled home by Drogba via the inside of the near post.

That build-up was impressive andvindictive, as it contrasted with Arsenal's lack of efficiency when the fashioning of the final pass and shot was at issue. Ultimately they were reduced to the sort of forlorn appeal for a penalty that was liable to be dismissed by the referee, Mike Dean.

Arsenal's suffering might have been more intense still. Anelka, another of their former players, would also be profligate after the interval. With an hour gone a lapse by Sébastien Squillaci let him run through, only for the shot to be struck off target. By and large, though, Chelsea knew precisely where they were going and efficiency secured the win.

There are other issues, of course. Arsenal's verve would have more impact if Cesc Fábregas and Robin van Persie were fit. The speed of the absent Theo Walcott might also have been of help. Further, it will be a relief to Wenger when the injured centre-back Thomas Vermaelen is fit once more. At the same time, though, it has to be recognised that the signings of Squillaci and Koscielny were intended to give Arsenal a depth of resources in a critical part of the line-up.

So far, that upgrade is not apparent. Chelsea, on the other hand, rest on the tried and tested. An overhaul will be demanded eventually but they have gone on prospering regardless of the unavailability of someone such as the injured Frank Lampard. Those awaiting an implosion at Stamford Bridge will have to be patient.

Source: Kevin McCarra, The Guardian on 3 Oct 10

Drog downs Gunners again

Chelsea moved four points clear at the top of the Premier League after a goal in each half from Didier Drogba and Alex earned them a vital 2-0 victory over London rivals Arsenal at Stamford Bridge.

Drogba backheeled Ashley Cole's low cross into the net at the near post five minutes before the break for his 13th goal against Arsene Wenger's side in 11 starts.

Defender Alex settled the contest with a powerful 30-yard free-kick in the 85th minute to hand the Gunners their second successive league defeat.

The tempo was set when Arsenal almost took the lead in the opening minute, with Bacary Sagna's.right-wing cross headed just wide by Marouane Chamakh.

Referee Mike Dean adjudged that the ball had deflected off a Chelsea defender and when the corner found its way into the six-yard box, Lauren Koscielny headed over from two yards out.

It was a wake-up call for the home side who responded with a Drogba free-kick that ballooned over the crossbar.

In the ninth minute, Chelsea almost opened the scoring when John Terry found Florent Malouda in the inside left channel but the France international's audacious chip was just over.

Arsenal hit back immediately with Andrey Arshavin forcing Petr Cech into a save when he cut inside from the left wing and unleashed an angled drive.

In the 19th minute Chelsea squandered another chance to open the scoring when Michael Essien rose unmarked in the six-yard box but headed Drogba's corner wide of the target.

Cech saved Chelsea in the 28th minute when he dived to his left to tip Arshavin's fierce 20-yard drive around the post.

Arsenal were enjoying as much of the possession as their hosts and Samir Nasri was a yard wide after outwitting the Chelsea defence on the edge of the penalty area.

Chelsea's frustration was growing and it was made worse then Drogba and Malouda were spotted arguing with each other in midfield.

But it clearly had an effect as in the 34th minute Lukasz Fabianski pulled off a great save to deny Drogba after the Ivory Coast striker had been put in the clear by Essien.

It was end-to-end stuff and a typical fast-flowing London derby that had everything but a goal - until the 40th minute. It was no surprise when the scorer turned out to be Drogba.

It was a superb move which led up to his finish. A quick free-kick eventually saw Ramires put Cole through on the left and when the former Arsenal full-back crossed the ball, Drogba backheeled it into the net at the near post.

The Gunners should have equalised in the 58th minute when Chamakh opted to take one touch too many on the edge of the penalty area and Ramires was able to block the danger.

But Chelsea should have made it 2-0 moments later when Anelka robbed Sebastien Squillaci and rounded Fabianski but the France international sent his shot into the side-netting.

In the 64th minute, Cech was alert enough to take the ball off the feet of Chamakh after Nasri's clever ball looked to have put the Arsenal man in with a clear opportunity to score.

Arsenal replaced Abou Diaby with Tomas Rosicky in the 71st minute as they looked for more invention in front of goal - and Rosicky soon forced Cech into a fine save.

However, Chelsea wasted another chance to kill off the game in the 73rd minute when Anelka raced clear of the Arsenal defence but his shot was somehow kept out by Fabianski.

Chamakh failed to hit the target from six yards when he sent a firm header just past the right-hand upright with 10 minutes left - and five minutes later Alex put the outcome beyond doubt when he crashed a 30-yard free-kick into the roof of the net.

Source: ESPN Soccernet on 3 Oct 10

Drogba returns to haunt Arsenal

One of London's biggest fixtures has been dominated in recent years by Didier Drogba's domination of the Gunners' defence. The Ivorian has battered and bruised Arsenal's rearguard with reckless abandon and, as Arsene Wenger has presided over five trophyless seasons, Chelsea's six different managers have picked up two Premier League titles, two FA Cups and one Carling Cup.

The shift in power across London was no more evident than last season, when a Drogba-inspired Chelsea hammered Arsenal 3-0 at the Emirates and 2-0 at Stamford Bridge on their way to the title. It has been a long time since Wenger boasted a five-year unbeaten streak against the Blues between 1999 and 2004 and, although Nwankwo Kanu's hat-trick to seal a comeback 3-2 win for Arsenal 11 years ago remains an abiding memory of the fixture, more recent history has not been so enjoyable for the Gunners.

Certainly, Chelsea will be smelling blood again. With Arsenal's well-documented injury woes, Cesc Fabregas, Thomas Vermaelen and Manuel Almunia will all be missing and the inconsistent Lukasz Fabianski called into action between the sticks. As if that wasn't enough cause for concern, the side are short on physical power while the Blues have it in abundance. While Frank Lampard will still be missing as he continues to recover from injury, but Drogba will be back in the side after suspension and a settled defence of Petr Cech, Branislav Ivanovic, John Terry, Alex and Ashley Cole have conceded just two goals so far this season.

Both clubs are coming off the back of league defeats, to Manchester City and West Brom respectively, and it has all the makings of a great game, although Carlo Ancelotti's champions will certainly be favourites.

Chelsea player to watch: Michael Essien
It is no mistake that Chelsea's dominant start to the season has seen Essien start every game for the defending champions. Having managed just 13 starts last season due to a serious knee injury, Essien's return to the side has given more drive to the midfield and the Ghanaian has even popped up with two goals. Arguably one of the best, and most powerful, midfielders in the world game, Essien's form has been a key component of the Blues' 21 goals scored and just two conceded. Likely to be used higher up the pitch than the holding John Obi Mikel again, he will be encouraged to get forward as much as possible and Arsenal will be wary of his shot from distance, after watching him score a 35-yard thunderbolt against them at Stamford Bridge back in 2006.

Arsenal player to watch: Marouane Chamakh
The Moroccan striker was bought by the Gunners to bring strength and power up front and he will be a vital player if his side are to match Chelsea. An agile frontman, Chamakh has shown that he is more than just a battering ram and his pace has won him two penalties since his arrival at the Emirates, when he demonstrated his ability to get beyond the last defender. Two goals in his opening six games is not a bad return, given that he is still getting used to the pace of the Premier League, but a starring performance against the league leaders could make him an instant hero with the Arsenal fans.

Key battle: Didier Drogba v Laurent Koscielny/Sebastien Squillaci
Drogba has been the scourge of Arsenal's backline in recent years, with four goals in the two league meetings last season. His power and pace have caused the Gunners constant problems and it may well be that his bullying of Philippe Senderos a few years back put an end to the Swiss defender's career at the Emirates. Now, with the likes of Kolo Toure and William Gallas gone, Wenger's faith turns to French pair Squillaci and Koscielny. Both are still acclimatising to the English game and have strength and commitment in abundance, but could find a fit and in-form Drogba - who has 12 goals in 12 games against Arsenal - too much to handle.

Source: Jon Carter, ESPN Soccernet on 29 Sep 10