36) Arsenal - Chelsea Fc

Sun, 6th May 2007 Chelsea relinquished the Premiership title to Manchester United, but fought out a wonderful draw after Khalid Boulahrouz had been sent off in the first-half. Missing not fully fit were Carvalho, Ashley Cole, Ballack, Drogba, Shevchenko and Robben. Chelsea pursued bright pass-and-move football from the beginning, and Arsenal were pinned back in their own half. Bridge played a one-two with Lampard after 10 minutes and belted forward before his volley for goal was blocked by a tackle on almost an identical angle to where he scored his famous Highbury winner in 2004. Arsenal fans were surprisingly petty-minded in their booing of Terry and Lampard early on whenever they touched the ball. Without injured Drogba, Chelsea didn't have the option of pumping long balls forward, and Kalou's movement was asking questions of Arsenal's defence. In addition, Mikel's composure on the ball as the holding midfielder kept Chelsea's forward momentum going. The problem was lack of cutting edge. With one quarter of the game gone, there had not had a shot of consequence from either team. Mikel went into referee Wiley's book for a foul from behind on Fabregas, but it was a retaliation for an earlier two-footed tackle by Fabregas on him that had not been whistled up. Joe Cole had the first shot when sent running at goal by Kalou, but he dragged it wide when maybe he could have carried the ball further. Cole and Wright-Phillips had previously failed to get a shot away when well placed. But next Cole produced a low ball across the six yard box which Lampard just couldn't reach. Chelsea were playing all the football. In the end, it was Arsenal who fashioned the first shot on target, Adebayor emerging with the opportunity after Chelsea failed to clear Arsenal's first prolonged period in the Chelsea half. His low effort was blocked but not held by Cech. Four minutes before half-time a simple ball over the top was missed by Boulahrouz who then chased Baptista and brought him drown from behind. It was simple and careless. He was sent off.

Gilberto put away the penalty, sending Cech the wrong way. Essien withdrew yet again to central defence and Wright-Phillips into midfield, leaving two up. When the interval whistle went Chelsea had managed just the one shot off target and played all the good football. Arsenal had scored. Isn't that supposed to be the other way round? Arsenal opened the second-half on the attack with Adebayor volleying just wide after Lampard had headed a free-kick from the far side beyond goal, and then Abedayor went in high on Ferreira and was booked. Chelsea continued to play some good football but now lacked the strength up front to make any impression or keep possession. Attempts at counter-attack were o easily muscled out, and Chelsea came under increasing pressure. Fortunately there were no efforts on target. Midway through the half Gallas, of all people, earned himself a free header with good movement from a corner, but nodded the ball far too high. Arsenal's big pitch, with Wigan by far the biggest in the Premiership, allowed Arsenal to pass Chelsea left and right and make the most of the extra man. Then, out of the blue, Cole won a corner as he twisted and stepped over in a runat Gallas, and although Lampard's kick was cleared, Wright-Phillips went round Hleb like he wasn't there - he wasn't! - and crossed. Essien, still forward, dived in at the near post to glance a headed equaliser. It was Chelsea's first effort on target. Chelsea escaped conceding a counter-attacking goal when Clichy intercepted a pass to Wright-Phillips who was slow to respond, and the ball was worked across to the right to Hleb on the right who set up Baptista. Thankfully Ferreira got across to tackle. Maybe Mourinho wanted more legs in midfield, but he soon sent on Diarra for Mikel. There was a long delay after an appallingly high attempted tackle by Fabregas on Lampard. Astonishingly, referee Wiley only spoke to Fabregas. He also gave a long lecture to Terry who had responded furiously. Arsenal went more defensive and sent on Hoyte for Diaby. Mourinho sent on Sinclair for his Premiership debut in place of Wright-Phillips. Immediately Chelsea won a corner and Essien shot just wide. It was not looking as much 10 v 11 as it had earlier in the half.

As the last five minutes arrived, Terry headed just over from a corner, and Lampard forced another one with a 25 yarder which Lehmann turned round. Sinclair did well to set up Lampard but this time the England man missed his shot. It was his 60th game of the season, a record in one season for a Chelsea player, surpassing the 59 of Ed de Goey in 1999/00. Four minutes of stoppage time were added, and it seemed Chelsea believed they could yet rescue the title. Yes, Hleb smashed a low cross through the six yard box, but then Sinclair went on another run and Cole found Kalou who forced a tip-over from Lehmann. If he'd been confident of his left foot he might even had shot earlier. Essien was booked for a challenge just outside the area, Terry launched forward more and more, and Eboué hit the bar after one final overlap. When the whistle went Chelsea players were drained and for a moment alone. But Mourinho charged to the Chelsea fans and demanded a major ovation for his team. It was given. Pride remains. Arsenal (4-4-2) Lehmann; Eboué, Touré, Gallas, Clichy; Fabregas, Gilberto (c), Denilson (Hleb 59), Diaby (Hoyte 79); Baptista, Adebayor. Scorer Gilberto (42 pen). Booked Adebayor (48). Chelsea (4-3-3) Cech; Ferreira, Boulahrouz, Terry (c), Bridge; Essien, Mikel (Diarra 74), Lampard; Wright-Phillips (Sinclair 79), Kalou, J Cole. Scorer Essien (69). Sent off Boulahrouz (41) Booked Mikel (30), Essien (90+1).