Chelsea 2-1 Arsenal - Match Report
Both of these teams needed a win to boost their chances of a top-four finish. But it was the home-side who emerged victorious thanks to two early goals. A sixth-minute Juan Mata strike then a Frank Lampard penalty ten minutes later gave Chelsea the win. Theo Walcott did reply in the 58th minute but it wasnt enough for Arsenal. Line-Ups: Chelsea (4-2-3-1) Petr Cech, Cesar Azpilicueta, Branislav Ivanovic, Ashley Cole, Ramires, Frank Lampard, Juan Mata, Oscar (Ryan Bertrand 72), Eden Hazard (Marko Marin 88), Fernando Torres (Demba Ba 80) Despite hopes he might have been fit for the game Chelsea captain John Terry could only make the bench. Manager Rafa Benitez also chose to leave out impressive new signing Demba Ba in favour of Fernando Torres. Benitez also chose to start keep the Three Amigos of Hazard, Mata and Oscar playing behind Ba - and also continued with Ramires and Lampard as holding midfielders. Arsenal (4-2-3-1) Wojciech Szczesny, Bacary Sagna, Per Mertesacker, Thomas Vermaelen, Kieran Gibbs, Abou Diaby (Andrey Arshavin 75), Francis Coquelin (Aaron Ramsey 59), Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere, Santi Cazorla, Olivier Giroud The pre-match news that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Lukas Podolski had both been struck down with a virus was not good for Arsenal as it dealt their squad a blow at the last-minute. Neither had played against Swansea in mid-week but both had started against Manchester City. Their absence meant Giroud and Coquelin continued in the team. While Mertesacker was favoured at the back instead of the returning Laurent Koscielny. The match kicked off to a backdrop of snow. Although weather forecasts suggested the match was in no danger of being called off. Arsenal created the first chance of the match. As only 5 minutes in Theo Walcott slipped an excellent ball through to Olivier Giroud who hit his shot just wide of the post. A minute later Chelsea won the ball in midfield and Cesar Azpilicueta played an excellent cross-field ball to Juan Mata who controlled the pass brilliantly. Bacary Sagna had been caught on the wrong side of him and Mata hit his shot high past Szczesny and into the back of the net to put his side 1-0 up. 10 minutes later it was 2-0 as Abou Diaby lost the ball in midfield and Chelsea capitalised. Mata managed to get the ball through to Ramires who was unmarked in the box. Wojciech Szczesny came out to meet him and brought the midfielder down. Frank Lampard then dispatched the penalty with ease but Szczesny was lucky to only get a yellow card. Chelsea really dominated the first-half but couldnt find another breakthrough to put the match to bed. Fernando Torres in particular wasted several chances. In the 58th minute of the second half Arsenal pulled one back through Walcott. Santi Cazorla played an excellent ball through to the winger who had timed his run perfectly. Walcott latched onto the paced raced away from the Chelsea defence before curling the ball past Petr Cech to make it 2-1. There was more chances for both teams throughout the half but neither were able to capitalise. With less than 10 minutes left Demba Ba broke through on goal and skinned the on-rushing Szczesny. But his shot was delayed and poor which allowed Thomas Vermalen got back on the line to block it. Arsenal through everything at Chelsea in the remaining minutes but were unable to make a breakthrough as the match finished 2-1 to the home side. Click Next to see the player ratings