Chelsea (0) 0 - 0 (0) Arsenal
Stamford Bridge, Wednesday 20th April 2005
FA Premiership
Arsenal:
Lehmann
Lauren Toure Senderos Cole
Cesc (Aliadiere 81) Vieira Gilberto Pires
Reyes Bergkamp (van Persie 79)
A terrific advertisment for the Premiership, especially
the defensive qualities of the top 2 teams. Arsenal got off
to a good start but couldn't capitalise. But although
Chelsea got hold of the game, especially in the second half,
we managed to keep them out for a well-deserved draw. One of
the best goalless draws you'll ever see.
After just 2 minutes, a nice bit of possession ended with a
high Lauren cross from the right which Reyes jumped for
on the left of the box. A defender jumped with him, and I
think it was the defender who got the touch. It came back
to the edge of the box where Pires hit a beautiful volley
that crashed out off the underside of the bar.
The home side had their first attack a couple of minutes
later. Gudjohnsen fed Duff on the left and his cross
back towards Gudjohnsen was dealt with by Toure's challenge.
It was a toss-up who got the touch that put the ball out
but the decision went our way.
On 8 minutes Lampard hit a shot from just outside the D,
forcing a good save from Lehmann. Then up the other end
Pires and Cesc combined to set up Reyes who shot on the turn
only to see it deflected for a corner. The corner was played
infield to Bergkamp whose cross was half cleared then took a
ricochet that put it right in Pires' path on the right. He
hit another first-time shot which was a bit easier than the
previous one but went low past the far post.
On the half hour Drogba had a great chance after being put
clear on Lehmann by Duff, but the keeper came out big
and managed to make another good save with his feet. We
had another scary moment 2 minutes later when Drogba was
fed in space on the right. Perhaps affected by his failure in
the one-on-one just beforehand, he opted not to take the shot on but
instead squared for Joe Cole. But
there was a tad too much pace on it and he failed to make decent
contact as he stretched for it. It was half cleared to Gudjohnsen
whose shot from the D was blocked by Pires.
Gilberto nearly got himself into a shooting position
with a great run from midfield, but Gallas got over to make a
crucial block. Then just before half time Joe Cole was through on the left but, pushed
wide by Senderos (having another storming game), he
ended up firing a shot high over Lehmann's left hand post.
Arsenal started the second half well again, but Chelsea were
quicker to take over than they'd been in the first. A low cross
from their left was dummied and came through to Gudjohsen whose shot
was blocked by Senderos. Then we had a half chance when a great move
ended with Pires passing to Dennis whose ball forward into the box
for Cole to run onto just didn't quite give him the chance
to take it in his stride.
Drogba had another very good chance when they broke down their
left and Duff played the ball back into the space in front of the
defenders (who had all been tracking Drogba in front of him).
The striker checked back to receive it in space and hit a shot on the
turn which thankfully went just wide of Lehmann's left post.
The clearest chance of the rest of the game fell to Lampard
after a cute step-over by Drogba, but he placed his side-footed shot just
wide.
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