Translated material
Draw for Ferguson
The division of points between Arsenal and Chelsea plays into the hands of the Mancunians
The meeting between Chelsea and Arsenal was destined to be central not only in the 17th round, but in the entire first round of the English Premier League. If Arsenal had won, Manchester United's lead over Chelsea would have become quite decent - nine points on points scored and six points taking into account the fact that the Blues played a match less. The draw also provided significant benefits for the Mancunians. Chelsea's win would maintain the status quo in the standings, which would also suit Manchester United. That's how it happened. At the end of the meeting, the opponents exchanged goals. To the precise shot of “gunner” Flamini, the guests found a counter-argument in the form of Esien’s ball.For one Chelsea player, Ashley Cole, facing the Gunners must have been special. For seven seasons, Cole covered the left side of Arsenal, but he was persuaded and moved to the ranks of the Blues. Naturally, Arsenal fans, to put it mildly, are not delighted with such an act by their recent idol, and Ashley himself could only be glad that the first match with his native club took place at Stamford Bridge and not at the Emirates. Otherwise, Cole would have had to feel what his recent team-mate Sol Campbell felt when he first appeared at White Hart Lane in an Arsenal kit.
But Campbell, like Cole, is no longer at Arsenal, and no one is surprised by the absence of Englishmen in the starting line-up of the “gunners”. Both English players Justin Hoyt and Theo Walcott were kept in reserve by Wenger. Once upon a time, the British press almost ate former Chelsea coach Gianluca Vialli for such things. But, as we see, the British are already accustomed to the fact that anyone but their compatriots plays in the London club.
It cannot be said that the clubs approached the London derby exhausted. In the Champions League, Chelsea beat the outsider Levski Sofia in a semi-friendly match, and Arsenal weren’t too tired while participating in the show in Porto.
And now about the meeting itself at Stamford Bridge. The cost of a mistake in such a match is extremely high, which explains the caution of both teams. In the first half, Jens Lehmann and Hilario Sampaio had very few chances at goal. And yet the nominal owners were closer to success. In the 38th minute, Lampard took a corner, Lehmann did not reach the ball, and Esien hit the goal abandoned by the goalkeeper. But the goal did not take place thanks to the vigilance shown by Cesc Fabregas. And the already mentioned Ashley Cole added his name to the conduit, receiving a yellow card for a rough attack on Alexander Gleb.
Again Andrei Shevchenko tried very hard, but we have to admit that again Sheva did not live up to Jose Mourinho’s expectations. In the 63rd minute, the champions' coach removed the Ukrainian from the field, and at the same time Jeremy. Chelsea switched to their favorite “Christmas tree” - Drogba was in front, and fresh wingers Robben and Wright-Phillips were assigned to help him.
Mourinho carried out the restructuring, and Arsenal succeeded. The most active player in the Gunners' ranks, Robin van Persie, outwitted the defenders and almost ran towards Hilario's goal. Esien showed himself to be a real sprinter, a kind of Ben Jonson, when he caught up with the fleet-footed Dutchman and knocked the ball away from him. But the reckoning came within a minute and a half. Mathieu Flamini drove the ball into the bottom corner of the goal, far from Hilario Sampaia, with a luxurious strike.
The young “gunners” were so happy that they allowed themselves to relax. But Chelsea stars do not forgive such liberties. Michael Esien was allowed to shoot from 35 meters, and the Ghanaian hit Lehmann's goal with a cannon shot - 1:1. It was the 86th minute. And on the 90th, the same Esien shook the crossbar of the Gunners’ goal with a powerful blow. That was the end of it. A draw that did not bring joy to Arsenal, and even less so to Chelsea. But Alex Ferguson will be pleased.