I can’t remember the last time that Arsenal and Chelsea were gearing up for a top-of-the-table clash (Obama may have still been in office).
Arsenal’s trip to Stamford Bridge has come at an ideal time, with both clubs picking up massive midweek wins against European royalty. Chelsea will no doubt be the favourites among neutrals, looking to cut Arsenal’s lead to three points and prevent them from running away with the title. The match is also a fascinating clash between two former Guardiola acolytes, with Mikel Arteta and Enzo Maresca both serving under the Spanish supercoach in seasons past. In the spirit of the forthcoming fixture, I have decided to do a ranking of my personal five favourite clashes between London’s two most successful clubs. The North London derby often gets more fanfare due to proximity. But don’t get it twisted: this is the real London derby.
5. Chelsea 6-0 Arsenal, March 2014
This wasn’t how Arsene Wenger envisaged his 1000th game in charge of Arsenal to go. If Arsenal had won this match, they would have been one point behind table-topping Chelsea with a game in hand. But Jose Mourinho’s men came out in inspired form, with Samuel Eto’o, Andre Schurrle and a Hazard penalty giving the Blues a 3-0 lead within 17 minutes. The match featured a hilarious case of mistaken identity, as Kieron Gibbs was sent off for deliberate handball despite Oxlade Chamberlian being the clear offender (Oxlade Chamberlain could have been a decent keeper based on that save). Chelsea never relented, with Oscar adding a brace before Mo Salah picked up a collector’s item, scoring one of his two goals in a Chelsea shirt. The result was critical, helping Chelsea en route to the title while extending Wenger’s long period of league stagnation.
4. Chelsea 2-3 Arsenal, September 1997
Let’s go back to happier times in the Wenger era, where Chelsea were basically an expensively assembled vibes club. This was one of the key moments in Arsene Wenger’s first title-winning campaign, signalling a sea-change in English football that would be felt for decades to come. Chelsea and Arsenal exchanged blows in a pulsating end-to-end match, with Bergkamp scoring a brace. The game appeared to be petering out to a draw until Nigel Winterburn immortalized himself into Arsenal folklore, striking a spectacular 25-yard screamer in the dying moments of the game. Arsenal would go on to win their first double under Wenger, laying the foundations for that statue outside the Emirates.
3. Arsenal 0- Chelsea 3, November 2009
It’s easy to forget that King Carlo Ancelotti won a double as Chelsea manager (the first in their history). People were so emotionally attached to Mourinho that they didn’t give the Italian much of a break. Ancelotti’s men arrived at the Emirates as the top team in the country, but this was their first real statement win of the campaign. Didier Drogba was Arsenals’ boogeyman for some time and this match proved to be no different. The Ivorian gave the Blues the lead in the 41st minute, latching onto an Ashely Cole cross and firing the ball in off the post and crossbar. Vermaelen netted an own goal before Drogba rightfully had the final say, dipping in a 25-yard free-kick with just four minutes to go. The result took Chelsea five points clear of the chasing pack en route to that double. Arsenal were cut adrift, once again having to content themselves with a top four battle.
2. Chelsea 3- Arsenal 5, October 2011
In terms of pure excitement, this may very well be no.1 on the list. This match will always be remembered for Robin van Perise’s brilliance, with the Dutchman netting a valuable hat-trick on enemy territory. Arsenal showed tremendous resolve in this match, twice coming back from behind to peg Chelsea back. But the game will always belong to Van Persie (despite excellent strikes from Walcott and Juan Mata). He scored the first equalizer, tapping in after intricate build-up play. But he really came to life in the final ten minutes, first capitalizing on a John Terry slip- not his first- to make it 4-3 in the 85th minute. He then rubbed Chelsea’s noses in it, scoring a breakaway goal in added time to put the icing on the proverbial cake.
1.Chelsea 2- Arsenal 3, October 1999
It had to be the Kanu one. This one gives me a nostalgic kick, taking me back to the days when I fell in love with Premier Leage action. This wasn’t the most consequential result, as Arsenal would finish runner-up to United in the final standings. But the game represented everything that the world has come to love about Premier League action. Chelsea hadn’t conceded a league goal at Stamford Bridge coming into this match and they dominated the early stages, scoring two headers to take a seemingly unassailable lead in the match. But enter stage left: Nwankwo Kanu. The gangly Nigerian was already a cult hero but elevated himself to legendary status with this showing, scoring a hat-trick in the final 15 minutes of the game. The winner was the stuff of Premier League myth, as Kanu embarrassed a woefully out-of-position Ed de Goey, rounding the Dutchman before blasting the ball in from the byline. The moment was lent added gravitas by Martin Tyler’s frenzied “Oh, can you believe it?”.
