The article below refers to a previous Arsenal-Chelsea game. You can watch the latest Arsenal-Chelsea game here.
Drogba scored twice to help Chelsea come from a goal down to preserve their home record, keep United’s lead down to 5 points and perhaps most poignantly, deal a severe blow to Arsenal’s title chances.
Avram Grant has come under severe criticism this season, and perhaps (perhaps) it is no coincidence that the lack of goals from Drogba (forced by the ACN or injury or anything else) was a significant contributor to it. Today though, no questions could be asked of Chelsea, for thanks to Carvalho, Terry, Lampard, Joe Cole and Drogba, they did enough to see off a talented but limited Arsenal side and take their spot as the primary challengers to Manchester United in the 07/08 Premier League title race.
Grant could even point to his substitutions – moving Essien to central midfield and Anelka up front alongside Drogba – that helped Chelsea take a more aggressive shape and score their two goals.
After United had beaten Liverpool earlier today, any result would have suited Manchester United – an Arsenal win would have put Chelsea 8 points behind, a draw 7 points behind and a Chelsea win, as it so happened, pushed Arsenal 6 points behind United.
With 7 games to go and with Arsenal to host Liverpool at the Emirates (along with 2 grueling Champions League quarter final matches against Rafa’s men) and to travel to Old Trafford, and accounting for injuries and the poor run of form, Arsenal’s chances of winning the title, or indeed, taking 2nd place, are less than Chelsea’s, who will host United at Stamford Bridge and will be hoping that the remaining 6 fixtures go their way.
Arsenal will point to the mini-injury crisis before the first Chelsea goal as a major unsettling factor but the reality is that it was Drogba who changed the game around, and while some fans may forget the importance of his contributions in the past couple of seasons, they will surely recognise their importance today.
Chelsea v Manchester United is shaping up to be a very interesting fixture – assuming that both teams avoid a catastrophic dip in form similar to what Arsenal have experienced in the last 5 games or so.
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