After losing at the previous match by QPR, Chelsea may be never never dream that Arsenal will do the same for them like QPR do. But it is worse, Arsenal beats them 5-3. It's a painful day for the blues fans.
Every time Arsenal plays Chelsea it is always an exciting fixture for supporters of both teams and fans of the Premier League. However, I don't think many could have expected what was on display at Stamford Bridge on Oct. 29th, with Arsenal winning 5-3.
Chelsea was first to get on the scoreboard and in true Arsenal fashion it was a simple floated ball to Frank Lampard with Per Mertesacker steps behind for the opener in the 14th minute. After Chelsea wasted a few more chances to improve their lead, namely a left-footed effort by Daniel Sturridge, it was Arsenal who leveled the game through non-other than the red-hot Robin van Persie. Aaron Ramsey played a through ball to Gervinho and as Petr Cech rushed the Ivory Coast striker, he played a square ball for van Persie to notch home into the empty net
Arsenal's defensive failings continued throughout the first half. Mertesacker again, who didn't have a very good game, was caught out of position as an on rushing John Terry put Chelsea into the lead just before half from a Lampard corner kick.
However, if there is one thing this Arsenal team has, it is character. The second half was a complete turnaround as the Chelsea defense looked in disarray. Andre Santos tied the match up just four minutes into the second half after receiving a pass from Gervinho and sent his shot through Cech's legs and into the net. Arsenal took the lead for the first time in the game as Theo Walcott stumbled through the Chelsea defense and then lashed it in at the near post in the 55th minute.
Juan Mata, who spurned a move to Arsenal, beat Wojech Szczesny from 25 yards out to even the score once more. Unfortunately for Chelsea, Florent Malouda's backpass to Terry saw the Blues captain slip as van Persie latched on to the ball and gave Arsenal the lead for good in the 85thminute. He completed his hat-trick in stoppage time. Robin van Persie has now scored at least two goals in his last three matches and has 28 goals in his last 27 matches for the club.
The victory for Arsenal sees them continue to make ground on the teams in the Champions League places. They now sit just three points behind Chelsea, who remain in third place. However, besides steadily climbing up the table, the win is important for other reasons. Arsenal is finally looking like a team who has put their early season struggles behind them. They are also looking like a team who still has something to say in the Premier League title race. For a team who was supposedly in crisis and one that wouldn't recover from the departures of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri, they are slowly putting the naysayers to bed, although the defense still needs to perform at a slightly higher level.
With a healthy Robin van Persie and the return of players in the next few weeks to the line-up such as Thomas Vermaelen and Jack Wilshere, this team can only get stronger. Arsenal's next match is against West Bromwich Albion at home in a game they should be able to take three points in as long as they come out with the same attitude as they did against Chelsea. Chelsea is next away to Blackburn Rovers.
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