Premier League - Van Persie wins it for Arsenal

Eurosport - Mon, 01 Dec 07:35:00 2008

Robin Van Persie struck twice in three second-half minutes as Arsenal came from behind to defeat Chelsea 2-1 at Stamford Bridge.

2008-2009 Chelsea-Arsenal Denilson Robin van Persie - 0

Chelsea led through a 31st minute own goal by Johan Djourou before Van Persie struck in the 59th and 62nd minute to condemn the Blues to their second home Premier League defeat in four matches.

Although there was a hint of controversy about the first goal with referee Mike Dean indicating that Jose Bosingwa had played the Dutch striker onside when replays indicated he was a yard offside.

Arsenal started the match hesitantly but Chelsea were unable to carve out a clear chance and it was the Gunners who had the first good opportunity on 14 minutes.

Cesc Fabregas's shot was saved by Petr Cech's foot and former captain William Gallas, following in against his old side, just couldn't apply the finishing touch to the rebound.

Frank Lampard then headed straight at Manuel Almunia when well placed before the Spanish custodian gifted Chelsea the ball which led to the opening goal.

After claiming a corner he threw the ball straight to a blue shirt and Bosingwa's cross from the right was turned in at the near post by the sliding Djourou.

Arsenal came close to a quick reply but Cech dived full length to his left to palm away Van Persie's shot and Chelsea were good value for their half-time lead.

But they were strangely muted after the break and failed to test Almunia with a single attempt. Their best chance spurned when the ball dropped to Lampard 18 yards out and he scuffed his shot past the post.

The equaliser came when Samir Nasri found Denilson and the young Brazilian threaded a pass through to Van Persie who smashed the ball into the top corner. The lack of an offside flag shouldn't detract from the quality of the finish.

And soon after Adebayor won a great header as a free-kick was swung in and Van Persie's shot on the turn went through Lampard's legs and into the far corner.

Van Persie went looking for a hat-trick and curled a free-kick over the crossbar but they were scarcely tested at the other end.

Indeed they spurned a great chance to wrap things up in injury time when Denilson's first touch was far too heavy allowing Cech to pounce.

However the Gunners made no mistakes in the dying seconds as they recorded their second successive victory over a title rival and Arsene Wenger's side go fourth, seven points behind Chelsea.

Lee Walker / Eurosport

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  1. yagmurdan_sonra you got that right

    From fady.daaboul, on Tue 2 Dec 9:10AM

  2. congrarulations to arsenal i love the way your play

    From oujj c, on Mon 1 Dec 8:43PM

  3. This is message from Big Phil Scolari: I only take dis­ job eerrrrr because it easy errrrr and make me look­ like errrrr I know how to manage eerrrr but ref­ don't help me out errrr I guess Abramovich errrr­ forgot to pay them off this week?

    Signed,
    Brazilian­ Gene Hackman

    From Ryan , on Mon 1 Dec 7:02PM

  4. Chelsea should stop crying offside.how many time they­ got that kind of goal with Mr.Drogba the diver.that was­ a smath play by RvP.Sweet victory-gunners!

    From 'Tunde, on Mon 1 Dec 6:44PM

  5. At last we got a break and a bit of luck!
    Now do the­ same against Wigan PLEASE!

    From lajacqui, on Mon 1 Dec 4:22PM

  6. @#$% you van persie you know you were clearly offside

    From Johnluke E, on Mon 1 Dec 2:44PM

  7. th fa need to start making free glases for the referees­ and their assistants to start seeing offsides because­ van persie was clearly offside

    From Johnluke E, on Mon 1 Dec 2:43PM

  8. i just think arsenal as a club was just to big for the­ blues to handle (CHELSAE). money is not every thing in­ football. hope the big man read(s) this (ABRA). well­ done boys. ARSENAL 4 LIFE.

    From dapo4, on Mon 1 Dec 2:26PM

  9. Gunners 4 ever whatever their form

    From oldumboy, on Mon 1 Dec 12:30PM

  10. ARSENAL 4 EVER...

    From lata_arsenal, on Mon 1 Dec 11:10AM

  11. gunners, they spend whole of the season preparing to­ win against any of the BIG FOUR, but come end of the­ season they go empty handed.

    From Jethro, on Mon 1 Dec 9:46AM

  12. Chelsea is owned by the Russian Mafia at the end of the­ day. What genuine interest does that Russki really have­ in the club and it's people then?.......for them­ it's just a business cover up for more sinister­ dealings.

    From sappercommando25, on Mon 1 Dec 9:09AM

  13. From a Chelsea poit of view I dont think this will be­ Chelsea's year. They have lost twice at Stamford­ brdg, and i can see a couple more losses this season­ coming. And if they lose again i can see them dropping­ a few points elsewhere. My money would be on Man U or­ Liverpool for the league.

    From Tom, on Mon 1 Dec 8:57AM

  14. VAN PERSIE U RULLE

    From rereagiri, on Mon 1 Dec 8:37AM

  15. ARSENAL RULES

    From rereagiri, on Mon 1 Dec 8:35AM

  16. ya.. arsenal still won..
    haha.. gunners forever..
    no­ talk @#$% over arsenal..

    From asbmn88, on Mon 1 Dec 8:28AM

  17. Why d moaning about the off-side goal? How many times­ has referees' decisions gone against Arsenal? How­ many times has an on-side goal by Arsenal, even by RVP­ been disallowed? Guys get over it, we agree its an­ offside, Prof Wenger even admitted it. But this happens­ sometimes in football. The referee is human and most­ times can't see everything. It's unfortunate­ this time it went against Chelski. But come to think of­ it, they didn't even score any goal at all. So­ technically, minus the offside goal and the own-goal,­ Arsenal won 1-0. That's logical. UP GUNNERS. Just­ woek harder against the less powerful team like Spurs.

    From Valentine, on Mon 1 Dec 8:20AM

  18. The game is still on guys,beating Chelsea does not mean­ that you have won the league.To all Chelsea fans do not­ lose hope coz this year is our year,though we have­ started on a rough patch.GO CHELE GO.Till the end of­ time.fom Leslie Mumvumi,skies

    From Leslie, on Mon 1 Dec 8:08AM

  19. I love the fact that we had to score chelsea's goal­ for them so as to make the score line respectable.­ Ahahahahahaha.

    From Tom, on Mon 1 Dec 8:08AM

  20. wait,wenger,from my eyes,why arsenal can beat a­ superpower club such as Chelsea and Man Utd? Why with­ small-not-powerful such as Stoke City,Fulham,Aston­ Villa and Man City you boys can lose with them??
    huh­ !

    you're such like -teddy bear-team !

    From Cokelat, on Mon 1 Dec 7:57AM
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