Chelsea ensured they claimed an automatic place in next season's Champions League with a comfortable 4-1 victory over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
The Blues shook off their Champions League disappointment with first-half goals from Brazilian defender Alex and former Gunner Nicolas Anelka. An own goal from Kolo Toure put them three ahead straight after the re-start.
Arsenal squandered a host of chances throughout the game but finally reduced the arrears with a header from substitute Niklas Bendtner in the 70th minute before Florent Malouda scored Chelsea's fourth three minutes from time.
Chelsea snatched the lead after 28 minutes when Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas was cautioned for showing dissent after he was ruled to have tripped Didier Drogba. The Ivorian lofted the resulting free-kick into the penalty area and Alex headed the ball in off the underside of the crossbar, with Lukasz Fabianski rooted to the spot.
Fabregas was then fortunate to stay on the field when he upended Florent Malouda and received only a stern talking to from referee Phil Dowd.
Chelsea made it two when Nicolas Anelka, once idolised by Gunners fans, picked up the ball just inside the opposition half and charged forward before rifling a shot into the bottom corner from 20 yards.
Fabianski made a smart stop with his legs from Anelka during first-half stoppage time but it was 3-0 just four minutes after the restart as Arsenal hit the self-destruct button in defence again, when Ashley Cole's cross from the left was put past Fabianski by the outstretched boot of Kolo Toure.
Petr Cech saved from Robin van Persie before substitute Nicklas Bendtner headed a consolation goal with 20 minutes left.
Although the Gunners, who travel to Old Trafford for what could be a title party next week, went on to have a good spell, it was too little too late - and Malouda tapped in Chelsea's fourth from close range after Anelka had struck the post following a counter-attack.
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Watsun77 - you're out of your mind, a few bad results and everyone's asking for heads to roll. Barcelona beat Chelsea because of bad refs. not good football. Man United beat us 'cause they got a lucky goal and we never recovered...mostly down to lack of experience in defence.
There are too many fickle Arsenal supporters, Bendtner's always getting the crappy end of the stick but yesterday he scores so today no one is saying anything...instead it's Walcott. Oh Please.
Fact is we need a little experience and some quality depth but if we spend too much we'll be in debt like the others and then it'll be people like you moaning about the seat prices at the Emirates!!
And by the way, I bet you weren't moaning when we beat Man U earlier in the season, I'm sure we were going through a rough patch then too...
Gunners for life.
YOU HAVE SPENT COUNTLESS MILLIONS FOR WHAT,,ARSENAL HAVE MATCHED YOU IN EUROPE OVER THE LAST 5 YRS U MUPPET BOTH REACHED AND LOST FINAL YOU SPENT MILLIONS ARSENAL DIDNT THATS REALITY AND FOR RECORD I DONT SUPPORT THE GUNNERS I JUST ENJOY WATCHIN PLASTIC CHELSKI FC SUFFER YOU CHEAT AND DIVE WITH 1 DIMENSIONAL UGLY LONG BALL FOOTBALL YOU TRIED TO BUY SUCCESS BUT FAILED THAT MAKES ME HAPPY,,,F..K OFF PLASTIC FC YOU AINT GOT NO HISTORY,,GET IN THERE BARCA,,CANT WAIT FOR ROME,,DROGBA THE BIGGEST DISGRACE HE SHOULD BE BANNED FOR AT LEAST A YEAR AND CHELSKI TOO
Well it seem is the end of Asenal chellenge to MU,Chelsea and liverpool.Recent encounters show that they are better than Asenal. Asenal is in trouble unfortunately Asen Wenger dont seem to know it. I am sick of his constant references to youth,to be honest the only youth with future potential is Frabagas and Vila intems of technical ability. So what future portential is he always making noise about . I think he is difficult and dosen't care about the fans feelings who pay his salary. We want match winning team, not
ordinary youth with no excellent technical ability apart from frabagas,Villa,Ashavin and Eduado.We've had enough of disappointment every time we play one of the top four teams. Today is 4-1 aginst chelsea who knows what the result againt MU on the 10th may will be,I hope is not another 3-0.
I gathered from the news that the owners are ready to release fund to Asen Wenger to strenthen the team,the question is,is Asen Wenger willing to take advantage and scout for experience quality strong midfilder,defender good on the ball when under presure,quality strikers than the avertage we have at the moment?.
I am very disapointed with Wilcout performance over the two legs against MU,I dont think he is good enough to merit start 11. He should be on the bench or dispose of and use the fund to get quality winger who can drible pass defenders. Against Chelsea and MU he hardly pass Cole and Evra,which suggest he is afterall not good enough. Also I think Denilson is not good enough,he is very ordinary lack technical quality associate with Brazilians players.He hardly keep ball without loosing it due to poor control.
Barcelona were able to beat Chelsea because of technical excellence of their mildfielders and attackers,despite their small stature.Asenal mildfielders is accused lacking physical staure to dominate mildfield,the issue is technical limitation to dominate
mildfild as Barcelona does.We need techniacl players to stop Chelsea,MU and Liverpool dom
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