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Reply | Forward Message #1722 of 1944 |
morning papers

The TimesDecember 17, 2007

Ghost of Jose Mourinho comes back to haunt Chelsea
Matt Hughes

Given his remarkable rise, it was with some justification that Avram
Grant joked about attending Chelsea's Christmas party last week
dressed as the club's manager, though for the biggest game of his
18-match reign yesterday he donned the mask of José Mourinho. With the
visiting team sent out to defend, picking up five spiteful bookings
and ending up hurling long balls to Alex as Ashley Cole grabbed Cesc
Fàbregas by the throat, it was as if the Portuguese had accepted a
recent invitation to return to work in London after all. The closest
Chelsea got to playing sexy football was the presence of Ruud Gullit
in the Sky Sports studio.

As they claim to be great friends, Grant will not follow Mourinho's
example to the letter by having a row over a Christmas card with
Arsène Wenger, as happened after this fixture two years ago, though he
shares his predecessor's seasonal misfortune.

It would take Scrooge-like spirit to deny that Chelsea are being
haunted by the ghost of Christmas past. Just like Mourinho last year,
Grant faces an intimidating festive fixture list without several of
his key players after John Terry was ruled out for several weeks with
ankle ligament damage.He joins Didier Drogba and Ricardo Carvalho on
the sidelines. Unlike 12 months ago, Petr Cech is fully fit, though
given his failure to claim the corner by Fàbregas that William Gallas
headed home even that may be a mixed blessing.

Grant will undoubtedly be given the funds that were denied Mourinho
last winter to strengthen his squad during next month's transfer
window, but coping with such a shortage of resources will still
present a formidable challenge. Having embarked on an impressive
16-match unbeaten run after defeat in his first game against
Manchester United, this was supposed to be the first real test of
Grant's leadership, but, as at Old Trafford, circumstances conspired
to deny him a fair fight, in his own head at least.

The Israeli seized on Terry's injury as the excuse for his second
defeat, which he insists has not ended their interest in the title
race — which, given it left the cumbersome pairing of Alex and Tal
Ben-Haim at centre back gained him some sympathy.

"It's disappointing because in these two games we deserved more,"
Grant said. "Six points at this time of the season is not the end of
the world and we can still be involved in the title race. You saw how
we lost. It's not that Arsenal is better than us."

Grant has revealed so little of himself in three months in charge that
many are still unsure of his input, though on this evidence it
amounted to little more than telling his players to dig in for trench
warfare. The tone was set by a tackle from behind from Frank Lampard
on Emmanuel Eboué in the ninth minute for which he somehow escaped a
caution, though the England midfield player, Joe Cole, John Obi Mikel,
Terry and Ben-Haim soon ended up in Alan Wiley's notebook, along with
four of their opponents.

With the red mist descending, Terry was fortunate to avoid being sent
off for an ugly lunge on Eboué before his participation ended in the
34th minute, with the Ivory Coast international being booked himself
as he stood on his ankle in the penalty area. To the delight of the
visiting fans, Eboué failed to last the course either, suffering knee
ligament damage under a challenge from Joe Cole.

A scrappy contest opened up as Chelsea strove for an equaliser in the
second half, with Grant again borrowing from the previous incumbent by
sending a big defender up front: Alex took on a role last filled with
little distinction by Robert Huth. The visiting team ended with five
men up front, though the sight of Ashley Cole scrapping with Fàbregas
in his own penalty box summed up their contribution to the spectacle.
Some things never change.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Telegraph:

William Gallas delivers killer blow for Arsenal
By Henry Winter at the Emirates
Last Updated: 2:53am GMT 17/12/2007Page 1 of 2


Have your say Read comments

Arsenal (1) 1 Chelsea (0) 0

Imagine a pantomime directed by Quentin Tarantino, where villains are
booed, heroes are blood-stained, the body-count is high, the
entertainment pulsating, the language filthy and the audience screamed
"behind you" as tackles hurtled in like boulders crashing down a
mountain-side. Such was the epic drama that gripped the Emirates.

A Derby crammed with sound, fury and significance ended with everyone
grasping for breath, with Arsenal regaining the high ground of the
Premier League and with serious question-marks over Avram Grant's
ability to inspire Chelsea against the leading sides without the
heavyweight talent that is Didier Drogba.

Badly missing their injured target-man, Chelsea resembled title
pretenders lacking a knockout punch. Grant's 4-1-2-3 formation was
never going to work with Andrei Shevchenko as the spearhead. At times,
Shevchenko resembled a schoolboy trying to cross a busy motorway and
worrying whether he had enough pace.

For all the recent bouquets tossed lovingly Grant's way in the
post-Jose Mourinho era of peace and harmony at the Bridge, the truth
remains that the Blues' fortunes are tied up with Drogba, not Grant.
Nicolas Anelka could play the understudy, but he is still not in
Drogba's class.

Arsenal had no absent friends to lament. Peering through the heat and
dust of this memorable conflict, the Emirates appreciated even more
fully the value of the returning central-midfield axis of Cesc
Fabregas and Mathieu Flamini. Fabregas was the calm amidst the storm
while Flamini acted as the hurricane that kept snuffing out the flames
of Chelsea ambition.

This was the Premier League at its raw, mistake-filled, mesmerising
best. Utterly compelling. Quixotic too. Arsenal prevailed yet arguably
their most important individual was the goalkeeper, Manuel Almunia,
who denied Chelsea on at least four occasions.

The famous figure between Chelsea's sticks, Petr Cech, also made a
string of saves, notably an astonishing double effort to thwart Robin
van Persie and Fabregas late on, yet the tall Czech will be remembered
here for a mistake that gifted William Gallas the winning goal.

That Gallas scored against his former employers merely added to the
unremitting noise. Even the corporate classes rattled their jewelry. A
viewing audience measured in hundreds of millions will have loved it
too, feasting on football that zigzagged between the carnival and
carnage.

From the opening whistle, there was no quarter asked, nor given. It
was difficult to know who was busier: the excellent John Obi Mikel,
the flying Gael Clichy, Flamini, Fabregas or the Sky sound-man working
over-time to muffle the invective pouring from the terraces.

Ashley Cole was assailed with every description imaginable, and some
unimaginable. His sneaky, two-figured response may have been spotted
by the FA as well as Arsenal's fans. Derision was aimed everywhere.
Frank Lampard, the England midfielder, was berated with "you let your
country down"; this must have struck the Chelsea man as slightly rich
coming from fans of a club who did not have one Englishman in
yesterday's match-day 16.

Heaven knows what Fabio Capello must think of English football when he
watches a tape of this: such pell-mell football is no preparation for
the cerebral demands of the international game. England's new head
coach will have seen Lampard being overwhelmed by foreign talent, Joe
Cole showing glimpses of class, Shaun Wright-Phillips flattering to
deceive and John Terry flirting with a red card before succumbing
again to injury. At least Ashley Cole, for all the abuse directed him,
impressed with his constant endeavour.

The former Arsenal left-back appeared targeted by his former comrades.
Emmanuel Adebayor caught him on the knee as the frenetic game
unfolded. The temperature started higher and rose inexorably. When
Terry had a chance to clear, he blatantly followed through to catch a
prostrate Fabregas. Nasty.

Like a band of brothers, Arsenal players looked out for each other and
Emmanuel Eboue swiftly made Terry pay with a high and late challenge
that cut the England captain down like a sharpened scythe through
wheat. One of football's tougher characters, Terry sought to hobble
on, but was clearly destined for the treatment room. If Terry ever
writes his life-story, the race for serialisation rights will surely
be lead by 'The Lancet'.

"Stick him in a wheelchair and leave him," was one of the more
printable chants as Terry was helped down the tunnel. How Chelsea
could have done with their inspirational centre-half when Arsenal came
calling on the cusp of half-time.

Terry might have organised the defence better. Terry might have been
aware that Gallas can stoop to the dark arts in creating space at
set-pieces. Tal Ben Haim, Terry's replacement, was caught out by
Gallas two-handed push as Fabregas' corner swirled over.

Alan Wiley, otherwise excellent in controlling such a spiky match, did
not see Gallas' sly offence. No wonder. Everyone was focusing on Cech
leaping to make what appeared a routine catch for one of the world's
leading keepers. Amazing, Cech missed Fabregas' inswinging corner.
Gallas had gambled on the ball arriving, had pressed the nudge button
to take Ben Haim out of the equation, and he hit the jackpot with a
simple header.

The scoring was over but not the rich entertainment. Wright-Phillips
found Mikel with a clever back-heel. Ben Haim castigated Fabregas for
diving. Joe Cole executed a pirouette to elude an ambush. Still the
spectacle continued. On the hour, Lampard set up a chance for Mikel,
whose drive was superbly pushed away by Almunia.

Still the competitive edge kept straying into a land where excess
ruled. The hosts were repelling all invaders. Flamini caught Joe Cole.
Clichy followed through on Wright-Phillips. Few angels could be found
in Chelsea's ranks. Joe Cole put Eboue in a stretcher. Mikel put
Fabregas into the hoardings. This Derby scrap climaxed with Fabregas
grabbing Ashley Cole by the throat. Arsenal were determined to let
nothing slip through their clutches.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Indy:

Arsenal 1 Chelsea 0: Gunners defend high ground
By Jason Burt
Published: 17 December 2007
Big games define big teams, Arsène Wenger reminded us before this
encounter. They also define big players and Chelsea may have to again
cope without John Terry after their captain suffered suspected ankle
ligament damage in a spiteful challenge by Emmanuel Eboué as his side
lost to Arsenal for the first time since February 2004.

That defeat was pre-Jose Mourinho and now we are in the post-period.
For his successor Avram Grant this was his first serious test after an
impressive run of 16 matches unbeaten since defeat in his first game
in charge away to Manchester United – another of the big four. It
wasn't that the Israeli necessarily failed this latest test – although
he certainly was failed by Terry who, for the 39 minutes he
participated in this encounter, was something of a raging, pumped-up
liability.

The bitterness was complete with Ashley Cole, on his first return to
Arsenal since his acrimonious departure, and having suffered
relentless taunting, appearing to make obscene gestures at the home
supporters as he left the pitch at the end – he was the last Chelsea
player to depart. Cole may face further investigation.

Terry could have been red-carded before he limped off, having
deliberately slammed the ball into Cesc Fabregas as he lay prone – he
was cautioned – and then kicked out at Eboué before the latter
eventually, calculatedly, retaliated. The Ivorian, who has a petulant
streak, also departed through injury after being felled by Joe Cole,
and suffered medial ligament damage to his knee.

There were nine yellow cards in all – five for Chelsea, four for
Arsenal – and two mêlées and while the home side will argue that
Ashley Cole could also have been dismissed for cuffing Fabregas,
Chelsea will argue that Eboué was himself lucky not to go. This was
Arsenal's designated match day for their charity of the season,
Treehouse, but charity was in short supply.

It was that kind of contest although, at times, a game of football was
allowed to break out with Emmanuel Adebayor a forceful, relentless
presence for the home side who were able to recall Fabregas, Alexander
Hleb and the tenacious Mathieu Flamini from injury.

"I hope he has not gone over the ball but it was impossible to see
that from the bench," Wenger said of Eboué while Grant added that the
damage done to Terry will be properly assessed later today. The damage
done to Chelsea will take longer to determine with Grant, who said a
draw was the least his team deserved, claiming that "six points [the
total by which they trail Arsenal] is not the end of the world".
Wenger concurred with that and even added "I personally hope it stays
a four-horse race because it's more interesting". His assessment, in
fact, was that Liverpool had suffered the most from yesterday's
results, because they lost at home, "but they are not out of it and
neither are Chelsea because they have the quality".

That quality will be stretched. Although Michael Ballack will return
for the League Cup quarter-final on Wednesday, his first game since
April, Terry appears to be out to add to the injuries to Didier Drogba
and Ricardo Carvalho. But there was also self-inflicted injury with
Arsenal indebted to two terrible mistakes. The first was the gift of a
goal by the otherwise reliable Petr Cech, himself only just recovered
from injury, the second was an horrendous miss by Shaun
Wright-Phillips who volleyed woefully wide from inside the six-yard
area with the goal at his mercy.

That chance, late on, came as the ball was inadvertently headed to him
by William Gallas but the Arsenal captain proved to be the
match-winner with another header. He, of course, was transferred
across London in exchange for Ashley Cole and also arrived with
something of a tricky reputation – and was even accused by Mourinho of
once threatening to score an own goal if he wasn't allowed to leave.

Gallas planted the ball firmly enough in the Chelsea net yesterday. It
came on the stroke of half-time after John Obi Mikel had
mis-controlled a mis-hit clearance and Fabregas released Tomas Rosicky
who was eventually halted by Paulo Ferreira. But Fabregas' corner
looped over Cech and the woefully leaden Tal Ben Haim – Terry's
replacement – for Gallas to head in. If Terry had still been on the
pitch it's hard to believe he would have permitted his former central
defensive partner, and friend, such an opportunity.

"He pops up when you need it, when you want it and he's a leader,"
Wenger said of Gallas who also scored the injury-time goal that had
rescued a point against United earlier this season. "That's the best
definition of a leader. He shows that he's a winner." It's a
definition often applied, also, to Terry although he is not the
inspiration of old right now. He appears to be in what could be termed
a "bad space" both physically and temperamentally.

Both teams struggled with that during the first period. Wenger called
it "a bit locked" but it soon loosened up after Gallas scored. Chelsea
had to respond and dropped the tactic of pumping the ball long – maybe
they thought Drogba was still there – and found that they could
penetrate by encouraging Joe Cole and Mikel to thread passes. A drive
by the latter was palmed away by Manuel Almunia while the Spaniard
also tipped over a fierce free-kick by Andrei Shevchenko. The
Ukrainian was also presented with a gilt-edged headed chance – but
planted the ball weakly into the turf.

There were opportunities for Arsenal who finally found some of their
free-flowing routine. Robin van Persie, on as a substitute,
side-footed over before Cech produced a wonderful double-save from Van
Persie and Fabregas. He was beaten, by Adebayor, but the goal was
wrongly disallowed for a perceived foul on Ben Haim. It could have
been costly for Arsenal, but it was Chelsea who paid the price. "Where
we have improved the most," said Wenger, relieved that his team had
recovered from its recent wobble, "is not to be dominated in the
fight". It was certainly a scrap yesterday.

Arsenal (4-4-1-1): Almunia; Sagna, Touré, Gallas, Clichy; Eboué (Van
Persie, 70), Flamini, Fabregas, Rosicky; Hleb (Gilberto, 77); Adebayor
(Bendtner, 90). Substitutes not used: Lehmann (gk), Senderos.

Chelsea (4-1-2-3): Cech; Ferreira, Alex, Terry (Ben Haim, 39), A Cole;
Makelele (Pizarro, 65); Mikel, Lampard; Wright-Phillips (Kalou, 74),
Shevchenko, J Cole. Substitutes not used: Cudicini (gk), Belletti.

Referee: A Wiley (Staffordshire).

Booked: Arsenal Adebayor, Eboué, Flamini, Fabregas. Chelsea Lampard,
Terry, J Cole, Ben Haim, Mikel.

Man of the match: Adebayor.

Attendance: 60,139.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\
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Arsenal sitting pretty after winning ugly against off-colour Blues


Kevin McCarra at the Emirates Stadium
Monday December 17, 2007
The Guardian


A team renowned for its beauty will take a perverse pride in
afternoons when they win ugly. This, relatively speaking, was an
afternoon when Arsène Wenger's team gouged out a victory. There was
spasmodic slickness on the counter-attack and, while Arsenal can be
confident of returning to a beautifully articulated style, there are
doubts about Chelsea achieving a higher standard.
Their willpower is undiminished but that is not enough. The visitors
had all their forwards on the pitch by the end; all of them, that is,
except the one who is irreplaceable. Didier Drogba is in convalescence
from knee surgery, bound for the African Cup of Nations and seemingly
disenchanted. It sometimes seems that the Ivorian had no sooner signed
for Chelsea than he was in the mood to put his name to a transfer
request.

Even in his absence Chelsea will feel that this defeat was unjust. The
single goal ought not to have stood because William Gallas gave the
substitute Tal Ben Haim a little push before heading home a Cesc
Fábregas corner on the verge of half-time.
The Chelsea manager, Avram Grant, will probably consider, though, that
the Israel centre-back should have been more robust when set-piece
shenanigans were taking place. John Terry, who had been replaced
following the bad tackle by Emmanuel Eboué that damaged the captain's
ankle ligaments, would surely not have let himself be dislodged by
Gallas. Chelsea missed him badly because Ricardo Carvalho is still
short of his comeback.

The goal, in any case, was one that ought to have been prevented.
Gallas, once of Stamford Bridge, settled the game for Arsenal in an
incident where Petr Cech looked as if he had joined his old team-mate
in defecting to the Emirates. The goalkeeper burst from his line yet
never came close to dealing with a delivery from Fábregas that sailed
over him. Cech will not believe he really atoned for that, despite a
double-save by the goalkeeper in the 88th minute after the substitute
Robin Van Persie and Fábregas were each thwarted following a break by
Emmanuel Adebayor on the left. At the outer limit of stoppage time
Fábregas shot again and saw the attempt blocked by Ashley Cole. The
pair tangled in the aftermath and the former Arsenal left-back was
lucky that the Spaniard alone was cautioned.

It was a peculiarity for a card to be withheld in a fixture of nine
bookings. The frenzy, nonetheless, does not really divert attention
from Chelsea's shortcomings. Grant's record has been good but it
started with a defeat at Old Trafford and now contains the club's
first defeat by Arsenal in any competition since February 2004.

They were goalless, too, against Manchester United in September, when
Drogba was absent. As it happens, Andriy Shevchenko did rather well in
certain respects at the Emirates, exuding a hunger to make an impact.
After 89 minutes he could not quite get sufficient force on a header
from Joe Cole's cross to beat Manuel Almunia and in stoppage time the
Arsenal goalkeeper tipped over a blistering free-kick from the
Ukrainian.

For all that, few are persuaded he will regain the greatness of the
Milan days. This had not really been a match for strikers in general,
with Arsenal relying on Gallas just as they had when he equalised at
the end of last month's draw with Manchester United, but the overall
Premier League statistics show how much more threatening they are.

With better judgment Tomas Rosicky would have kept himself onside
before setting up Fábregas for a disallowed goal after 81 minutes.
Chelsea had fewer moments over which to reproach themselves and Shaun
Wright-Phillips had no rivals as culprit-in-chief. With 15 minutes
remaining, Gallas could merely glance on a Frank Lampard cross but the
Chelsea winger then struck a horribly skewed finish that skidded well
wide.

While Almunia was occupied on occasion, there was scant call for him
to perform marvels. While Shevchenko, for instance, applied force to
an effort in the 33rd minute it flew straight at the goalkeeper.
Almunia was at his best when dealing with an effort from distance by
Mikel John Obi with an hour gone.

This result will please Wenger, even if it does not appeal to his
aesthetic sense. Arsenal coped, despite the anxiety they could have
felt about rushing Fábregas, Mathieu Flamini and Alexander Hleb into
comebacks from injury. The manager had spoken a few days ago about
risking no more than two of them in this game.

His qualms were understandable, despite the fact that he ultimately
ignored them. While Fábregas's stamina held up, he could not shape the
play as he normally does. Wenger's reasoning, nonetheless, would have
been elementary. With figures unavailable, Arsenal had garnered a
solitary point from their two previous Premier League games.

It is entirely possible that Wenger will not have sufficient numbers
to see this bid for the Premier League title all the way to a
triumphant close. Manchester United are luxuriously equipped but
Arsenal's belief in themselves is being deepened. In this match, they
competed, came up with a goal, however dubious its circumstances, and
defended stubbornly.

This was the unglamorous face of football and, in particular, of
Arsenal. It was an afternoon to admire, say, the obstinacy of Gaël
Clichy and Bacary Sagna, full-backs who largely rendered wing play an
irrelevance. The same was true of an individual who used to carry out
that function for Arsenal. Those home fans who booed the returning
Ashley Cole so doggedly might reflect they were merely refuelling his
determination.

In the end, there was more evidence that it is Wenger's team and that
of Sir Alex Ferguson who are the true contenders for the Premier
League title. It is as if the clock has been turned back now that
Manchester United and Arsenal are once more the principal powers. It
remains to be seen how much Roman Abramovich will spend to prevent
Chelsea, post Jose Mourinho, from getting stuck among the also-rans.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\
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Mail:

Cech gives the game away - Arsenal enjoy Chelsea's charity
Arsenal 1 (William Gallas, 45 + 2) Chelsea 0

By MATT LAWTON

This was a measure of how far Arsenal have come and how much ground
Chelsea have lost. A measure of Jose Mourinho's talents, not only as a
manager but as a prophet. After all, did he not once say William
Gallas had expressed a desire to score against Chelsea?

Here was a match that could have turned out so differently had
Mourinho still been in charge of yesterday's Emirates Stadium
visitors. A fiercely contested, at times badtempered encounter that
would have once proved too physical for Arsenal and all too perfect
for Chelsea.

Now, however, things are different. The manager Arsene Wenger never
defeated has gone, leaving Chelsea lacking their usual edge and
vulnerable to an Arsenal side who proved, as they did at Liverpool and
against Manchester United, that they have made the transition from
boys to men. This was an Arsenal side who responded to United's
victory at Liverpool earlier in the afternoon with a gutsy display
that lifted them back to the top of the Barclays Premier League.

That they did so after agreeing to donate their day's wages to the
TreeHouse school for autistic children in London made the victory all
the more poignant. But it also highlighted what remained the greatest
act of charity this week: giving Avram Grant a four-year contract
worth in the region of £12million.

Before anyone gets too uptight about Fabio Capello's £6m-a-year,
compare the respective merits of the managers and then consider which
comes closest to representing value for money and who, out of Brian
Barwick and Roman Abramovich, needs their head examined.

Grant deserves to be rewarded for restoring order to a football club
in chaos and masterminding an unbeaten run of 16 games. But the two
defeats he has suffered have come against United and Arsenal and that
has to concern his employers if they really are serious about letting
him continue beyond the end of this season.

The smart money, and smart money is an increasingly rare currency in
football these days, says changes will still be made, with Frank
Rijkaard looking more and more likely to be reunited with Henk Ten
Cate at Stamford Bridge.

Less predictable yesterday were the events that conspired against
Chelsea: the sight of Petr Cech committing a rare, not to mention
decisive, mistake; the sight of Gallas, once of Chelsea but now
proudly of Arsenal, shoving Tal Ben Haim out of the way — perhaps
illegally — and punishing Cech for flapping hopelessly at a Cesc
Fabregas corner with a simple header.

By then, two minutes into firsthalf stoppage-time, Chelsea had lost
John Terry when he, in turn, had lost the plot. He limped off with
ankle ligament damage courtesy of a dangerous Emmanuel Eboue
challenge, but only after he went close to inflicting a similar injury
on a variety of opponents.

Ashley Cole, the 'greedier' half of an acrimonious swap deal, had
already allowed the tension and the taunts to get the better of him —
at one stage giving Arsenal fans a twofingered salute. Terry responded
to that by pursuing Arsenal players in over-zealous fashion. A game
that concluded with nine bookings was not Terry's finest hour.

It was not Ashley Cole's, either, and he was a little fortunate to
escape the attention of referee Alan Wiley in the dying seconds when
he responded to a poor tackle from Fabregas by grabbing at the
Spaniard's throat.

While Chelsea suffered in Didier Drogba's absence, Arsenal benefited
from Fabregas' return. In his absence, Arsenal drew at Newcastle and
lost at Middlesbrough. Now they look title contenders again.

That said, it was Manuel Almunia who made the most important
contribution here. He was outstanding, producing a succession of fine
saves — not least in denying Andriy Shevchenko and John Obi Mikel —
and giving Capello a timely reminder of his desire to play for England
once he can apply for British citizenship next summer.

He was a little lucky on occasions and never more so than when
Shevchenko and Shaun Wright- Phillips squandered wonderful
opportunities. But it was also proof that, contrary to the belief of
Jens Lehmann, he can win matches.

Gallas also makes crucial contributions and the captain who scored the
equaliser against United struck again, maintaining a cool head while
others around him lost theirs.

There were moments when, like Almunia, he also defended with great
courage. But to Grant's dismay it was Arsenal who went closest to
scoring again and Arsenal who finished the stronger. But for minor
infringements and an incredible double save from Cech, they would have
scored at least two more goals. Once Robin van Persie came on for the
injured Eboue, they were significantly more dangerous.

That fact and his side's success in defending their advantage for the
duration of a frantic second half must have been particularly pleasing
for Wenger. "At least two sides at the top will drop points today," he
said in his programme notes. "But we can only take advantage if we win
our game."

They took full advantage of Mourinho's departure.


Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Eboue, Flamini,
Fabregas, Rosicky, Hleb, Adebayor. Subs: Lehmann, Senderos, Van
Persie, Silva, Bendtner.

Chelsea: Cech, Ferreira, Alex, Terry, Ashley Cole, Wright-Phillips,
Obi, Makelele, Lampard, Joe Cole, Shevchenko. Subs: Cudicini, Pizarro,
Kalou, Ben-Haim, Belletti.

Referee: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\
-------------------------------------------------------------------



Mon Dec 17, 2007 7:42 am

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Jan 26, 2008
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The Times January 31, 2008 Chelsea keep pressure on rivals with German bite from Ballack Matt Hughes Avram Grant may dress like an undertaker, but the manner...
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Jan 31, 2008
12:53 pm

Draw that suits no one a cause for owners' disquiet Kevin McCarra at Stamford Bridge Monday February 11, 2008 The Guardian This forgettable match will still...
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Feb 18, 2008
1:09 pm

Grant gamble pays off as dour Chelsea gain upper hand David Hytner at the Karaiskaki Stadium Wednesday February 20, 2008 The Guardian Roman Abramovich has the...
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Feb 23, 2008
5:48 am

The Times March 6, 2008 Michael Ballack puts paid to any sign of nerves in Chelsea talent show Chelsea 3 Olympiacos 0 (Chelsea win 3-0 on agg) Martin Samuel,...
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Mar 9, 2008
1:35 pm

Lamps shining out: Frank fires four to keep Grant believing in title Chelsea 6 Derby 1 By NEIL ASHTON - More by this author » Last updated at 23:49pm on 12th...
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Mar 16, 2008
1:03 pm

Telegraph: Robbie Keane has last word for Spurs in classic By Henry Winter at White Hart Lane Tottenham Hotspur (1) 4 Chelsea (2) 4 Avram Grant continues to...
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Mar 21, 2008
3:06 am

The Times March 24, 2008 Grateful Avram Grant reverts to battering ram Chelsea 2 Arsenal 1 Martin Samuel, Chief Football Correspondent, at Stamford Bridge ...
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Mar 24, 2008
10:44 pm

The Times March 31, 2008 Ricardo Carvalho claims reward for afternoon of hard labour Chelsea 1 Middlesbrough 0 Chelsea's grit and determination are keeping...
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Mar 31, 2008
9:53 am

The Times April 4, 2008 Gael Kakuta leap has Avram Grant cheering Kaveh Solhekol Avram Grant has not had much to laugh about this week but the Chelsea ...
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Apr 4, 2008
1:18 pm

Mail: Chelsea blow it big time as Bury old boy sparks Fenerbahce fightback Fenerbahce 2 ( Kazim-Richards 65, Deivid 81) Chelsea 1(Deivid 13 og) By NEIL ASHTON ...
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Apr 4, 2008
1:19 pm

Indy: Chelsea 2 Fenerbahce 0 (Chel. win 3-2 on agg): Ballack lives up to billing but Chelsea fail to shine By Jason Burt Wednesday, 9 April 2008 Just like the...
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Apr 9, 2008
10:23 am

can you send me pictures of Chelsea? vatsalbharat@......
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Apr 14, 2008
5:08 am

Express: EMILE DEALS A BIG TITLE BLOW By Tony Banks Chelsea 1 Wigan 1 Emile Heskey struck a dramatic injury-time equaliser to stun Chelsea as Wigan boss Steve...
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Apr 15, 2008
1:47 pm

Essien strike keeps Chelsea in title chase Andy Hunter at Goodison Park Friday April 18, 2008 The Guardian A fixture that prompted such protest from Chelsea...
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Apr 19, 2008
2:37 am

Guardian: Riise's calamity gives Chelsea the upper hand Champions Lge Semi-Final L1 Liverpool 1 Kuyt 43 Chelsea 1 Riise (og) 90 Kevin McCarra at Anfield The...
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Apr 23, 2008
12:32 pm

The Times May 1, 2008 Act of bravery finally reveals true champion on a night of high emotion Chelsea 3 Liverpool 2 (aet; 1-1 after 90min; Chelsea win 4-3 on...
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May 1, 2008
12:13 pm

The Times May 6, 2008 Avram Grant sparks Chelsea into life Newcastle United 0 Chelsea 2 Martin Samuel Chief Football Correspondent One of the teams performed a...
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May 6, 2008
11:22 am

Indy: Chelsea 1 Bolton Wanderers 1: Terry hopes to be fit for Moscow after title failure By Jason Burt Monday, 12 May 2008 No Premier League title and no John...
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May 12, 2008
10:23 am

The Times May 21, 2008 United win Champions League on penalties Richard Neale Manchester United have beaten Chelsea 6-5 on penalties after a pulsating 120...
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May 31, 2008
1:42 pm

The Times June 12, 2008 Luiz Felipe Scolari appointed new Chelsea manager Matt Hughes Luiz Felipe Scolari, the man who turned down England, will instead become...
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Jun 20, 2008
1:09 pm

The Guardian, Thursday July 24, 2008 Lampard's perfect chip cheers Chelsea as Scolari era starts in China Guangzhou 0-4 Chelsea Dominic Fifield in Guangzhou ...
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Jul 24, 2008
11:51 am

Indy: Chelsea 5 Milan 0: Anelka's four-goal haul impresses Scolari By Rich Jones Monday, 4 August 2008 The Chelsea manager, Luiz Felipe Scolari, believes that...
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Aug 6, 2008
12:19 pm

The Guardian, Saturday August 2 2008 Moscow miss adds to Shevchenko's woes at Chelsea· Unsettled Ukrainian is fall guy in shoot-out reprise Striker remains...
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Aug 6, 2008
12:19 pm

Times August 17, 2008 Chelsea show attacking flair to thrash Portsmouth Chelsea 4 Portsmouth 0 Martin Samuels It was, it has to be said, just like watching...
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Aug 22, 2008
1:07 pm
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