The Blues, then still in with a chance on the league race, beat the Gunners black and blue in front of a crowd of more than 41,000 spectators on March 22, 20 Goals from Samuel Eto'o, André Schürrle, and Eden Hazard penalty, a double by Oscar and Mohamed Salah strike saw the Blues soar to a 6-0 demolition that was one of many that the porous Gunners went through last season.
Other demolitions were to follow in the hands of Liverpool and Manchester City and that way, Arsenal needed – and really got, divine intervention to end the season in the top four for a UEFA Champions League slot.
On Sunday, the two sides will meet again. Same venue, same coaches, same cause, but will the script still be the same? Arsenal are less convincing this season than they were last, while Chelsea are cruising. Where the Gunners have dropped what looked like easy points, not only have Chelsea collected, but Jose Mourinho’s side has been making a haul of goals that have many them the envy of many a Premiership side.
The sides’ last six games are evidence that the two are worlds apart in league performance. Arsenal won just two games. The Aston Villa and (3-0) and Crystal Palace (2-1) they beat are no better than token opposition. They drew at home with Tottenham Hot Spurs in their last league game, having been restricted to the same end by Leicester City and Everton.
They can however, argue that they also held a marauding Manchester City to a 2-2 draw, but that was the only result worth talking about for Arsene Wenger’s men.
On the other hand, log leaders Chelsea’s only dent in a similar number of games has been a home draw with City two games ago. They clobbered all of the other five opponents they met in impressive fashion 0- scoring a total 18 goals in six matches.
Will Arsenal get it better and show they are also not out of the race so early in the season? Only Sunday will tell.
Other fixtures: Saturday: Liverpool vs West Brom; Leicester City vs Burnley; Swansea City vs Newcastle United; Hull City vs Crystal Palace; Sunderland vs Stoke City; Aston Villa vs Manchester City
Sunday: Manchester United vs Everton; Chelsea vs Arsenal; Tottenham vs Southampton; West Ham United vs Queens Park Rangers
Post published in: Football