Source: Daily_Mail
Arsenal v Chelsea live
Follow Sportsmail's live coverage of the Barclays Premier League as Arsenal host Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium. After victories for Manchester United and Manchester City yesterday, both sides will be looking for a win that will keep them in touch with the league leaders. Email me all your thoughts on the action at dan.ripley@dailymail.co.uk[LNB] Arsenal 3-1 Chelsea (8pm)Arsenal: Fabianski, Sagna, Koscielny, Djourou, Clichy, Song, Fabregas (Rosicky 88), Wilshere, Walcott (Diaby 74), van Persie (Chamakh 76), Nasri.Subs: Szczesny, Squillaci, Arshavin, Bendtner.[LNB]Goals: Song 44, Fabregas 51, Walcott 53.Chelsea: Cech, Ferreira (Bosingwa 61), Ivanovic, Terry, Cole, Essien, Mikel (Ramires 46), Lampard, Kalou, Drogba, Malouda (Kakuta 56).Subs: Turnbull, Van Aanholt, Bruma, McEachran.[LNB]Goals: Ivanovic 57.[LNB]Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear)[LNB]22.04: That wraps things up for this evening, but the football just keeps on coming.[LNB]Comeback tomorrow for Sportsmail's live coverage of the Premier League, where the action starts with five 3pm kick-offs followed by West Ham v Everton.[LNB]But as a Christmas bonus, it ends with Birmingham taking on Manchester United at 8pm.[LNB]Until then thank you following and have a good evening.[LNB]PS. You can check back this evening to follow live Ashes coverage with Tom Bellwood. That's it from me, Good night![LNB]22.00: For Chelsea, they might have to start not just worrying about defending their title but also their Champions League spot.[LNB]In-form Tottenham sit just one point behind them in fifth and only Fulham are in a worse run of form than the Champions.[LNB]21.58: For Arsenal that moves them up to second and just two points behind leaders Manchester United, albeit having played a game more.[LNB]They play all their title rivals but Tottenham at home over the second-half of the season, and are in a good position.[LNB]21.54: Arsenal showing their title credentials or a sign of how much of a crisis Chelsea are in?[LNB]It's both in truth and you have to start considering this is more than just a blip for Ancelotti's side.[LNB]Full-time: Arsenal 3-1 Chelsea[LNB]90+5min: Arsenal break through Song, but a pass though to Rosicky is offside and a good chance to make it four goes begging, as if the Arsenal fans care.[LNB]90+3min: Keep-ball from the Gunners, this one is over and the visitors know it.[LNB]90+1min: That was close though! It's mayhem in the Arsenal box with Drogba going closest when his goal-bound shot is blocked.[LNB]90min: Now or never for Chelsea, they have to score before injury time to have even the remotest chance of snatching something from this.[LNB]88min: Final sub for Arsenal, Fabregas shakes his head at something as he walks off and is replaced by Tomas Rosicky.[LNB]86min: Chelsea continue to press but it just all looks in vain.[LNB]But Arsenal fans have already seen their team collapse against Spurs this season at the Emirates, and they are going nowhere.[LNB]84min: A symbol of Chelsea's day, Drogba's shot fails to dip as it flies over the bar.[LNB]83min: Fabregas is down injured for Arsenal just as Chelsea win a free-kick 30 yards out. Drogba lines up...[LNB]80min: Should be four and game over. Jack Wilshere - who just gets better every match, feeds in Diaby in the box but his attempts to awkwardly shape his body for a right foot shot enables Cech to make a smart enough stop. Should have driven it with his left.[LNB]78min: Chelsea doing more the pressing, but they do not look half as threatening as Arsenal did at the same stage in the first half and the Gunners look comfortable.[LNB]76min: Second sub from Arsenal, Van Persie is replaced by Marouane Chamakh who ditches the snood just as he is about to come on. Snood snub shock.[LNB]75min: Still some green shoots for Chelsea, Bosingwa finds space down the right but with options in the box, his low cross is well cut out for a corner.[LNB]74min: First move from Wenger as Walcott trudges off to be replaced by Abou Diaby.[LNB]70min: What a chance for Nasri and he has to do better! Kakuta continues Chelsea's appalling defending record in this game by heading a long Walcott pass straight into the Frenchman's path.[LNB]But his attempt to clip the ball past Cech is well stopped by the keeper.[LNB]68min: Of all people, it's Fabregas that gives it away and he responds by chasing down Essien and bringing him down and copping a booking for it.[LNB]67min: Arsenal have settled again and are starting to play those short passes across the midfield again, that's one way to end Chelsea's momentum.[LNB] Hope: Ivanovic headers in Chelsea's almost instant reply to Arsenal's third[LNB]64min: Confidence what an amazing thing, it's all Chelsea now.[LNB]Drogba should do better as he runs into the penlaty box but he delays his cross too long and Koscielny is able to block the eventual attempt out for a corner.[LNB]61min: Final sub from Chelsea as Jose Bosingwa replaces Paulo Ferreira.[LNB]59min: Lampard marks his first real moment of the night by crunching into Song from behind, he is booked as Arsenal's first goalscorer limps off for the time being.[LNB]57min: GOAL! Arsenal 3-1 CHELSEA[LNB]Hang about we are not finished yet! He does not score but he sure does create this one, as Drogba's free-kick from 40 yards out finds Branislav Ivanovic's in the box as he nods past Fabianksi.[LNB]56min: Ancelotti looks like somebody has pinched his Christmas turkey and he shows his anger at Malouda by bringing him off Gael Kakuta.[LNB] Quickfire double: Walcott pounced on another mistake to put Arsenal 3-0 up[LNB]53min: GOAL! ARSENAL 3-0 Chelsea[LNB]The errors are piling up! Malouda is caught napping by Theo Walcott at the halfway line and he plays a one-two with Fabregas before drilling across Cech into the bottom corner from the edge of the box. [LNB] Easy as you like: Fabregas scores Arsenal's second by converting into an empty net[LNB]51min: GOAL! ARSENAL 2-0 Chelsea[LNB]What a disaster for Chelsea, Michael Essien commits a suicidal backpass and Walcott is straight onto it, drawing out Cech before laying across goal for Cesc Fabregas to put into an empty net. Big trouble for Chelsea, joy for the Gunners.[LNB]50min: You would think it's Arsenal losing, they continue to press for a second.[LNB]It's got so desperate at the back for Chelsea that it's Drogba that clears a Fabregas cross from the left.[LNB]48min: Arsenal fans have really found their voices and it's rubbing off on their team as they start the second-half how they ended the first. Dominating Chelsea.[LNB]Second-half: One change to tell you about as Ramires is on for Mikel, Chelsea get us going again.[LNB]20.57: I cannot believe this Chelsea side are skint for options on the bench.[LNB]Only Jose Bosingwa could perhaps take a starting spot at most other Premier Clubs, but in terms of Plan Bs, I cannot see any there.[LNB]What happened to the days when Drogba, Eidur Gudjohnsen, Majeta Kezman and Adrian Mutu were all competing for a starting spot.[LNB]20.51: Arsenal grew in confidence as the half wore on but Chelsea are playing like anything but champions.[LNB]Lampard had has minimal effect as the Blues fall behind for the seventh time in nine games.[LNB]Half-time: Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea [LNB]45min: One minute of injury time.[LNB] On Song: Alex Song scores for Arsenal before half-time[LNB]44min: GOAL! ARSENAL 1-0 Chelsea[LNB]The penalty box is more packed than Oxford Circus at Boxing Day but out of it Alex Song manages to find a gap from a Cesc Fabregas touch to blast across Cech's goal and give the Gunners a deserved lead.[LNB]42min: Cech is bar far Chelsea's best player and he perhaps has pulled off one of the saves of the season here.[LNB]Nasri chips a perfect ball from outside the box that is destined for the top corner, until the keeper scrambles back and gets an outstretched hand to tip it over, fabulous save, Chelsea under a lot of pressure.[LNB] We were through on goal! Arsenal players protest after a John Terry challenge[LNB]40min: That's better from Walcott, he steals a march on Terry to makes a run on goal from the byline, but his attempted short ball across goal is well read by Cech who blocks it out for a corner.[LNB]39min: Now Kalou shows his frustration as his high challenge with the foot clatters Gael Clichy, he too is booked.[LNB]38min: Gunners are showing much more adventure than they did at Old Trafford and Chelsea are defending heavily now, in truth they are playing for half-time as the Arsenal midfield knock around those short passes.[LNB]35min: Signs of a man not short of confidence but out of form, Van Persie beats the offside trap to find himself inside the box at an angle to goal, but his first time effort flies harmlessly over.[LNB]Difficult chance but one on form you would back him to do better, at least he actually hit it this time though.[LNB]33min: Arsenal applying a little more pressure but Van Persie shows his frustration as Chelsea look to break clear, with a slightly late lunge behind John Mikel Obi, he finds himself booked.[LNB]30min: Chelsea manage to clear the cross that comes in the box but the Gunners playing the much better football now, Lampard is not having much of a say in this.[LNB]29min: Much to the crowds delight, Cole is booked for dissent after kicking the ball away following a foul on Walcott at the corner flag, free-kick in a promising area for Arsenal.[LNB]26min: Brilliant defending from Terry, Walcott skins Cole for pace down the right and as the winger advances towards the box, Terry stands his ground and shepherds Walcott into a dead end as Cech comes out to collect.[LNB]Very much the Walcott spec that Fabio Capello decided against before the World Cup.[LNB] The higher ground: Drogba leaps high to control the ball under pressure from Koscielny[LNB]23min: Somebody should be checking Cech's gloves for glue. Nasri rifles in a free-kick which many a keeper would have been sensible to dive and parry away. The Czech stopper though just gets two hands behind it and makes the save look much easier than it was.[LNB]20min: I said their might be a penalty, and there is another shout for Arsenal. Malouda and Van Persie tangle in the box with the Dutchman not wasting any time in going down. Again it would have been a soft decision.[LNB]18min: Djourou is getting about a bit here. A free-kick in the box for Arsenal sees the centre-back go down under a Terry challenge and the home fans are furious when nothing is given.[LNB]Replays show, the Gunners man goes down a bit too easily, Clattenburg has a long night ahead of him.[LNB]16min: Drogba v Djourou is turning into an interesting battle. Kalou whips in a cross and although it looks like Drogba sends a header just wide, it is Djourou who gets the last touch.[LNB]14min: Lucky boy Jon Terry, at the halfway line he loses the ball after trying one trick too many and immediately commits a foul to stop Arsenal taking advantage. Mark Clattenburg gives him a few words but no more.[LNB]13min: The visitors playing with much more confidence then in the early stages but Arsenal are showing enough discipline to not let anything major get past them.[LNB]10min: First corner to Chelsea, Florent Malouda whips one in but Van Persie's header clears the Gunners' lines with a towering header, even contest this.[LNB] Arms reach: Florent Malouda (centre) is challenged by Alex Song (left) and Theo WalcottFOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY Additional licence required for any commercial/promotional use or use on TV or internet (except identical online version of newspaper) of Premier League/Football League photos. Tel DataCo +44 207 2981656. Do not alter/modify photo. (Photo credit should read CARL DE SOUZA/AFP/Getty Images)[LNB]8min: Speaking of let-offs, Drogba finds himself free in space as he charges towards the Arsenal goal with Djourou just constantly backing off.[LNB]As the Ivorian reaches the penalty box he flashes a shot across goal that zips just wide.[LNB]6min: This time he isn't though and he should score. Alex Songs sends a delightful chip to the box and after Inanovic misses the attempted clearance the Dutchman follows suit as it bounces out for a goal kick.[LNB]5min: Encouraging signs for Arsenal, a couple of times they have got behind the Chelsea backline, with Robin van Persie the latest as he fires over just outside the box. He is flagged offside but it's a close one.[LNB]3min: One thing you won't be surprised about is Ashley Cole is getting booed by the Emirates crowd.[LNB]Then again there is not many grounds he doesn't get booed at these days the popular chap.[LNB]2min: Arsenal look much sharper early on, Branislav Ivanovic has already gave Petr Cech a risky back-pass, while Salomon Kalou is very late with a sliding tackle on Laurent koscielny.[LNB]Kick-off: Arsenal get us going.[LNB]19.58: Samir Nasri has his usual snood and gloves with a short sleeve shirt.[LNB]I just don't get it, it's like turning the heating up in your house and opening all the windows.[LNB]19.57: Out the players come, full house at the Emirates...not too much noise though.[LNB]19.56: Teams in the tunnel, they have so much space these days they look like halls. [LNB]19.53: And in a game as big as this, it is a timely return to the starting lineup for Lampard.[LNB]Without sounding too harh, Ramires is not nearly the same player as the England midfielder, despite costing £18Million.[LNB]His inclusion is the experience this Chelsea midfielder has been desperate to see return, is he back up to speed though?[LNB]19.50: One noticeable change for me tonight is the inclusion of Lukasz Fabianski.[LNB]Wojciech Szczesny did okay against Manchester United and for me, Wenger just does not know who his best goalkeeper is.[LNB]19.47: As you may already know, I'm quite fond of my stats and here is an interesting one from OptaJoe regarding chances of a spot-kick tonight:[LNB]4 - Arsenal and Chelsea have won the joint-most penalties (4) in the Premier League this season. Spots.[LNB]19.44: Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard makes his first start since August in tonight's Barclays Premier League clash with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.[LNB]Lampard has fully recovered from groin and hamstring problems so Ramires drops to the bench while Didier Drogba comes in for Nicolas Anelka.[LNB]Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie make their first starts together for Arsenal since August with Marouane Chamakh settling for a place among the substitutes.[LNB]Lukasz Fabianski returns in goal, Johan Djourou is preferred ahead of Sebastien Squillaci at centre-back and Theo Walcott gets the nod ahead of Andrey Arshavin.[LNB]19.41: Arsene Wenger pre-match:[LNB]'We need to do the basics right, from there you can become exceptional. You don't have to play your best to win these big games.'[LNB]19.38: That man is of course Didier Drogba, the Ivorian has scored 13 goals in 13 matches against Arsenal.[LNB]Arsene Wenger has already highlighted that stopping him is key for the Gunners tonight.[LNB]19.36: The reason for Anleka's absence is he has a swollen knee, that of course is good news for Arsenal considering Chelsea's lack of experience on the bench.[LNB]But I bet they wish it was a certain other striker that was ruled out.[LNB]19.33: Full lineups from the Emirates:[LNB]Arsenal v ChelseaArsenal: Fabianski, Sagna, Koscielny, Djourou, Clichy, Song, Fabregas, Wilshere, Walcott, van Persie, Nasri. Subs: Szczesny, Diaby, Rosicky, Squillaci, Arshavin, Chamakh, Bendtner.Chelsea: Cech, Ferreira, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole, Essien, Mikel, Lampard, Kalou, Drogba, Malouda. Subs: Turnbull, Ramires, Bosingwa, Van Aanholt, Bruma, Kakuta, McEachran.Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear)[LNB]19.30: Ah the beauty of the fixture list. Much is at stake this evening, defeat for either side will not make their title chances impossible but it will be very difficult to claw back the deficit to Manchester United.[LNB]For Chelsea they are on a rotten run that not seen them win in the Premier League since November when they defeated Fulham, and look where they are now![LNB]As for arsenal they have lost their last five games against the Blues, something surely has to give this evening.[LNB]Team news on the way but the early news is Nicolas Anelka is out.[LNB] Gunned down: Didier Drogba has an excellent scoring record against Arsenal[LNB] Beware of the Drog: Wenger tells Arsenal to stop striker and beat Blues'Worn-out' Chamakh faces Gunners axe for crunch Chelsea clashALL ARSENAL FC
