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  • Date:2005-04-20
  • Kick-off:20:00
  • Venue:Stamford Bridge
  • Attendance:41621
  • Referee:Bennett, S

Live Commentary

94mins

The final whistle has gone and Chelsea maintain their 11-point lead at the top but can't clinch the title against Fulham on Saturday.

93mins

Didier Drogba's late free-kick is just over the crossbar and it is the game's last effort.

92mins

Eidur Gudjohnsen is replaced in injury time by Jiri Jarosik.

90mins

Robert Pires is next in the book for a late foul.

89mins

Jose Antonio Reyes is booked when diving while trying to win a free-kick

85mins

Mateja Kezman is brought on for Damien Duff in the final bid for a late winner.

84mins

Chelsea pressing hard for a winner with Eidur Gudjohnsen's effort blocked by the Arsenal defence.

81mins

Jeremie Aliadiere replaces Cesc Fabregas for Arsenal.

79mins

Robin Van Persie is introduced into the action in place of Arsenal's Dennis Bergkamp while Cardoso Tiago replaces Joe Cole for Chelsea.

77mins

Petr Cech is called upon for the first time in the second half to comfortably save from Robert Pires.

74mins

Patrick Vieira is the second player booked after tackling Eidur Gudjohnsen from behind.

70mins

Chelsea have held the upper hand in the past few minutes as Arsenal have opted to sit back trying to get quick breaks.

67mins

John Terry attempts to spark another attack bursting forward from defence but he is flagged offside and his strong run is ended.

66mins

Didier Drogba's step over from a William Gallas cross allows Frank Lampard a shot on goal but yet again the chance is spurned.

63mins

Damien Duff whips a dangerous free-kick into the area but the Arsenal defence head clear in the melee.

61mins

Damien Duff works his way to the byline but his cross into the Arsenal is well cut out and cleared.

58mins

Good defending from Frank Lampard prevents Robert Pires from scoring after Dennis Bergkamp muscled his way past Glen Johnson in the box.

56mins

Damien Duff finds Didier Drogba in the penalty area and the striker turns and fires his effort narrowly wide of the mark.

53mins

A good spell now from Chelsea which culminates in Frank Lampard's goalbound effort blocked.

52mins

Joe Cole is booked for dissent following an outburst to the referee's assistant.

51mins

Arsenal try and work their way through the Chelsea backline as they are having the majority of the ball in the early stages of the second half.

47mins

Arsenal have again made a bright start but Etame Mayer Lauren wastes a good chance to put a dangerous ball into the area.

46mins

Chelsea kick-off the second 45 minutes looking to try and grab what would be a priceless win in their bid to claim their first title for 50 years.

45mins

An exciting first 45 minutes comes to an end with both sides left to refelct on some missed opportunities.

44mins

Joe Cole gets clear in the area but blasts the ball over the bar from a tight angle.

41mins

Arsenal seem content to play the ball around between themselves in the middle of the pitch at the moment as Chelsea stand off them.

38mins

William Gallas gets in to block Gilberto Silva's shot on goal to prevent Chelsea falling behind.

37mins

Chelsea have come on stronger over the last five minutes and are seemingly the more likely to score but Arsenal are a danger on the break

34mins

Didier Drogba tries to lay the ball to Joe Cole in the Arsenal area but he can't reach it and Eidur Gudjohnsen's follow up is hacked clear by Robert Pires.

31mins

Damien Duff plays in Didier Drogba for Chelsea's best chance so far but Jens Lehmann denies him well with his feet.

30mins

Ashley Cole tries to send Jose Antonio Reyes clear on goal but Petr Cech collects on the edge of his own area.

28mins

Chelsea are enjoying some good possession now but Arsenal's players are pressing them hard and not allowing them much freedom.

26mins

Jose Antonio Reyes makes a break on goal but Ricardo Carvalho does well to keep him wide before putting the ball out for a corner which comes to nothing.

25mins

Robert Pires attempts a low shot from 25 yards but it fails to trouble Petr Cech.

24mins

Gilberto Silva mis-kicks completely after being teed up by Dennis Bergkamp on the edge of the Chelsea area.

22mins

Eidur Gudjohnsen directs a header goalwards but it just drops wide of the Arsenal upright.

21mins

The pace of the game has calmed slightly with a lot of the action centred in the middle of the park.

18mins

Chelsea fans appeal for handball when the ball strikes Dennis Bergkamp in the penalty area but referee Steve Bennett is having none of it.

16mins

Didier Drogba almost gets in behind the Arsenal defence but Philippe Senderos does very well to block him.

13mins

Arsenal are stroking the ball around very well and limiting Chelsea to the odd breakaway following a hectic opening 10 minutes.

10mins

Robert Pires misses a glorious chance to put Arsenal ahead but somehow fires the ball wide of the far post from close range after the ball deflected to him in the box.

9mins

Jens Lehmann gets down well to his left to deny Frank Lampard's low effort from the edge of the box.

8mins

Kolo Toure races back to hack the ball out for a corner as Didier Drogba threatened another quick break.

7mins

Glen Johnson sends Didier Drogba clear but Jens Lehmann races out to collect.

4mins

Damien Duff gets a dangerous cross in from the left but Kolo Toure does well to get the danger away.

3mins

Robert Pires smashes the ball off the Chelsea crossbar after great build up work from Arsenal who have started very well.

2mins

Arsenal have started the brighter with John Terry blocking an early effort on goal from Dennis Bergkamp.

0mins

Arsenal get the game underway at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea aim for three more points towards winning the Championship.

Match Preview

Chelsea's seemingly unstoppable march to a first League title in 50 years faces one of its sternest tests as nearest rivals Arsenal visit Stamford Bridge.

The Gunners trail the Blues by 11 points going into the game, knowing that a victory is the only result that will realistically keep the title race alive.

Jose Mourinho has made an immediate impact since taking charge at Chelsea, but had to watch from a distance as his side clinched a place in the semi-finals of the Champions League.

He has already secured his first silverware of the season in the Carling Cup and his side seem to be able to meet any challenge in their way.

The scale of their domination of English football this season was shown by the nominations of John Terry, Frank Lampard and Petr Cech for the PFA Player of the Year award.

Success has also been achieved despite a number of injury problems, with Paulo Ferreira and Wayne Bridge out for the rest of the season and Scott Parker still struggling for full fitness.

Arsenal come into the game on the back of a dominant 3-0 win over Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup semi-finals, a match that saw boss Arsene Wenger highly critical of their opponents' tactics.

He commented after the game: "I feel Blackburn decided to stop us from playing, sometimes at any cost and a bit over the edge of the rules.

"Patrick Vieira was especially targeted in the first half and I was a bit concerned about him. It wasn't that I feared for my players' safety, but I was scared one of them would react and get a red card."

Robin Van Persie may be handed a staring role after netting a double after coming off the bench against Blackburn, while Thierry Henry is a major doubt due to a groin problem.


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Match Report

Chelsea needed five points to win the title before this derby with Arsenal, and following a tense 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge, the Blues still need five points.

But with an 11-point gap between the West Londoners and their North London rivals, Chelsea will be crowned Premiership champions if they defeat Fulham on Saturday and Arsenal fail to defeat Spurs on Monday.

Chelsea's successive draws at home mean they are stuttering towards their first top-flight title in 50 years rather than blasting towards it as their fans demand.

Arsenal, on this showing will feel they were unlucky not to come away with all three points.

Their first-half performance in particular was spectacular - it was a shame wayward finishing by Robert Pires on ten minutes did not match the intricate build-up play.

Pires also smashed a volley against the crossbar on three minutes and that summed up Arsenal's season.

Chelsea by contrast set out their stall to soak up pressure and possession by Arsenal and inflict the killer strike on the counter-attack.

Sandwiched between Arsenal's opening efforts, Chelsea could have gone ahead following a Frank Lampard right-footer. But Jens Lehmann was equal to the fine drive.

A glancing header by Eidur Gudjohnsen on 22 minutes seemed to be the best that the champions-elect could muster.

Didier Drogba forced a fine save from the Arsenal keeper on 28 minutes and with Pires clearing away a scuffed Gudjohnsen effort on goal, that was as good as it got in the first half.

The second half saw Chelsea consolidate their defensive duties with Arsenal running out of steam while still keeping an eye out for the Chelsea counter.

A Drogba shot on 55 minutes and a couple of half chances for Lampard were the best they could manage.

Petr Cech was forced into a save from Pires on 76 minutes, but the game petered out to a predictable draw.

Chelsea

Arsenal

Corners

22

Fouls

1016

Goal attempts

96

Shots off target

62

Offsides

53

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