Friday, 15 September 2017

The Classic Match: Chelsea 6-0 Arsenal, 22/03/2014



With the upcoming visit of Arsenal, it is a good time to reflect on one of our previous encounters with the Gunners.

The situation leading into the game was that both teams were in the title race. Chelsea were top with 66 points, Arsenal in fourth with 62 points. It also had the added spice that this was manager Arsene Wenger's 1000th game in charge of Arsenal. Chelsea would not let it be an occasion he would look back on fondly.


The first goal came after just five minutes, veteran striker Samuel Eto'o collecting the ball from Andre Schurrle on the right of the penalty area and curling the ball into the far corner.

Two minutes later it was two, Schurrle's low shot from the right leaving Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesney looking rather flat-footed.


Then a bizarre incident in the 16th minute. Eden Hazard's shot was blocked on the line by the hand of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain but in a case of mistaken identity, it was Kieran Gibbs who was sent off for it. Hazard would make it 3-0 from the resultant penalty.

Chelsea had to wait until the 42nd minute for their fourth which came when Fernando Torres crossed in low from the right for the onrushing Oscar to put into the roof of the net.



Chelsea may have taken their foot off the gas a little bit in the second half. Oscar got his second with an effort from outside the box that Szczesney may feel he should have done better with.
The scoring was completed in the 71st minute when Mohamed Salah (making a rare Chelsea appearance) beat the Arsenal offside trap to score Chelsea's sixth.

Chelsea may well have added a couple more but six was enough. At the end of the season, Chelsea would finish third and Arsenal in their customary fourth spot but this was a day neither side would ever forget.

Highlights:



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