Didier Drogba celebrated his return from the African Cup of Nations by scoring his 20th goal for Chelsea against Hull City last night, saving at least a point from the match.
Hull centre-back Steven Mouyokolo headed the Barclays Premier League strugglers in front, but Drogba, in his first Blues match for a month, snared a point for the table-toppers when he drilled home a contested free-kick just before the interval.
Hull started confidently, winning corners on the left and right inside two minutes.
Chelsea repelled them safely but Stephen Hunt’s delivery looked dangerous and the home side were assured in the opening minutes.
In the ninth minute Frank Lampard had the first chance of the match, capping a nice passing move with a swerving shot at goal. Boaz Myhill could only parry it to Nicolas Anelka 10 yards out but the Frenchman fluffed his finish.
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Arsene Wenger does not seem to have taken the 3 – 0 loss to Chelsea on Sunday well. He has embarked on a strange appraisal of the game, his team, opponents and the current season as a whole.
Arsenal were outclassed and outfought in a match that many see as evidence that they will not launch a convincing title challenge, but Wenger’s post-match interview suggests that he has not given up hope.
However, the quotes that appear on the Arsenal website also include:
* An assertion that the scoreline did not fairly reflect the game.
* Complaints about various refereeing decisions, claiming that Eduardo’s disallowed goal in the first half changed the game.
* The assertion that Didier Drogba “doesn’t do much”.
* A bizarre and apparently unprompted criticism of TV analysts.
* The damage done by Arsenal’s defeat at Sunderland.
* Bemoaning his side’s lack of mental strength.
* He is “convinced” that Chelsea can still drop points and lose out on the title.
* His belief that Arsenal can still win the league.
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Chelsea beat Arsenal 3 – 0 at the Emirates on Sunday, whilst Liverpool won their derby match 2 – 0 against Everton at Goodison Park in the English Premier League.
Two goals from Didier Drogba and a Thomas Vermaelen own goal made the difference as Arsenal, who had won their previous 11 home games in all competitions, struggled to make an impression on a Chelsea defence that has conceded just eight goals in 14 league games.
The match encapsulated the key differences between the two London sides as Chelsea’s powerful lineup outmuscled Arsenal’s lightweights and, when in sight of goal, went for the jugular.
In contrast, Arsenal were content to play endless passes around the box in attacks that all too often petered out thanks to over-elaboration.
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Chelsea captain John Terry steered his team 5 points clear on the Premier League table ahead of champions Manchester United by beating them 1 – 0 at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
The eagerly-awaited showdown had been meandering towards a disappointing goalless draw until Terry was left unmarked to glance in a Frank Lampard free kick — with striker Nicolas Anelka claiming he got the final touch.
The victory took Chelsea to 30 points, five clear of Arsenal, who won 4-1 at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, and United, who also lost to Liverpool last month.
Tottenham Hotspur are fourth on 22 after they beat Sunderland 2-0 on Saturday. Liverpool host Birmingham City on Monday.
Earlier on Sunday, Hull City beat visitors Stoke City 2-1 with a stoppage-time goal, Everton won 2-1 at West Ham United while Wigan Athletic drew 1-1 at home to Fulham.
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Didier Drogba made a scoring return to European action to help Chelsea through to the last 16 of the Champions League, even though his brace could not help the Blues continue their 100% record against Atletico Madrid.
Drogba had missed Chelsea’s opening three Group D games through suspension, but he was brought straight back into the starting line-up and looked to have earned Carlo Ancelotti’s side the win with two goals in the last eight minutes.
Those strikes cancelled out a stunning volley by Atletico striker Sergio Aguero in the 66th minute, but the young Argentinian had the last say as he curled home a brilliant injury-time free-kick to salvage a 2-2 draw for the hosts.
Drogba was handed the ban following his foul-mouthed confrontation with Norwegian referee Tom Henning Ovrebo at the end of May’s Champions League semi-final exit at the hands of Barcelona.
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Liverpool lost their third game in eight on Sunday by going down 2 – 0 to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Liverpool lost only two matches last term but second-half goals from Chelsea’s Nicolas Anelka and substitute Florent Malouda condemned them to their third defeat inside the opening eight matches of the current campaign.
It is more than 40 years since any team have gone on to win the top-flight crown after losing three of their first eight games.
But Benitez is unconcerned by the statistics and pointed out there is still a long way to go before their own title hopes can be dismissed.
“I feel the performance wasn’t bad against a good team,” said Benitez. “We worked hard, had some good play.
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Chelsea have been hit with a ban by FIFA to sign any new players till January 2011 because they ‘induced’ Gael Kakuta to breach his contract at Lens.
French attacking midfielder Kakuta, 18, joined the Blues from Lens two years ago after which the French club lodged a complaint with FIFA.
FIFA’s dispute resolution chamber (DRC) have announced Chelsea will be banned from registering any new players for the next two transfer windows – effectively January 2011 will be the next time they can make a new signing unless they win an appeal.
A FIFA spokesman said: “This decision confirms our aim to ensure contractual stability. It is an important ruling for football in general.”
Chelsea have been ordered to pay £115,000 (130,000euros) training compensation to Lens, and are also liable for the £680,000 (780,000euros) compensation sum ordered against Kakuta himself, who is banned from playing any games for four months.
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Chelsea extended Carlo Ancelotti‘s 100% winning record by beating Sunderland 3 – 1 at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday night.
On Saturday, a miscued Didier Drogba cross deep into injury time dipped into the net to give Ancelotti’s side a narrow 2-1 home win against Hull City after the Blues had fallen behind.
The west London club found themselves in trouble again at the Stadium of Light as record signing Darren Bent gave Sunderland an early lead.
But thereafter it was all Chelsea as Michael Ballack, Frank Lampard from the spot and Deco produced second-half goals that eased the visitors to a deserved victory.
Having themselves won on the opening day – 1-0 at Bolton – Sunderland were reminded of the class gap in this league.
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Wayne Rooney scored to hand Manchester United a 1 – 0 English Premier League win over newcomers Birmingham, whilst Liverpool lost 2 – 1 againt Tottenham at White Hart Lane on Sunday.
North-west rivals United and Liverpool slugged it out for the trophy last season but both looked below-par and pedestrian compared with Arsenal who thumped six goals past Everton on Saturday.
The champions at least hung on to claim all three points and with Chelsea also victorious Liverpool were the only one of the four title favourites who failed to win on the opening weekend.
United, minus Cristiano Ronaldo, needed the quick reactions of Rooney 12 minutes before halftime at Old Trafford to see off promoted Birmingham, the England striker stabbing in a rebound after his header hit the post.
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England and Chelsea captain John Terry stated on Sunday that leaving Chelsea was never a possibility and that he is fully committed to the club.
Terry had been a target for Manchester City, with local media speculating that they had offered him a salary of £200 000 per week after making a bid of around £30 million.
The 28-year-old centre back and club captain remained silent on the issue despite City manager Mark Hughes regularly confirming his interest and British newspapers ramping up the speculation.
He finally made a statement on the club’s website (www.chelseafc.co.uk.) on Sunday saying: “There has been a lot of speculation recently about my future and I want to clear this up once and for all.
“I am totally committed to Chelsea and always have been.
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