A second-half error from Carlo Cudicini gifted Arsenal victory as Chelsea suffered a first Premiership defeat of the season. Hernan Crespo had brilliantly replied to Edu’s deflected free kick in a breathtaking opening ten minutes.
After an even first half, in which the inexperienced centre-back pairing of Robert Huth and Mario Melchiot, along with holding midfielders Geremi and Claude Makelele, had been outstanding, Chelsea were unable to find a way through.
In the end, though, two unfortunate goals proved enough to win the game, and how many more times will we say that against our north London rivals? It is now a wearisome 15 games in all competitions that we have failed to beat them.
The game exploded into life straight away, with Edu’s goal after five minutes. Johnson had needlessly handballed just outside the centre of the box, and the Brazilian midfielder curled a shot to the side of the Chelsea wall, where Ray Parlour stuck a foot out to redirect it away from Carlo Cudicini.
Claudio Ranieri had ranged his side in a 4-3-1-2 formation, with Damien Duff playing freely just behind Adrian Mutu and Hernan Crespo, and it was the impressive Argentinean who levelled within three minutes.
Geremi, lively throughout the first hour, supplied an excellent blind-side pass to Crespo, and the striker stepped inside his marker then pinged a delightful right footer from 25 yards. Lehmann, who had earlier asked for a cap because of the horizontal autumn sunshine, was left stranded as the net billowed. It was, you might say, out of the blue.
Makelele was booked for tackle on Pires as Chelsea battled and harassed, knocking Arsenal off their rhythm. Chances were rare either way. Cudicini dived at full stretch to cut out Pires’s cut back after the Frenchman had outstripped Johnson, and Melchiot showed excellent composure to allay any danger from Henry, who was only fitfully involved.
As the tight encounter took shape the crowd banter began.
“We’re ****ing loaded!” sang Chelsea fans.
“48 years!” replied Arsenal, referring to the previous time we won the League.
The Chelsea choir’s retorts – “You’re gonna ground-share with Tottenham!” and “Shall we buy a ground for you?!” – passed without response.
Barclaycard Player of the Month Frank Lampard – quiet by recent standards – and Crespo drew comfortable saves from Lehmann, and Johnson, after a neat stepover trick in the Arsenal box, had his fierce shot blocked. Crespo and Geremi both shot wide. Duff’s nutmeg and cross just failed to find the Argentinean as Chelsea’s intricate probing found gaps.
After the break, Arsene Wenger roused his players to a much feistier display and, in bringing on Dennis Bergkamp and Kanu just past the hour, gained the tactical upper hand.
Chelsea’s only real opening until the closing moments came early on, an inviting Johnson cross evading three unmarked Chelsea players stretching in front of Lehmann. Jesper Gronkjaer, brought on after 68 minutes and playing on the right, failed to make the usual impression on panicky Ashley Cole.
Joe Cole, though, deployed on the left with 20 minutes to go, was very lively, even though Chelsea shaped as if a draw was now a desirable result.
Still the Mechiot-Huth partnership held firm. Gilberto and the out-of-sorts Robert Pires had already shot straight at Cudicini before the Italian keeper made a superb point-blank save from Henry; Kanu headed against the post from the corner, and a head of steam was building.
No one could have guessed how the winner would come though. While Ranieri waited with sub Mario Stanic on the sideline, but before the Croatian could ocme on at a free kick, Arsenal took it quickly and referee Durkin waved play on. Breaking down the right, Pires crossed poorly towards Henry and Cudicini looked to be gathering the ball easily. Instead, he fumbled as he dipped and presented Henry with the easiest of goals.
Now Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, not Stanic, replaced Geremi, and was instantly booked for a high challenge for the ball on Lehmann.
With five minutes left Henry prematurely ran to the corner flag, stating Arsenal’s intent.
And if a lovely jinking run and cross-shot from Johnson in the last minute had ricocheted in rather than clear, or Cole’s snapshot had been on target, it would all have been so different.
Once again, at Heartbreak Highbury, it was not to be