On This Day – 12th December
Champions Arsenal took on Champions-elect Chelsea at Highbury on this day in 2004. It was Chelsea’s first visit back after they had knocked Arsenal out of the Quarter Final of the Champions League a few months earlier.
Thierry Henry fired the home side ahead after just two minutes, controlling a pass from Cesc Fabregas and hammering the ball past goalkeeper Petr Cech with ease. The speed at which the Frenchman got the ball under control, looked up, picked his spot and hit the ball into the far corner was astounding.
John Terry equalised for Jose Mourinho’s men after 17 minutes, leaping highest to head past Manuel Almunia from an Arjen Robben corner.
Thierry Henry scored a free kick just before the half-hour mark after a moment of quick-thinking caught the visitors off-guard.
Arsenal had won a free-kick about 30 yards from goal. As Henry and Jose-Antonio Reyes stood over the ball, Chelsea were still organising their defensive wall. Petr Cech stood leaning on his left post, indicating where his wall should position themselves. Henry asked the referee if he could take the kick, the referee agreed and he promptly put the ball into the right-hand corner.
Chelsea were livid as Peter Cech was clearly not ready for the kick to be taken. Some of the Chelsea players were looking the other way but the referee gave the goal. It was certainly a controversial that helped to make the London Derby all the more fiery!
Eidur Gudjohnsen nodded in an equaliser a minute after the restart and the game ended 2-2. Chelsea ended up winning the League title, amassing a then-Premier League record of 95 points. Arsenal lifted the FA Cup after beating Manchester United on penalties in Cardiff.
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