Arsene 'Concedes' Title to Chelsea
Nearly There
By BlueBlood
April 21 2005
After the entertaining 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge last night, Arsene Wenger finally conceded the title to Jose Mourinho and Chelsea Football Club. "Chelsea are worthy champions," said Wenger.
At the final whistle the Chelsea faithful sang 'We're Gonna Win the League, We're Gonna Win the League' fully for five or so minutes as the Arsenal 'faithful' reluctantly and grudgingly accepted the inevitable as they trooped out of the Lower East Stand tiers, out of Stamford Bridge to begin their journey back home to North London and other parts of London and the Home Counties, as the row of parked coaches cascading down the Fulham Road proved. I prayed for an atmosphere to befit a clash of the London giants - and I was not disappointed. However I was saddened by the Arsenal fans reluctance to put up a 'defiant' show of support, perhaps if Robert Pires' two early chances had been converted instead of rattling Cech's crossbar as early as the third minute or his cross shot which zipped past Cech's right hand post six minutes later, those Arsenal hordes would certainly have had a different attitude and a higher volume of voice. In the most part of the first half, Chelsea were not at the races. Mis-placed passes, short or to a red shirt, deep defending inviting Arsenal on, Chelsea certainly had Lady or Lord luck on their side. Drogba had a battle with Senderos all night, a performance that would have had Sol Campbell on the bench scratching his head as to how he would replace the outstanding Swiss boy. When Drogba broke free of Senderos's shackles he found Lehmann, so belittled this season, in fine form by saving a fierce driven shot by the Ivory Coast leaping salmon. Duff and Cole swapped wings all night trying to find that elusive breakthrough - Cole having scant success with a shot that just cleared the corner join of the woodwork. Once Arsenal had their clearest chances in the opening ten minutes of the first half, although they played the better football, chances were restricted to efforts from outside the area. Chelsea were a different team in the second half. Creating the better chances. Lampard shooting narrowly wide (when on another day, he would have hit the target), Drogba also shooting a fraction past the post after a sublime turn, from a low Duff cross. But it wasn't to be. A draw just like at Highbury back in December was just about the right result. Had any of the clear cut chances gone in, especially Arsenal's and Pires' early ones, then we would be looking at a completely different story and possible outcome. As it is, Chelsea's lead is still eleven points with five games to go and even if Chelsea beat Fulham at Stamford Bridge this coming Saturday, the 50 year wait for the title cannot be confirmed. Wouldn't it be ironic if Tottenham, Arsenal's visitors next Monday, do Chelsea the 'favour' (providing Chelsea beat Fulham of course) and get some payback for Arsenal winning titles at White Hart Lane.