Saturday sees us return to Premier League action as we head across the capital to tackle Chelsea, a fixture that has thrown up some memorable victories over the past few decades.
Some of our most famous goals and victories have come at the home of the Blues, and to whet your appetite for the big game, we’ve delved into the archives to pick out five of our best wins at Stamford Bridge.
Take a trip down memory lane with these classics:
April 5, 1997
Chelsea 0-3 Arsenal
We ran out comfortable winners in this contest at the Bridge to move into second spot in the Premier League and keep our faint title hopes alive. After Gianfranco Zola volleyed a glorious early chance over, an exquisite Dennis Bergkamp pass allowed Ian Wright to drill in his 27th goal of the season on 22 minutes.
Not long into the second half, the duo were at it again when the Dutchman again released our marksman, who slipped the ball across goal for David Platt to tuck in a second, and then with 10 minutes to go a mix-up in the home defence gave Bergkamp the freedom of west London to round Frode Grodas and tuck in a deserved third.
September 21, 1997
Chelsea 2-3 Arsenal
Five months later we were back at Stamford Bridge having started the season unbeaten, but still sitting below Chelsea who occupied fourth spot. Things started well for the hosts when Gustavo Poyet struck the first blow five minutes before the break, but Bergkamp equalised on the stroke of half-time.
The Dutchman lashed home his second just before the hour mark, but our lead lasted just 60 seconds when Zola scrambled his side level again. A draw looked destined in the final minute with the ball at Nigel Winterburn’s feet almost 50 yards out, but the left-back strode forward before smashing an arching effort into Ed de Goey’s top corner to snatch a dramatic win.
October 23, 1999
Chelsea 2-3 Arsenal
With 15 minutes to go, this game didn’t look like it would ever remembered fondly by any Gooner, as we trailed 2-0 against a side that had yet to concede a goal on home turf all campaign. In wet conditions, Tore Andre Flo and Dan Petrescu headed in either side of half-time to put Gianluca Vialli’s team in control, however with 15 minutes to go, Nwankwo Kanu came to the fore.
The Nigerian striker pulled one back when he prodded a shot through the puddles and into the net, and then on 83 minutes he equalised after some great movement in the box. In the final seconds, he then charged down a clearance, rounded De Gouy on the byline and whipped a shot into the top corner from the tightest of angles to claim a hat-trick, and a place in Arsenal folklore.
October 29, 2011
Chelsea 3-5 Arsenal
The matchball would be claimed once again 12 years later after another goalfest. Chelsea led initially through a Frank Lampard header, and after Gervinho unselfishly teed up Robin van Persie, John Terry scrambled the ball in to put his side in front at the break, but we would run riot after the break.
Andre Santos and Theo Walcott turned the scoreline around before the hour, and despite Juan Mata equalising from long range, van Persie confirmed the points with a breakway goal after Terry slipped five minutes from time. Then in the final embers, the Dutchman thumped a fifth goal past Petr Cech after being played in by Mikel Arteta to put the exclamation point on a fine win.
April 20, 2022
Chelsea 2-4 Arsenal
On what was a banner day for our academy, three of our Hale Enders got on the scoresheet to boost our chances of European qualification. Arteta handed a start to Eddie Nketiah, and he repaid his boss’ faith by putting us in front on 13 minutes after pouncing on a mistake, and despite Timo Werner’s deflected leveller, Emile Smith Rowe swiftly restored our advantage.
The Blues fought back and Cesar Azpilicueta was next to find the net five minutes later, but Nketiah once again hit the target when he capitalised in some ping-pong defending in the home box. Then in stoppage-time, Bukayo Saka was hauled down in the box by Azpiliucueta, allowing him to convert the spot-kick and wrap up the points.
Take a look at more memorable games away at Chelsea, including a cup classic and last season’s success, by watching our playlist of classic action
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