10.54 AM Friday, 29 March 2024
  • City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
  • Dubai 04:56 06:10 12:26 15:53 18:37 19:52
29 March 2024

Chelsea rejoice as Wenger's Mourinho hoodoo continues

Published
By Football Correspondent with Agencies

Jose Mourinho got the better of old adversary Arsene Wenger once again as Chelsea showed their strength-in-depth by reaching the League Cup quarter-finals with a 2-0 win over London rivals Arsenal on Tuesday.

Both teams rang the changes but it was Chelsea's new-look side that gelled, restricting the hosts to a few sights of goal while consistently threatening on the break and finding the net through Spaniards Cesar Azpilicueta and Juan Mata.

It was a difficult night for Wenger, who enjoyed a simmering feud with the Chelsea boss during the Portuguese's first spell in the Premier League with the West London side and has now not beaten Mourinho in nine attempts.

Manchester United will also be in the draw for the last eight after overcoming Norwich City 4-0 with two goals from Mexican Javier Hernandez, but there was an upset for Premier League Fulham who lost 4-3 at second tier Leicester City.

West Ham United beat Burnley 2-0 away in their tie with late penalties from Matt Taylor and Jack Collison, while spot kicks were needed to separate Stoke City and Birmingham City.

After the match finished 3-3 and then 4-4 after extra time, top flight Stoke came through 4-2 in the shootout.

CHELSEA'S REWARD

Arsenal and Chelsea reminded everyone of the League Cup's standing in the list of priorities by making 18 changes between them from their teams that played in the league at the weekend.

Wenger fielded a strong midfield with Aaron Ramsey, Santi Cazorla and Jack Wilshere marshalling the centre circle, but they struggled to make an impact as Chelsea sat back, soaked up the pressure and looked to hit the hosts on the counter.

Mourinho's side got their reward after 25 minutes when a swift Chelsea break ended with Azpilicueta nipping in to intercept a poor header back by Carl Jenkinson and poking the ball past onrushing goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski for the opener.

Arsenal, who have testing fixtures against Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund to come in the next eight days, were off the pace and struggled to conjure a chance with Welsh midfielder Ramsey firing their best effort wide just past the hour.

Arsenal's Germany playmaker Mesut Ozil was summoned from the bench to inject creativity in the second half but within seconds of his introduction Chelsea doubled their lead through Mata.

The mercurial Spaniard, who has been on the fringes of Mourinho's first-choice team all season, collected the ball on the edge of the area, controlled it neatly and then unleashed a rasping right foot drive into the net.

"The win is very important for our confidence; after beating Manchester City and now Arsenal this week, we feel strong because they are very good teams," Mata told Sky Sports.

FULL TIME

Cesar Azpilicueta netted his first goal in Chelsea colours and Juan Mata scored his first of the season to give the Blues a 2-0 win over Arsenal in the fourth round of the League Cup at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night.

Jose Mourinho's men, who trail the Gunners by two points in the Premier League, ended Wenger's eight-match unbeaten run as Arsenal fail to make the quarter-final for the first time in 11 years.

The 24-year-old Azpilicueta was quick to capitalise on a defensive error by Jenkinson in the 25th minute to beat an advancing Fabianski, while Mata put the issue safe in the 65th minute with a cracker of a goal from within the box.

Arsenal 0 Chelsea 2 (Azpilicueta 25 Mata 65)

92" Mata is then replaced by Tomas Kalas.

Ba is brought down and Luiz send his free-kick well over.

90" Ramires chips one but the ball just sails over the crosspiece.

89" Cazorla's left-footer just wide off the mark as Arsenal make last-ditch efforts to score. Four minutes of injury time added.

88" Arsenal make inroads but run out of ideas as the Chelsea defence stands firm.

85" Five minutes to go and Chelsea look to have the match under their grip.

84" Ba again in the thick of action inside the Arsenal goal but foiled by a defender.

83" Demba Ba makes his presence felt with a run down the left into the Arsenal box but is tackled by Vermaelen.

81" Arsenal too make a change with Ramsey coming out and Park making his way in.

80" Several Chelsea players are on the ground as Demba Ba comes in for Eto'o.

79" Ozil comes in from the left flank but his attempted pass through is gathered in by Schwarzer.

77" Wilshere tests Chelsea goalkeeper Schwarzer with a powerful left-footer which just sails over.

74" YELLOW! Essien booked for a dangerous tackle on Koscielny.

72" Ramires ad Eto'o come close to scoring Chelsea's third with Koscielny clearing the ball off the line.

68" Chelsea also make a change with Ramires coming on for Kevin De Bruyne.

66" Giroud comes in for Brendtner as Arsenal are looking despeerate now.

65" GOAL! Mata scores his first goal of the season for Chelsea.

A superb goal controlling a header back with his left and then curling in from 25 yards with his right giving Fabianski no chance.

Arsenal 0 Chelsea 2 (Azpilicueta 25 Mata 65)

63" Arsenal make their first change as Ozil replaces Miyaichi.

62" Ramsey has a shot at goal from 25 yards but is just wide of the target.

61" Cazorla curls a ball into the box but Schwarzer comes out to collect comfortably.

60" Mesut Ozil is getting ready to come on.

55" Good attacking spell of play by Arsenal who seem to have found their feet but
Rosicky and Ramsey pass away chances to shoot.

54" Arsenal desperate to find the equaliser as Ramsey lobs the ball into the danger zone but Schwarzer leaps to collect it.

53" Arsenal on the move with Rosicky setting it up for Ramsey who creates himself some room but his shot is deflected just past the far post.

52" Cazorla unleashes a left-foot shot but it goes wide

48" Eto'o had a shot at Arsenal goal but is wide off the target.

Chelsea can surpass Villa and Man Utd on most away wins at Emirates Stadium (all have 3 wins currently).

46" Arsenal get the second half underway trailing by a goal with no substitutions by either team at the break.

Ozil and Giroud are seen warming up for Arsenal.

HALF TIME

Azpilicueta's goal separates the teams at the interval. Monreal came closest for the Gunners.

45"
Chelsea go into half-time with a one-goal cushion after Azpilicueta netted his first goal for the Blues in the 25th minute.

40" Essien slices hit shot from just outside the box as Mata and Willian combine to maintain pressure on Arsenal.

37" Chelsea on the assertive with fourth corner after good work from Willian to find Mata on the left wing. De Bruyne can't make it count.

34" Arsenal's second corner kick is calmly dealt by Chelsea goalkeeper Schwarzer.

32" Essien receives treatment for a facial injury.

30" Arsenal go their closest yet with Monreal shooting across the far post.

29" YELLOW! First booking of the night for John Obi Mikel

25" GOAL! Azpilicueta pounces on a defensive howler to give Chelsea the lead.

Jenkinson's header falls short of Fabianksi and the right-back pokes it home.

Arsenal 0 Chelsea 1 (Azpilicueta 25)

23" De Bruyne has Chelsea's first shot on target of the night but swings it straight at Fabianski.

21" Mikel and Essien combine to thwart Wilshere, who attempts a burst through the middle.

20" Arsenal, beaten just once in their last 14 games, look to be settling down as they slowly make inroads into the Chelsea territory.

14" Arsenal earn their first corner after Miyaichi's cross takes a deflection but is Cazorla's delivery is headed away by Eto'o at the front post.

11" Willian has the first crack at goal from the left edge of the penalty area and earns a corner which is dealt by Arsenal.

10" Chelsea earn their third corner of the match but fail to make good use of it.

9" Neither keeper tested yet though both sides have looked dangerous on the counter-attack.

5" Chelsea look more assertive after the first five minutes of play.

3" Chelsea dominating the early possession, with Arsenal yet to really come out of their own half.

1" Koscielny blocks an Eto'o shot, resulting in a Chelsea corner which is taken by Mata.

Chelsea put pressure on Arsenal by earning two corner kicks within the first minute.

1" Chelsea get the game underway at Emirates Stadium.

Chelsea have benched Torres while Arsenal have kept Ozil out of the first X1.

STARTING XI

Arsenal: Fabianski, Jenkinson, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Monreal, Ramsey, Wilshere, Rosicky, Cazorla, Miyaichi, Bendtner.

Subs: Viviano, Sagna, Hayden, Yennaris, Ozil, Giroud, Park.

Chelsea: Schwarzer, Azpilicueta, Cahill, David Luiz, Bertrand, Essien, Mikel, De Bruyne, Mata, Willian, Eto'o.

Subs: Blackman, Ivanovic, Kalas, Ramires, Hazard, Torres, Ba.

TEAM NEWS

Arsenal


Jack Wilshere was deemed fit enough to make the bench at the weekend and could be in contention to start.

Chelsea

Ashley Cole returned from injury at the weekend but could miss out against his former club along with Fernando Torres who may be rested after his match-winning exploits against Manchester City.

Arsenal want to prove their worth against Chelsea

Arsene Wenger says Arsenal's League Cup fourth round tie against Chelsea on Tuesday is a golden opportunity to prove they can be serious contenders for silverware.

Wenger's team have gone eight years without a trophy, but they are finally showing signs of once again becoming major players in the race for the sport's top prizes.

They hold a two-point lead over second-placed Chelsea in the Premier League after seven wins in an eight-match unbeaten run and Wenger believes Arsenal's clash with Jose Mourinho's men at the Emirates Stadium provides another chance to underline their improvement this season.

"We haven't won the title for a few years and people question that now," Wenger said.

"At the end of the day, the Premier League will reflect the quality of the performances of the team throughout the season and how well you do in the big games.

"This is a good opportunity for us to show we are ready."

However, Wenger, who is likely to field a weakened team, is uncertain if the League Cup clash will have an impact on the Premier League title race and is unconcerned by the opinion of those who believe his side will be overhauled at the top of the standings.

"I'm not sure it will affect the Premier League at all, but you know people will look at you, how you behave and whether you can win the big games like that," Wenger said.

"What is for sure is that you want to win these sort of games. That has a certain psychological influence on the team.

"What we want to do is to show that we want to be considered as a very strong team and that comes only with the way we play and with the results, so let's just focus on that. We will absolutely go for this game."

The match pits Wenger against his old adversary Mourinho for the first time since the Chelsea boss returned to English football after spells with Real Madrid and Inter Milan.

Wenger endured a difficult relationship with Mourinho during his first stint in charge at Chelsea, but refused to be drawn into a war of words ahead of their latest clash.

"It was not a big surprise because there was talk about it many times," Wenger said of Mourinho's return.

"When he left Madrid, it looked to be one of his best opportunities to come back."

Fixtures from the English League Cup 4th Round matches on Monday 4th Round

Tuesday, October 29 (GMT)


Arsenal v Chelsea (1945)
Birmingham City(II) v Stoke City (1945)
Burnley(II) v West Ham United (1945)
Leicester City(II) v Fulham (1945)
Manchester United v Norwich City (1945)

Wednesday, October 30 (GMT)


Newcastle United v Manchester City (1945)
Tottenham Hotspur v Hull City (1945)