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Gunners title hopes take a blow after Drogba's late double
Chelsea 2
Arsenal 1
(Premier League)
ARSENAL'S title hopes suffered a major blow on 'Grand Slam Sunday' as Didier Drogba's late double cancelled out Bacary Sagna's opener to snatch the points.
With leaders Manchester United extending their lead at the top of the table earlier in the day with a 3-0 victory over Liverpool, both teams went in to the game knowing they needed to win.
And it looked like it might be the north Londoners day, when following a goalless first half Sagna headed the Gunners in front on 59 minutes.
Drogba equalised with a low drive on 73 minutes, before firing in the winner just nine minutes later.
Robin van Persie had a couple of half chances for the visitors, although it was Drogba who should have opened the scoring when he got in behind the Arsenal defence only to misscontrol the ball.
Emmanuel Adebayor and Eboue then went close at the other end, while William Gallas hit a post from close range shortly before the break, although he had just strayed off-side in any case.
The hosts then caused a scramble in the Arsenal area as they struggled to clear their lines, and Salomon Kalou was seen wildly swinging and missing his shot with the goal at his mercy, before keeper Manuel Almunia just managed to get a toe to divert Joe Cole's dangerous low cross.
After the break Matthieu Flamini's powerfully struck volley was brilliantly saved by Carlo Cudicini.
And the Gunners finally broke the deadlock, when Sagna glanced home Cesc Fabregas's left-sided corner.
And when Michael Ballack fired wide when well placed, it seemed that Arsenal would be the ones to narrow the gap on United.
But when Gallas failed to head Juliano Belletti's long punt forward clear, Frank Lampard made the most of the space afforded him and he picked out Drogba, who smashed the ball past Almunia from the edge of the area.
Then eight minutes from time former Gunners striker Nicolas Anelka came off the bench flicked another punt forward into the path of Drogba, who coolly slotted the ball past Almunia.
Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna (Diaby 72), Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Eboue, Fabregas, Flamini (Bendtner 88), Hleb, Adebayor, Van Persie (Walcott 76).
Unused: Lehmann, Senderos.
7:57am Monday 24th March 2008
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