Gunners triumph at Bridge

30th November 2008

Robin van Persie put Arsenal back into the Barclays Premier League title race with a superb second-half double in a 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge.

Van Persie struck twice in three minutes after the Blues had taken a first-half lead through a fortuitous Johan Djourou own goal.

But while the Dutch striker's second goal was sheer class, his equaliser was clearly scored from an offside position.

Chelsea went ahead in the 29th minute. Manuel Almunia threw the ball straight to Jose Bosingwa. The Portugal right-back had exchanged passes with Nicolas Anelka, he sent over a dangerous cross that Djourou could only turn into his own net.

But Arsenal turned the game on its head with two goals in three minutes. The first was a controversial one as van Persie was clearly offside when Denilson found him on the edge of the penalty area. But with no whistle from referee Mike Dean, the Arsenal midfielder fired home a 59th-minute equaliser.

Three minutes later the Dutchman put Arsenal ahead. There seemed little danger as van Persie shielded the ball on the edge of the penalty area with his back to goal. But a superb shot on the turn sent the ball through the legs of Frank Lampard and beyond the surprised Petr Cech to earn the Gunners a much-needed win.