When this fixture was inexplicably postponed 27 hours before it
was supposed to take place last December, the Premier League was
bracing itself in the freezing temperatures for one of the
crucial title showdowns of the season.
Fast forward two-and-a-half months and the match still carried
great importance, but for only one of the two teams on show at
Stamford Bridge.
Even the most optimistic of Chelsea fans must concede that being
12 points behind Manchester United with just ten rounds of games
now left, even if they do have a game in hand, is too much to claw
back. They cannot expect Arsenal to implode too.
So it is Arsenal who were the biggest winners just 48 hours
after they were Carling Cup final losers.
Few could have predicted the turn of events when the two teams
went in at the break. United had been superb for all but the first
ten minutes of the match, with Paul Scholes pulling the strings as
he always seems to do with consummate ease, Wayne Rooney bustling
and bruising his way up top and Edwin van der Sar proving his
timeless quality when called upon in goal.
Rooney's superbly struck opener was symptomatic of Chelsea's
problems, as he turned unopposed from Nani's short pass to fire
home his first Premier League goal from outside the area since
scoring against Newcastle over three years ago.
Maybe it was left to John Terry to deliver a Scott Parker-style
Churchillian address to his team-mates but, whatever was said in
the changing room at the break, it worked as Chelsea were a
different team in the second period.
Carlo Ancelotti sent his team back out playing with speed.
Whereas before the break the Blues were ponderous both on the ball
and off it, after it they were reinvigorated.
For those who had written Chelsea off as a spent force with no
desire or team spirit, it was a 45 minutes which belied those
accusations. It was a half of true character, grit and
determination - but also of quality. It was no shock when the
leveller came nine minutes after the break.
What was more of a surprise was the sight of defenders Branislav
Ivanovic and David Luiz as the only two players in the box as
Michael Essien lofted a ball towards goal. Ivanovic helped the ball
on and Luiz fired home what will surely be the first of many in the
Premier League.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson was fuming at the performance of
referee Martin Atkinson after the match, and there's little doubt
that Luiz should not have been on the pitch at the end of the game.
His deliberate blocking of Rooney was the most serious of his
offences when already on a yellow - but some will point out that
Rooney should not even have been playing following his own
(unpunished) indiscretion against Wigan at the weekend.
When the winner came it was unfortunate for Chris Smalling, a
signing which left many United fans scratching their heads 12
months ago but which now looks like a sound investment for the
future. Yuri Zhirkov exposed his naivety in winning the penalty
which would down United after popping the ball between his legs -
but for Smalling there will be greater days to come.
In the end, Nemanja Vidic received what seemed to be a certain
red card for someone, as the tackles flew in - especially with
referee Atkinson having handed out the most red cards in the
Premier League so far this season. Vidic had walked the tightrope
since being booked on the stroke of half-time, and his foul on
Ramires in the 93rd minute was one too many.
Ancelotti may refuse to accept defeat in the quest to keep hold
of his Premier League crown, but at least Chelsea are back in the
Champions League qualifying places. With United travelling to Kenny
Dalglish's Liverpool 24 hours after Arsenal entertain Sunderland on
Saturday, it is odds-on that they will have to win at Anfield to
keep their cushion over Arsene Wenger's men. That said, Arsenal's
game in hand is away at their own arch-rivals, Tottenham, on
Wednesday, April 20.
The crunch will surely come on Sunday, May 1 at Emirates Stadium
when Manchester United visit the capital. For now, it's another
side from across London who have had the greatest say in the title
race.