Wenger endures 1000th game horror-show

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Arsene Wenger's 1000th game in charge of Arsenal will be remembered only for the way in which his side was effectively knocked out of the title race by a rampant Chelsea.

The Frenchman's big day got off to the worst possible start as goals from Samuel Eto'o and Andre Schurrle inside the first seven minutes gave Chelsea a seemingly unassailable lead even that early on.

And his day was made even worse when a case of mistaken identity saw Kieran Gibbs mistakenly sent off - after Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain deliberately hand-balled to turn aside an Eden Hazard effort just after the quarter-hour mark.

Hazard converted from the spot with consummate ease, before Oscar handed José Mourinho's side a fourth goal with half-time looming after excellent work by substitute Fernando Torres.

The Brazilian then added his second with 66 minutes played, before January signing Mohamed Salah notched his first strike for the club when he ran through one-on-one.

A 6-0 score at full-time does not flatter Chelsea, who simply tore their opponents to shreds. Many will point to the dismissal of Gibbs after just seventeen minutes as a turning point, but the Blues had already amassed a two-goal lead by that point and the signs were evident even at that stage that this could be another heavy defeat for the visitors.

Thumped 6-3 by Manchester City and more recently suffering a 5-1 reverse at Anfield, another capitulation here demonstrates that Arsenal are still some way from a prolonged title challenge. Five points clear at the top of the league in November, the Gunners now sit a hefty seven points adrift of table-topping Chelsea.

For the Blues, this represents a massive win over another title rival, but on a day acknowledging Wenger's considerable contribution to English football, it comes as little surprise that party-pooper supreme Mourinho should rain on the Frenchman's parade. This result is the Special One's biggest-ever win in charge of Chelsea, surpassing the 6-1 thrashing of Macclesfield Town in 2007.

Most importantly, however, is the fact the Blues have considerably caught up with the goal differences of Manchester City and Liverpool. Their return of +39 is now just two shy of Brendan Rodger's men, whilst City sit just ahead of both sides with a difference of +44. In a season of tight margins, goal difference may well prove decisive.

For Mourinho, a man usually incredibly cautious in big matches, the start his side produced may have felt like something of a dream - but the Portuguese is indebted to Petr Cech for a fabulous early save from Olivier Giroud's goalbound effort.

It was in just the fifth minute when Eto'o picked the ball up, cutting inside the full-back before deliciously threading the ball high beyond Wojciech Szczesny.

Just 133 seconds later, Schurrle had powered forward and hit an equally sumptuous strike into the bottom corner. Benefiting from a typically swift Chelsea counter, the German opted to shoot early from the edge of the box, and by the time Szczesny - his vision impaired by a sea of bodies - realised the danger, the ball was nestling in the net.

Celebrations were muted by a muscle injury sustained by Eto'o, but the Cameroonian, applauded off the pitch for his 11th goal of the season, thankfully emerged in the second half and took up a position in the dugout alongside his manager.

Fernando Torres entered the fray in his place, but rather than the enforced change affecting the Blues' attacking mentality, through the industry of the Spanish forward the intensity actually only increased - and it was not long before the score was 3-0.

Hazard stroked home his sixteenth goal of the season from the penalty spot after his shot was palmed away off the line, yet not by Szczesny, but rather by Oxlade-Chamberlain. After a moment's consideration, referee Andre Marriner correctly awarded the spot-kick before accidentally dismissing the wrong man.

With Arsenal in disarray and staring down the barrel of yet another hammering at the hands of a title rival, Oscar added salt into already gaping wounds when he capitalised on excellent wing play from Torres to lash high beyond the goalkeeper. A half-time score of 4-0 flattered the visitors.

Playing for pride, Arsenal emerged after the break with remarkable vigour, but it seemed only a matter of time before the Blues' bloodlust paid dividends. Oscar was again the beneficiary as he fired home a shot that squirmed under the hands of Szczesny with 66 on the clock. The Poland international, deceived by the bounce, really ought to have made the save.

Five minutes later things turned from bad to worse to even worse for the visitors as Salah, intelligently arcing his run, converted when one-on-one with the goalkeeper to complete the rout with aplomb. The Egyptian's first goal for the club, in just his fourth substitute appearance, is a positive indicator of the former Basel man's quality.

After first Tuesday's win over Galatasaray and now this - Chelsea's biggest ever win over Arsenal - confidence will be sky high at Cobham on Monday morning. For Arsenal, contrastingly, the title, which may never have realistically been in reach anyway, is now almost definitely too big an ask.

There will most definitely be no on-the-pitch selfie from Szczesny today.

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[BlueLion. 21,491]

For some reason none of the links are working! Can't be arsed re-doing them though

[Strike 7,492]

+1 for the thread title

[BlueLion. 21,491]

+1 for the thread title

I wanted to say "Abysmal Arsenal absolutely anally annihilated" but thought that might be a bit OTT

[Spike 12,049]

Who gives a fuck about the links?

6-0

6-0

6-0

6-0

6-0

6-0

CHELSEA CHELSEA CHELSEA
CHELSEA CHELSEA CHELSEA

[bluephoenix 1,131]

Title did all the talking, could that be the shortest article you wrote.

[Laylabelle 9,536]

Tehehehehehe he got to enjoy it for a short while at least

Just read some article..Daily Mail says it all.How neither Jose or JT mentioned Wengers 1000th game in their notes....wtf why would they?!?!

6.0 :D :D

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Title did all the talking, could that be the shortest article you wrote.

Possibly. I'm trying to make them more concise - match reports should be sharp and to-the-point rather than be too analytical!

[Jase 43,479]

I wanted to say "Abysmal Arsenal absolutely anally annihilated" but thought that might be a bit OTT

It should probably be 'Wnger endures 1000th game obliteration'..

[Fulham Broadway 17,333]

Nice one alex:

Still think it should read " Arsenes Arsenal have new Arsehole Ripped Asunder"