On this day: Chelsea extend Premier League advantage with Arsenal win

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 18 December 2014

On this day in 2005, Chelsea went nine points clear at the top of the Premier League table with a 2-0 victory over Arsenal at Highbury.

After his club had dominated the Premier League during his opening campaign in England, boss Jose Mourinho somehow managed to discover a way to improve a well-oiled Chelsea side in preparation for their title defence. Just the three arrivals arrived at Stamford Bridge, but Asier del Horno, Michael Essien and Shaun Wright-Phillips all strengthened the options available to the Portuguese coach.

Mourinho would have predicted a strong start to the campaign but 14 victories from 16 top-flight fixtures would have been beyond his expectations, and it was in sharp contrast to an Arsenal side who were beginning to lose their way. Five defeats had left the Gunners in eighth place in the standings, as well as 17 points adrift of Chelsea, and when the two clubs met at Highbury on this day in 2005, victory was a must if Arsene Wenger's outfit were going to give themselves any chance of a challenge at the top of the table.

The opening exchanges went on current form as Chelsea gained a foothold in proceedings but despite chances falling the way of Joe Cole, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba, the Blues were unable to break the deadlock and that only encouraged Arsenal who, while under pressure to deliver three points, could play with a sense of freedom knowing that they were playing a side who were in top gear.

Their first opportunity arrived shortly after the quarter-hour mark when Alexander Hleb, who had been brought in from Stuttgart in the summer, provided the assist for Thierry Henry, but despite the Frenchman getting the better of Ricardo Carvalho, his flick past Petr Cech struck the post and rebounded clear.

Arjen Robben of Chelsea slides the ball into the goal as Jens Lehmann and Sol Campbell of Arsenal can only look on during the Barclays Premiership match on December 18, 2005 © Getty Images

The home side could feel aggrieved not to have taken the lead shortly afterwards when Robin van Persie converted a Freddie Ljungberg pass into the net but the effort was wrongly ruled out for offside. The Dutchman was clearly onside, but the assistant opted to raise his flag due to Henry, who should have been deemed inactive, walking back from an offside position.

That decision proved costly for the Gunners as seven minutes before half time, Chelsea went ahead. Drogba slid the ball through to the advancing Arjen Robben, who kept his composure to drive the ball into the far corner from eight yards for just his second league goal of the season.

When the two sides returned for the second half, Arsenal needed a response and despite chances drying up for their frontmen, full-back Lauren was able to test Cech with a ferocious drive after fending off pressure from Paulo Ferreira.

Arsenal's insistence on ploughing forward with still over 30 minutes remaining left gaps in their defence which Chelsea's pacey attack were able to exploit, and after Robben had squandered a couple of opportunities to net his second, the Blues finally extended their lead to all but confirm victory in North London.

Didier Drogba of Chelsea holds back Philippe Senderos of Arsenal during the Barclays Premiership match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Highbury on December 18, 2005 © Getty Images

There appeared to be little danger when Lauren had possession of the ball at left-back, but after losing out to Cole, the England winger advanced towards goal before cutting inside onto his left foot to drive the ball in off the post from 20 yards.

With Chelsea failing to defeat Arsenal in a league fixture at Highbury since 1990, the strike sparked mass celebrations in the away end and although the hosts had chances to halve the deficit and cause a frantic conclusion, Mourinho's men were able to hold on to their 2-0 advantage to move 20 points clear of their London rivals in the table.

Chelsea followed up the triumph with another eight games without defeat to remain in control of the title race, and although they slipped to back-to-back defeats in May, they were still able to win their second Premier League crown after seeing off the challenge of Manchester United by eight points.

As for Arsenal, their inconsistency continued throughout the winter but eight victories from their final 11 matches proved enough to edge out Tottenham Hotspur for the final Champions League place as they waved goodbye to Highbury for the last time with a 4-2 win over Wigan Athletic.