Memory Match: Chelsea v Arsenal, 22 March 2014

Chelsea: celebrate Andre Schurrle's goal

Chelsea: Celebrate Andre Schurrle's goal

In the first of a new feature, we look back at a memorable match on this day in history. First up, is Chelsea’s humbling of Arsenal at Stamford Bridge from two years ago.

Chelsea 6 Arsenal 0

Arsene Wenger’s 1,000th game in charge of Arsenal turned out to be an occasion to forget for the Frenchman as his 10-man team were crushed 6-0 by on-song Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Arsenal were two behind after seven minutes, with first Samuel Eto’o and then Andre Schurrle benefiting from clinical Chelsea counter-attacking.

The Gunners’ task then became next to impossible when Kieran Gibbs was red carded for a handball, though it was a case of mistaken identity with the offence actually being committed by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Eden Hazard then converted from the spot to make it 3-0.

Oscar scored twice either side of the interval before substitute Mohamed Salah inflicted more pain on the Gunners with a sixth.

The result was to be former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho’s biggest Premier League victory as manager at the club and also the first time in the club’s history that they had scored six times against their London rivals.

Teams

Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Terry, Cahill, Azpilicueta, Luiz, Matic, Schurrle, Oscar, Hazard, Eto’o.

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Rosicky, Arterta, Cazorla, Podolski, Giroud.

 

What they said

Kieran Gibbs: Incorrectly sent off at Chelsea in 2014

Wenger described the loss as one of the worst days in his career.

“This is my fault,” said Wenger after his 1,000th game in charge of the club.

“We got a good hiding. You don’t prepare all week to experience that.”

“I don’t think there’s too much need to talk about the mistakes we made.

“It’s how we respond now on Tuesday night [against Swansea] and the best way is not to explain too much the mistakes.”

Mourinho was not available for comment after the match, having “left early to tell his wife the score”.

In the following days, however, he was asked if he felt for Wenger for having been made to suffer such a humbling on his landmark game.

“Sorry for what? That’s football. I just play the matches the way they have to be played. If you can win 5-0, you don’t win 4-0.”

Referee Andre Marriner later apologised for sending off Gibbs by mistake.

A statement released by the Referees’ body the Professional Game Match Officials Limited read: “Incidents of mistaken identity are very rare and are often the result of a number of different technical factors.

“Whilst this was a difficult decision, Andre is disappointed that he failed to identify the correct player.

“He expressed his disappointment to Arsenal when he was made aware of the issue.”