John Terry and Chelsea's nightmare week was complete
as his slip and a Robin van Persie hat-trick handed
Arsenal an amazing victory in an absolute classic at
Stamford Bridge.
Terry looked set to enjoy some respite from the Football
Association and police probes into allegations he racially
abused QPR's Anton Ferdinand when he gave the Blues
a 2-1 half-time lead.
But the Gunners staged a sensational second-half comeback
to turn the game on its head and, though Juan Mata equalised
at 3-3, Terry's mistake allowed Van Persie to make it
4-3 before the Dutchman completed his treble in stoppage
time.
It handed the visitors their first Premier League away
win since April and left Chelsea six points behind leaders
Manchester City having played a game more.
That piled on the misery for the Blues, who have been
under siege in the past week, which saw them hit by
a humiliating defeat at QPR, three more red cards, the
Terry racism storm, two - potentially three - Football
Association fines and a supporter revolt over their
stadium plans.
Fan reaction to Terry - who categorically denies racially
abusing Ferdinand - was predictable on what his first
public appearance since the allegations emerged.
There were cheers from the Chelsea faithful - whose
posters included messages like 'JT is not racist' and
'Captain, Leader, Legend' - and jeers and abuse from
the Arsenal contingent, who ridiculed him over his current
travails.
But both sets of supporters were soon transfixed by
a feast of attacking football.
After Ashley Cole twice got in behind the visitors'
defence, Chelsea really should have scored when three
of their players beat the Gunners' offside trap but
Daniel Sturridge somehow sent his cross straight at
Wojciech Szczesny.
The home side also looked vulnerable and Gervinho somehow
scuffed a tap-in wide after Theo Walcott surged past
Cole. The Arsenal winger also picked out captain Van
Persie, who volleyed over.
It was the Arsenal defence which buckled first after
14 minutes, the outstanding Mata teasing Van Persie
and swinging in a right-wing cross which the unmarked
Frank Lampard stooped to head home.
Van Persie was robbed after again getting in behind
before the goalmouth action finally relented until the
29th minute, when Lampard's flighted ball put Sturridge
clean through but the forward got his left-footed finish
all wrong.
And Arsenal made him pay seven minutes later when they
equalised with the kind of goal they are all too often
accused of trying to score.
Ramsey picked out Gervinho's brilliant run and the Ivory
Coast striker drew Petr Cech and squared for Van Persie
to slot into an empty net.
Sturridge thought he had put Chelsea back in front four
minutes before the break but he was rightly ruled offside
poking home Ramires' cross.
But they were gifted the lead on the stroke of half-time
through Terry, of all people, who got in front of Per
Mertesacker to cushion Lampard's corner in off the post
right in front of the Arsenal fans.
Every one of Terry's outfield team-mates joined in the
celebrations with their skipper, who appeared to swear
at the away support in response to their goading.
Incredibly, the tables turned within 10 minutes of the
restart as Arsenal scored twice to take the lead and
Szczesny avoided what looked a certain red card.
Van Persie and Ramsey both missed chances to level inside
a minute but Andre Santos did three minutes later when
his superb first touch onto Gervinho's ball gave him
time to send a strike through Cech's legs and into the
net.
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