FA Cup: Arsenal v. Chelsea [R]

[dwinkler]

Listening to the BBC...

It's halftime, and it's Arsenal 2 Chelsea 1.

-John Terry scored in the 3rd minute.

-Henry had a controversial penalty saved by Cudicini after an alleged Jeffers dive.

-Jeffers equalized with about 10 minutes left in the half, sounded like a scramble, Freddie was in the mix.

-Henry put Arsenal ahead in 1st-half stoppage time.

Other stuff:
-Chelsea fans apparently threw coin(s) at Henry. Thierry went down but kept the evidence in his hand.

-Henry hit the post and, according to a radio commentator, should have been awarded a penalty on a challenge from Gallas.

-The PBP guy (Alan Green?) called Jeffers a "cheat."

[V Funk]

Yeah, tuned into BBC, as well....I'm very much regretting not buying it on PPV...seems well worth the $15...I really shouldn't have spent $50 on PPV boxing last weekend.

45 solid minutes to come, tho...

[dwinkler]

Seaman with a big save from JFH.

[fox point fury]

Radio certainly adds some drama to the fan's experience, especially when it cuts out from time to time.

[fox point fury]

Evil comment by the announcer re: Jeffers...

"I'm just a cinic; I saw Jeffers and I thought 'dive' and I was right."

[fox point fury]

Jeffers and Ljungberg off for Pires and Wiltord.

[dwinkler]

Originally posted by fox point fury
Jeffers and Ljungberg off for Pires and Wiltord. Because we can.

[dwinkler]

Petit and Gronkjaer off, Gudjohnsen and De Lucas on. Chelsea out of subs (Zenden for Zola earlier).

[dwinkler]

Henry off, Toure on. TH has a little knock.

It's been all Chelsea the last 5 or so minutes - we need another goal.

[vtravi]

I would love to see this end in a draw. A replay would be very exciting.

[fox point fury]

sh1t.

2-2.

you may get your wish.

[dwinkler]

Gah! Lampard puts it in off a scramble from a corner.

Arsenal 2 Chelsea 2.

[vtravi]

Gooool!! Chelsea. 2-2 this will be a great finish. What a game

[vtravi]

If there is a replay I would hope that it will be on Fox Sports World. I hate the fact that this is on PPV. At least the BBC coverage is good. I am a big Mic McCarthy fan.

[dwinkler]

GVB rips a free kick that Cudicini saves with one hand...and the full-time whistle blows.

[Clan]

One man went to mow (mow!)
Went to mow a meadow (meadow!)
One man and his dog (Spot!)
Went to mow a meadow

Two men went to mow (mow!)
Went to mow a meadow (meadow!)
Two men, one man and his dog (Spot!)
Went to mow a meadow

Three men went to mow (mow!)
Went to mow a meadow (meadow!)
Three men, two men, one man and his dog (Spot!)
Went to mow a meadow

Four men went to mow (mow!)
Went to mow a meadow (meadow!)
Four men, three men, two men, one man and his dog (Spot!)
Went to mow a meadow

Five men went to mow (mow!)
Went to mow a meadow (meadow!)
Five men, four men, three men, two men, one man and his dog (Spot!)
Went to mow a meadow

Six men went to mow (mow!)
Went to mow a meadow (meadow!)
Six men, five men, four men, three men, two men, one man and his dog (Spot!)
Went to mow a meadow

Seven men went to mow (mow!)
Went to mow a meadow (meadow!)
Seven men, six men, five men, four men, three men, two men,
One man and his dog (Spot!)
Went to mow a meadow

Eight men went to mow (mow!)
Went to mow a meadow (meadow!)
Eight men, seven men, six men, five men, four men, three men, two men,
One man and his dog (Spot!)
Went to mow a meadow

Nine men went to mow (mow!)
Went to mow a meadow (meadow!)
Nine men, eight men, seven men, six men, five men, four men, three men, two men,
One man and his dog (Spot!)
Went to mow a meadow

Everyone now stands up

Ten men went to mow (mow!)
Went to mow a meadow (meadow!)
Ten men, nine men, eight men, seven men, six men, five men, four men, three men,
Two men, one man and his dog (Spot!)
Went to mow a meadow

CHEL-SEA!!! (clap-clap-clap) CHEL-SEA (clap-clap-clap)

Great game lads.

[CDNGooner]

Very exciting game - Chelsea didn't give up and got a garbage goal but a goal is a goal. Not good for our lads - looked tired at the end. Chelsea will have the advantage in the replay methinks . . . Cudicini was fantastic.

This will also have an effect on the Euro qualifiers as the replay will be played on a Tuesday night during the England vs. Litchenstein (spelled correctly?) qualifier I think. Poor Sven.

Anyhow, we'll see what happens this Tuesday against Roma - a must win or else Arsenal is only concentrating on a double. Not panicking yet - but every 3 or 4 days - it's a huge game!

[dwinkler]

Without having read other messageboards, specifically the very busy one at Arsenal World, I bet Arsenal fans will be bitching about the double sub in the 63rd minute, where we brought on Pires and Wiltord for Jeffers and Ljungberg.

Can't comment on it, not having seen the match, but it certainly seems that Chelsea's second-half surge coincided with that change. Or maybe it was more down to their own change, De Lucas and Gudjohnsen for Petit and Gronkjaer.

[chicago_fan]

The substitutions were a bit frustrating, but hindsight is always 20/20. At the time, the only sub. that frustrated me was Toure on for Henry. This clearly unsettled the defense. Maybe AW was looking ahead to Tuesday, maybe TH had a knock, I don't know. Props to Jeffers, who seems intent to prove his case for a starting spot. With no blasphemy intended toward Dennis (lightning may strike me), FJ is starting to win me over as a partner for Henry.

One other rambling thought...I had read that Edu was huge in the ManU match, and he looked good today. He added some tenacity and resolve to the midfield (playing with RP15 helped that) and his passing is sweet to behold. Although, when he drops back to play defense, the guy absolutely freaks me out. When he's in front of his own goal, he tends to finesse the ball as if he's in the center of the park. I'm not referring specifically o Chelsea's second goal, just in general. If he would just pound it upfield, fine, but don't dribble when there's a pack of blue shirts in front of Seaman.

Chelsea played tough and as someone said, Cudicini was fantastic. Hasselbaink's performance bordered on sabotage. I wouldn't mind AW fielding the same line-up when we go to Stamford Bridge. Today's XI deserve the chance to finish the job.

[Mike Toole]

Bummed that I missed this match. Sounds like the Gunners were their usual selves (with a bit of bad luck), and Chelsea fought hard to avoid the knockout. Sounds like Cudicini earned his paycheck.

I hope I'll have time to go somewhere and watch the replay, but for now I'll worry about the Roma match...!