With 10 points separating the top 2 sides of the Barclays Premier League, Arsenal and Chelsea will go head to head this weekend. While a win for Chelsea would enshrine their name on the Premier League trophy, a win for Arsenal might not be enough for the Gunners to outwit Chelsea this late in the title race. Thus, with little to lose and everything to gain for Chelsea, this match will shed light on the home-coming Cesc Fabregas. While this isn’t the first time that a former top Arsenal player will be playing at the Emirates, this might be the perfect time for Arsenal to settle their scores with Chelsea.
Here are 5 players who played for both sides: –
Cesc Fabregas
Being a dispensable member of the Arsenal squad that was revered as INVINCIBLE in the early 21st Century, Fabregas gone on to become one of the best players for Arsenal in the last decade. Being an important part of the Arsenal squad for 8 long years, Fabregas was awarded the Captain’s armband in 2008. However, like most of the players around him in the first decade of 21st century, Fabregas then took a long drive to Barcelona before returning back to London. He is currently the top assist-maker for Chelsea this season with 16 assists to his name.
Ashley Cole
While there are many important players that became turn-coats for Arsenal, Ashley Cole would be among the top 3 that are hated the most by the Arsenal folklore. Turning down a contract renewal offer worth 55,000 pounds per week in the summer of 2006, Cole than swapped his red shirt with a blue one as he joined Chelsea. While he had already won 2 Premier League titles with Arsenal, he added to his collection playing for Chelsea with a Champions League title in 2012-13.
William Gallas
Although the aforementioned players devise a route going from the Emirates to Stamford Bridge, Gallas devised a new route for his own as he left Chelsea to join Arsenal. After being one of the earlier signings of Roman Abrahimovic record breaking era at Chelsea, Gallas went on to make 159-appearances for the Blues in his 5 year spell. In a deal in which Arsenal got Ashley Cole for William Gallas, Gallas went on to become an important member for the Gunners in his 4-year-spell at the Emirates.
Lassana Diarra
Not a player who became a household name for either of the clubs, Diarra spent a total of 2 years in London before eventually leaving for Portsmouth. While his main position was a defending midfielder, both Arsenal as well as Chelsea were unable to offer him confirmed game-time. He later went on to become a part of the Real Madrid side that won the LA Liga in 2011-12.
Nikolas Anelka
For a player who became a pedigree anywhere he went during his long and illustrious career, Anelka’s career at both the London clubs is no different. After coming through the youth ranks of Paris Saint Germain in 1996, Anelka joined Arsenal on a fee of 500,000 pounds. After scoring 28 goals in 93 appearances for the Gunners, Anelka signed for Real Madrid with a price tag worth 22million pounds. He later came back to London, but instead of shaking hands with his former employers Arsenal, he joined Chelsea for 15million pounds in 2008.
Arsenal vs Chelsea: 5 players who played for both sides
No comments:
Post a Comment