Arsenal and Chelsea are the hardest of London’s rivals.
Certain, they’ve a standard enemy Tottenham that they could need to beat greater than anybody else, however powerful rivals nonetheless.
Each golf equipment are steeped in historical past – Chelsea’s extra trendy than Arsenal’s and each are at all times within the dialog on the subject of who has the perfect gamers within the Premier League. Not solely do they maintain the perfect expertise, they typically play a little bit of swap – with a variety of gamers crossing the London Hole, particularly late.
Right here, 90 minutes seems to be at those that have represented each this century – clearly ranked by success.
Yossi Benayoun | Phil Cole / Getty Photographs
The indisputable fact that Yossi Benayoun is the worst instance we are able to offer you says rather a lot. Not at all a unhealthy participant, Benayoun spent only one season at every membership, beginning with Chelsea in 2010 earlier than becoming a member of the Gunners on mortgage.
Israelism was strong with out being spectacular and his finest days within the Premier League had been saved for West Ham and Liverpool, nonetheless, gladly bear in mind.
Lassana Diarra | Ryan Pierse / Getty Photographs
Tipped for wonderful issues as soon as upon a time, issues really turned out fairly unhealthy for Diarra throughout his time at each Arsenal and Chelsea.
The French defensive midfielder solely performed a dozen occasions in three seasons underneath Jose Mourinho and didn’t do significantly better when he joined the Gunners in 2007, the place he didn’t do significantly better.
Completed at Actual Madrid by way of Portsmouth and left him with certainly one of the strangest profession episodes on Wikipedia.
Emmanuel Petit and Chelsea | Mike Hewitt / Getty Photographs
Petit joined Arsenal in 1997 and received the Premier League and FA Cup doubles in his first season. His glorious kind continued till the summer season of 1998 and scored the third objective in a 3-0 victory towards Brazil within the World Cup closing. You can be arduous pressed to not name it “fairly sensible”.
The French midfielder moved to Barcelona in 2000, earlier than becoming a member of Chelsea subsequent season. Petit – recognized for his lush blonde curls – performed over 50 video games for the Blues earlier than saying his retirement in 2004.
Gallas’ attention-grabbing shirt quantity for Arsenal acquired the headlines | Phil Cole / Getty Photographs
The versatile defender Gallas joined Chelsea in 2001 and was a part of the membership’s renaissance underneath Jose Mourinho, serving to them to 2 Premier League titles.
He moved to Arsenal in 2006 a deal that – extra famously – noticed Ashley Cole go in the wrong way.
Nonetheless, it was not potential to plan for the Frenchman, and he didn’t handle to win a trophy throughout his 4 years on the membership. In all probability his most notable second got here when he sat and stroked the sector after the title problem led to 2008.
Willian signed a three-year take care of Arsenal within the summer season of 2020 | Visionhaus / Getty Photographs
Willian loved a really profitable seven-year stint at Chelsea, lifting medals from the Premier League, FA Cup and Europa League.
A constant practitioner, the Brazilian was typically referred to as upon in the largest video games, and he hardly ever let down the group of bosses who guided him down a Stamford Bridge.
Bizarrely, his love affair with the membership ended with a bumper payday journey to Arsenal.
Anelka had success at each golf equipment throughout her lengthy membership time Julian Finney / Getty Photographs
Anelka was certainly one of Arsene Wenger’s first acquisitions at Arsenal, and he struck out once they received the Premier League inside three months of becoming a member of.
Two years later, the suitably dubbed ‘Le Sulk’ was off in Europe with spells at Actual Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool, Manchester Metropolis, Fenerbahce and even Bolton earlier than becoming a member of Chelsea in 2008.
His most efficient season in a Blues jersey got here in 2009/10, when he scored 11 targets and produced ten assists with Didier Drogba to assist the Blues carry the Premier League title underneath Carlo Ancelotti.
David Luiz has at all times shared an opinion | KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV / Getty Photographs
Luiz left Chelsea for Arsenal final summer season after new head coach – and former teammate – Frank Lampard made it clear that the Brazilian was not a part of his long-term plans.
Though he shared the opinion at nearly each stage of his profession with some grit screens blended with some actually stunning days out, his resume is sort of polished.
Capped 56 occasions by Brazil, he spent a whole of six and a half years at Chelsea, successful the Premier League, Champions League, two Europa League and two FA Cups. He then went to north London and tried to revive Arsenal to its former glory (it has not labored).
Olivier Giroud has at all times been one of the crucial underrated strikers in Europe Catherine Ivill / Getty Photographs
World Cup-winning Frenchman Giroud joined Arsenal in 2012, the place he performed 253 for the membership and scored 105 targets.
Though he struggled to nail down a daily beginning spot, Giroud at all times delivered when he was referred to as up and has scored among the greatest Premier League targets in current reminiscence.
If that wasn’t sufficient, he went to Chelsea with the expectation of filling the “skilled backup function” in 2018 – however rapidly grew to become far more influential, regardless that he stepped up from the bench.
Cesc Fabregas has by no means actually been forgiven by Gunners’ devoted Shaun Botterill / Getty Photographs
The Spanish sensation Fabregas joined Arsenal as a boy and grew to become a bona fide membership legend – threw pizza, placed on help after help and captain on the facet earlier than going to Camp Nou in 2011.
After struggling to determine himself in Barcelona’s midfield, he angered Arsenal followers by becoming a member of Chelsea three years later. Nonetheless, he was in a position to swim at Stamford Bridge; when he performed vital inventive roles in two Premier League titles underneath Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte.
Ashley Cole simply misses high spot Ian Walton / Getty Photographs
Ashley Cole grew to become the most effective defenders in world soccer at Arsenal and was a part of the well-known “Invincibles” facet in 2003/04.
An England common at main tournaments for a number of years, “Cashley”, as he grew to become recognized, then did the unthinkable and joined the bitter rivals Chelsea in 2006 to hook up with Mourinho at Stamford Bridge.
He flourished on the Blues and received one other Premier League, 4 FA Cups and the Champions League – and made a penalty within the penalty shootout that determined the latter.
Cech is a legend of the Premier League | Mike Hewitt / Getty Photographs
Considered one of the best goalkeepers in Premier League historical past, Cech spent 11 wonderful years as a blue – and no goalkeeper has stored extra Premier League clear sheets in a single season than the 24 that Cech managed in the course of the 2004/05 successful season.
Cech was a part of 4 Premier League titles, 5 FA Cups – together with one at Arsenal – and the well-known Champions League victory over Bayern Munich in 2012, the place he saved essential penalties to safe the Blues’ maiden European crown.
