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Essien blast saves Chelsea record

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Michael Essien's explosive swerving shot from well outside the penalty area enabled Chelsea to preserve their long unbeaten home league run by drawing 1-1 at home to London rivals Arsenal.

Essien's 84th minute drive canceled out a 77th minute goal from Mathieu Flamini which threatened to inflict Chelsea's first home league defeat in 52 outings at Stamford Bridge.

The result will have given pleasure to Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, whose side tops the Premier League with an eight point lead over second placed Chelsea, who now have only one match in hand, against Newcastle on Wednesday.

Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho was anxious to boost his side after they had been held by their neighbors.

"Ferguson, I think he must be happy now as we dropped two points but if he thinks it's over he's in trouble," Mourinho declared.

He praised his side's feisty reaction after Flamini had put the Gunners ahead.

"After their goal we had a great emotional reaction. Losing at home with minutes to go, it was an incredible reaction. Essien's goal was unbelievable."

Chelsea had kicked off trailing in Manchester United's slipstream after their title rivals extended their unbeaten run to 12 matches on Saturday.

So the onus was on Mourinho's men to take the game to Arsenal and Michael Ballack did just that as he flashed a powerful drive just wide in the 15th minute.

With William Gallas ruled out of a return to his former club with a thigh injury and fellow center-back Kolo Toure suspended, Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger was forced to pair the relatively inexperienced Philippe Senderos and Johan Djourou at the heart ofdefensefence.

Chelsea were quick to try to exploit that perceived weak spot and Frank Lampard nearly punished sloppy defending in the 17th minute.

Drogba flicked on Geremi's long throw and, as Arsenal's back four dithered, Lampard drove a shot into the turf that cannoned off a post before being scrambled clear.

Toothless

Thierry Henry's absence through injury left Arsenal toothless up front and Robin van Persie had their only worthwhile attempt of the first half when his long range shot skimmed narrowly past a post.

The most intriguing sub-plot of the day was how Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole would fare against the club he left so bitterly in August.

Cole spent eight years with Arsenal before falling out with the club's directors over their failure to meet his contract demands.

The England star's decision to turn his back on Arsenal still rankles with Gunners fans, who waved bunches of fake English pound notes with Cole's face printed on and taunted him throughout the match.

To their obvious delight Cole was booked midway through the first half for a rash lunge on Aleksandr Hleb.

In such a fiercely fought contest genuine chances were always likely to be at a premium and Essien squandered one of the few opportunities of the opening 45 minutes.

Geremi surged into the penalty area and, when his cross was only half-cleared by Senderos, Essien could only scuff his shot over the bar from no more than 12 yards.

Lehmann almost gifted Chelsea a goal just before the break when he fumbled Lampard's corner and Essien fired in a shot that Fabregas cleared off the line.

Mourinho was visibly frustrated by Chelsea's failure to breakdown Arsenal's youthful defense and he sent on wingers Arjen Robben and Shaun Wright-Phillips in an attempt to breathe new life into his increasingly moribund attack.

In fact Senderos created Chelsea's next chance for them with a careless pass that was intercepted by Robben. The Dutch winger raced into the area, but Lehmann blocked his shot and Gilberto Silva hooked the rebound to safety.

Niggling exchanges

There was no shortage of niggling exchanges and just past the hour Jens Lehmann and Drogba engaged in some pushing, shoving and theatrical diving which earned both players a booking.

Chelsea had made all the running without making the decisive breakthrough and Flamini made them pay in the 77th minute.

Van Persie sprayed a pass wide to Hleb, who whipped in a low cross to Flamini. The French midfielder was unmarked and fired a low first-time shot that Hilario reached but could not stop.

But Chelsea refused to accept defeat and Essien rescued a point for the champions in the 84th minute with a ferocious strike that gave Lehmann no chance.

They could even have won it in stoppage time but Essien's shot cannoned off the bar and then Lampard hit the post with virtually the last kick of the game.


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Chelsea goalkeeper Hilario is beaten by Flamini's 77th minute shot.

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