Nine matches into what history will soon seal off as Chelsea’s 'Abramovich Era', the new, ambitious Russian owner of the club had his first hard sight of the high standards of the league he had signed up to.
Chelsea went to the old Highbury stadium. They were beaten for the first time in the Premier League since the stunning, big-spending takeover. Arsenal’s 2-1 victory that October 2003 day, it turned out, would form part of a record-breaking 49-match unbeaten league run.
Chelsea ended the season second, Roman Abramovich’s initial tranche of player-investment having established them as a would-be superclub. Arsenal still finished 11 points clear of them, but the 2003/04 season had pivoted around several epic encounters between North and West London.
In February, Arsenal twice came back from a goal down to beat Chelsea in league and FA Cup. In the Champions League last eight, they met each other in a see-saw tie settled by a Chelsea winner in the 87th minute of the second leg.
By which time the tall, gaunt manager of Arsenal had begun to complain about how a sudden influx of new-owner wealth was disturbing the balance of English and European football.
Arsene Wenger would be repeating that line for the next decade-and-a-half, as Abramovich’s Chelsea went on to win five Premier Leagues and Arsenal were obliged to keep looking back on the 2004 title as their last.
Abramovich’s 19-year hold on Chelsea will come to an end before the beginning of next season, and possibly within what remains of this season if there is quick agreement on the sale of the club, made inevitable because of UK government sanctions against Abramovich for his links to a Russian government that has ordered its troops into Ukraine.
Wednesday’s last Chelsea-Arsenal fixture of the Abramovich Era reminds how the London hierarchy has altered over his ownership. Win at Stamford Bridge, and third-placed Chelsea would extend their lead over sixth–placed Arsenal to the same 11 points that distanced the 2003/04 English champions from the newly-enriched runners-up.
For the tall, gaunt manager now on the Chelsea bench, Thomas Tuchel, these are uncertain times. As Wenger was never shy of pointing out, Chelsea’s ownership model over the last 19 years has granted special privileges.
Abramovich has been bearing financial losses in a way that cannot be assumed of the club’s next owners, who will come from one of three business groups all interested in Chelsea’s potential to make a profit.
Pending the purchase, the club operate under government sanctions, freezing their ability to commit to new player contracts, among other restrictions.
Besides Chelsea’s edge-of-the-seat dramas on the pitch – the reaching of an FA Cup final, the extra-time elimination at Real Madrid from the Champions League quarter-final – there is suspense over the sort of squad Tuchel, assuming he remains as manager, will work with after July.
Antonio Rudiger, a pillar through Tuchel’s 15 months in charge, is out of contract this summer. Chelsea, because of sanctions and the limbo of their ownership cannot formally commit to a new deal Tuchel would urge the club to offer the German defender. Cesar Azpilicueta, the captain, may well be entering his last month wearing the captain’s armband.
Tuchel is also wary his players, fatigued after a period of high-stakes knockout assignments - in Madrid and at Wembley, where they defeated Crystal Palace 2-0 in the FA Cup - do not carry a sense of limbo into their league run-in.
Chelsea 2 Crystal Palace 0: player ratings
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CHELSEA RATINGS: Edouard Mendy 6 – Got down well to save a low effort from international teammate Kouyate. That aside, the Chelsea stopper was seldom tested. AFP -
Cesar Azpilicueta 7 – Played a vital role in Chelsea’s equaliser, dispossessing Mitchell in the final third. A solid performance from the captain, who also whipped in several teasing crosses. EPA -
Andreas Christensen 6 – looked shaky at times, especially up against the ever-dangerous Zaha. Was almost faultless in possession, however. AFP -
Antonio Rudiger 7 – While the German was often wasteful in possession, his positioning and defensive awareness was excellent overall. Led by example late on. AP -
Recce James 6 – Performed well as the third centre-back for the Blues. He frequently strayed forward into the midfield, helping to inject some much needed urgency into Chelsea’s build-up play. AP -
Jorginho 6 – Had a poor first half, slowing play down with ponderous spells of possession. The Italian was much improved in the second half, breaking the lines thanks to some piercing through balls. EPA -
Mateo Kovacic N/A – Was replaced midway through the first half after picking up an injury. EPA -
Marcos Alonso 7 – The wing-back was relatively quiet, although he did play a few dangerous crosses into the Palace box early on. Stuck to his defensive tasks very well in the final 20 minutes. AFP -
Timo Werner 9 – A man of the match display from the German, who really should have ended the game with more than one assist to his name. Caused Palace all sorts of problems with intelligent runs and crosses. Reuters -
Mason Mount 8 – Scorer of Chelsea’s second goal, slotting the ball home after a clever first touch. The England international has now scored in three successive matches for the first time. AFP -
Kai Havertz 7 – Assisted Loftus-Cheek’s opener after some tidy work down the right-hand channel. Recovered well after a dreadful first 45 minutes, where he was booked for an embarrassing dive. AFP -
SUBS: Ruben Loftus-Cheek 7 – Grabbed his first goal in over three years for the London club, driving the ball past Butland with the help of a slight deflection. After a sluggish opening hour, the strike will do his confidence the world of good. AP -
Hakim Ziyech 6 – A creative spark late on, linking up well with Werner as gaps started to appear in the Palace defence. PA -
Romelu Lukaku 5 – Missed an absolute sitter from six yards following fine work from Werner. The 28-year-old can’t seem to do anything right at the moment. AFP -
N’Golo Kante 7 – Started a handful of Chelsea counters after winning the ball back high up the pitch. AFP -
Thiago Silva N/A – Added calm at the back as Chelsea closed out the win. Reuters -
CRYSTAL PALACE RATINGS: Jack Butland 6 – Got a fingertip to Mason Mount’s goal, although he would have done very well to keep the ball out. That aside, it was a mistake-free afternoon for the stand-in keeper. AFP -
Joel Ward 5 – Struggled up against the pacy Timo Werner on the right side. He was also a little too wasteful in possession, failing to pick out teammates in good positions on the counter. EPA -
Joachim Andersen 6 – Superb for the first hour, knocking the ball around with confidence, and suppressing Chelsea’s attacks. However, a positional error for the Blues’ second goal - and a missed header from close range at the other end cost his side dearly. Getty -
Marc Guehi 8 – One of Palace’s best performers. The young defender remained composed throughout, intercepting a number of passes and through balls thanks to his excellent reading of the game. AP -
Tyrick Mitchell 5 – Lost the ball a bit too easily in his own half at times. One such instance of this led to a goal, with Cesar Azpilicueta’s tackle on the Full-back eventually leading to Chelsea’s opener. EPA -
James McArthur 5 – Came in for the cup-tied Conor Gallagher, although he did little to show that he is worthy of being a regular starter. Looked sluggish and seemed to tire late on. EPA -
Cheikhou Kouyate 6 – Dropped into a centre-back position at times, shutting off passing lanes for the opposition very effectively. Conversely, his own passing was generally quite loose. PA -
Jeffrey Schlupp 6 – Provided an excellent outlet for Palace on the break. The main issue was his end product, which, more often than not, left Wilfried Zaha very frustrated. Action Images -
Eberechi Eze 7 – Showed flashes of what he can do. The 23-year-old, fresh back from a long-term injury lay-off, troubled Andreas Christensen once or twice with his fast feet and array of skills. AFP -
Jean-Philippe Mateta 5 –Slightly anonymous today, with Zaha instead making the majority of Palace’s clever runs in behind. A game to forget for the former Mainz striker. Action Images -
Wilfried Zaha 7 – Constantly stretched Chelsea’s backline with excellent runs and industrious closing down of their centre-backs. Frustratingly, he was generally let down by poor through balls from his teammates. AFP -
SUBS: Jordan Ayew 5 – Came on for the struggling Mateta before the hour mark. Looked a little off his game with his best shooting opportunity hitting the side-netting. PA -
Michael Olise 6 – Bright in the closing stages but couldn’t quite work an opportunity for himself or a teammate from the right-wing. Getty -
Christian Benteke 6 – Didn’t quite get the aerial service he needed as Chelsea dominated late on. AFP -
Luka Milivojevic N/A – Replaced Kouyate with five minutes left to play. PA
They are five points above fourth place, so seem relatively secure in qualifying for next season’s Champions League, but too far behind the title-chasing duo, Liverpool and Manchester City, to aspire to leapfrogging them.
“It seems like things are pretty safe but things can change so, so quickly,” Tuchel said on Tuesday. “I am not sure we won’t become second or fourth [in the table]. It is a big challenge mentally and physically to dive back into the main competition, which is the Premier League.
“We will fight hard, and we have a crucial four matches in a short period, with Arsenal, West Ham, Manchester United and Everton.”
The first three of those are all in the bottleneck for fourth place, but Arsenal have slipped back in that joust after three successive defeats, the latest against Southampton at the weekend. Nor are trips to Stamford Bridge undertaken with great optimism. Since Arsenal beat Chelsea twice in that first season of the Abramovich era, they have won there only three times in 19 visits.
