The first game between Chelsea and Arsenal following Ashley Cole’s acrimonious defection from north London to Stamford Bridge was always going to bring some theatrics.

The Arsenal fans had manufactured their own brand of money in the form of “Cashley Cole” twenty pound notes. Even some of the players had stoked the fire in the build up to the game with Lehmann saying that Cole deserve all the abuse that the fans could throw at him.

The game was full of incident and action with Ashley Cole being booed with every touch. Chelsea hit the woodwork twice and could have had a penalty when Drogba went down under a challenge from Senderos. Lehmann thought the African had dived and gently pushed Drogba who promptly fell to the ground in true panto tradition but when there was no reaction from them referee he ran toward Lehmann and belly charged him causing the German to give his own attempt at pantomime acting, which resulted in a yellow card for both of them.

Arsenal took the lead in a well worked move down the right flank between Hleb and Flamini which resulted in a well struck finish from Flamini to the left of a diving Hilario, who could have done better had he not elected to punch the shot.

The home side were not behind for long, Cole appeared to foul Hleb as he dispossessed him in the move that led to the Blues goal. Cole gave the ball to Lampard who rolled a pass into the path of Essien who struck a thunderbolt from at least 30 yards curling in to the top corner past an infuriated Jens Lehmann.

Chelsea had two opportunities to take the lead and close the gap on league leaders Manchester United. The first saw Essien smash the bar from three yards when it would have been easier score. The second came as Lehmann spilled a shot and Frank Lampard pounced only to see his attempt pushed on to the post by the out stretched leg of Flamini.