Arsenal Forget To Pay Linesnman Shock

The Goners were knocked out of the Carling Cup by Burnley last night, losing 2-0.
The only possible reason is that they forgot to pay off the linesman or referee, or both, as is their custom.
Blame the accounts dept.

Chelsea 1 Arsenal 2

Arsenal striker Robin van Persie put Arsenal back into the Premier League title race with a superb second-half double to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Van Persie struck twice in three minutes after the Blues had taken a first-half lead through a fortuitous Johan Djourou own goal. But while the Dutch striker's second goal was sheer class, his equaliser was clearly scored from an offside position.
Chelsea remain top on goal difference from Liverpool but the Merseysiders will replace them if they get at least a point from their home clash with West Ham on Monday night. The victory helped Arsenal to move back into the top four and cut the gap between them and Chelsea to seven points.
There was no hint of an Arsenal revival after a first half which saw them largely outplayed by the league leaders. Arsenal's season, dogged by dressing-room unrest and five league defeats, looked in danger of imploding completely.
The opening 45 minutes was typically frenetic for a London derby and although Chelsea started brightly, the visitors almost snatched the lead in the 13th minute. A cross to the far post from Emmanuel Adebayor was expertly controlled by Samir Nasri at the far post. His drilled shot was only kept out by the outstretched arm of the giant Petr Cech in the Chelsea goal.
But Chelsea weathered Arsenal's early fire and almost opened the scoring themselves in the 23rd minute when a cross from Jose Bosingwa was met by the unmarked Frank Lampard. The England midfielder sent his header goalwards only for Manuel Almunia to grasp it with both hands.
But Chelsea went ahead in the 29th minute thanks to some comedy football from Arsenal. Almunia threw the ball straight to Bosingwa and when the Portugal right-back had exchanged passes with Nicolas Anelka, he sent over a dangerous low cross that Djourou could only turn into his own net from six yards. But the first portent of an Arsenal revival arrived in the 32nd minute when Van Persie forced Cech into another fine save after the Arsenal midfielder had got the better of Branislav Ivanovic and unleashed a low drive towards the bottom corner.
Arsenal could have gone further behind five minutes before the interval but Almunia denied Salomon Kalou after Lampard's audacious flicked header had put him clear. He was given offside but subsequent replays showed that he wsan't.
Chelsea had not conceded a second-half goal all season and so any chance of an Arsenal fightback was deemed remote at best.
The home side should have gone two in front four minutes after the restart but Lampard saw his shot flash just wide of Almunia's left-hand upright. It was the last Chelsea attempt before Arsenal, against all the odds, turned the game on its head with two goals in three minutes.
The first was a controversial one as Van Persie was clearly yards offside when Denilson found him on the edge of the penalty area. But with no whistle from referee Mike Dean, the Arsenal midfielder smashed the ball into the net for a 59th-minute equaliser.
Three minutes later the Dutchman put Arsenal in front. There seemed little danger as Van Persie shielded the ball on the edge of the penalty area with his back to Cech's goal. But a superb shot on the turn sent the ball through the legs of Lampard and beyond the surprised Cech and into the bottom corner to the delight of the Arsenal fans. It was his ninth of the season.
Chelsea were stunned but the introductions of both Florent Malouda and Miroslav Stoch in place of John Obi Mikel and Deco, proved fruitless for Luiz Felipe Scolari.
Chelsea have not won at home now for three games and the flowing football that allowed them to destroy Sunderland 5-0 at the start of the month has deserted them.
Scolari's side ran out of ideas as the game wore on and even when they fashioned a rare chance to get back in the game, it was squandered by poor finishing. Malouda sent a shot high into the crowd with four minutes remaining when the Frenchman should have at least hit the target. Arsenal were clearly in no mood to allow Chelsea to get back in the game and despite a spell of injury-time pressure, Wenger's side clung on to defy the critics and keep themselves in the hunt for the title.
So, well done officials. Two key mistakes in one game, both favouring the Goners. Yes, only one 'o'. Well, they're not called 'Lucky' Arsenal for nothing.
When will the officials of the game learn the rules and concentrate on the job in hand? They're paid enough.

Bordeaux 1 Chelsea 1

Chelsea must wait on a seventh straight appearance in the knock-out phase of the Champions League after Bordeaux held them 1-1 while the Blues also had Frank Lampard sent off on a night of European drama yesterday.

Alou Diarra headed home from a corner with seven minutes remaining to cancel out Nicolas Anelka's opener as the French side carved out a well-deserved point to send Group A down to the final round of action on December 9 and 10.

Chelsea keeper Petr Cech said Chelsea should not have dropped points. "The moment we scored the goal I thought it was over. I think we should have done better. We should have closed the door," Cech told Sky Sports.

It was not a virtuoso performance from last season's finalists and they were somewhat fortunate to escape with a point despite taking the lead on the hour mark. The West Londoners had to wait until the 60th minute for their first shot on goal but when it came, Anelka made Bordeaux pay for all their wasted first half opportunities in the most clinical fashion.

Brendan Is New Hornets Manager

Chelsea reserve team coach Brendan Rogers has been appointed as the new manager of Watford as replacement for Adrian Boothroyd.
Rodgers, aged 35, has beat off strong competition to land the job. He has been coaching since 1995 when he started with Reading, eventually becoming their Academy Director.
Frank Lampard Senior has also joined them as Football Consultant.

Chelsea 0 Newcastle Utd 0

Chelsea squandered a great chance to pull clear of Liverpool at the top of the Premier League as stubborn Newcastle held them to a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea dominated the game but could not find a way to break the deadlock.
Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given saved superbly from Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole went agonisingly close with a header - but Chelsea failed to capitalise on Liverpool's home draw with Fulham.
The Blues remain top on goal difference but failed to win at home for the second successive game.
Luiz Felipe Scolari's side should have taken the lead in the seventh minute but Given made a tremendous save to prevent Lampard scoring.
Florent Malouda had picked out the England midfielder with a delightful chip into the penalty area but Given guessed correctly and dived to his right to keep Lampard's header out.
In the 10th minute referee Phil Dowd lectured Chelsea coach Luiz Felipe Scolari after the Brazilian moaned too long about a free-kick decision that went against his side.
It was all Chelsea in the opening 15 minutes and when Newcastle did break Michael Owen found himself isolated and unable to get the better of the home defence.
Malouda created a fine opening in the 16th minute when he left Fabricio Coloccini flat-footed and burst into the penalty area - but Given dived low to his right to prevent the Frenchman's shot from hitting the net.
Newcastle's first attempt on goal arrived in the 20th minute through Jonas, whose right-foot volley failed to trouble Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech.
Chelsea continued to dominate with Deco and Joe Cole pulling the strings in midfield.
In the 23rd minute, some clever work on the left flank from Nicolas Anelka ended with Branislav Ivanovic heading his cross over the bar.
Moments later John Terry and Lampard just failed to carve out an opening inside the Newcastle area but their neat passing move was eventually stopped by Coloccini.
Deco's accuracy was found wanting in the 28th minute when his right-foot shot from 25-yards fell at least a yard wide of the upright.
But the Portugal midfielder almost made up for it two minutes later but Lampard just failed to connect properly with his sublime chip into the penalty area.
In the 31st minute, Ashley Cole sent a header inches wide of the far post after a curling cross from Jose Bosingwa had beaten the United defence.
Deco supplied another quality through ball for Joe Cole two minutes later but the England international just failed to apply the finishing touch as Given raced out to save.
Seconds later it was Ivanovic's turn to miss a gilt-edged chance when a free-kick from Lampard found him unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box.
The Chelsea defender sent his header flashing beyond the far post with Given flat-footed.
Anelka was unlucky not to put Chelsea in front in the 48th minute when he got on the end of Lampard's pass but his angled drive hit the chest of Given.
Chelsea had a goal ruled out for offside in the 54th minute. Lampard's through-ball allowed Malouda to fire in a shot which Given stopped, with Joe Cole who bundling the loose ball over the line from an offside position.
A Lampard free-kick was then held by Given on the line with the crowd claiming it was a goal.
Moments later another superb move from the home side saw Joe Cole and Anelka combine to set up Lampard.
The England midfielder burst into the penalty area but curled his shot just the wrong side of the upright.
Chelsea had increased the tempo at the start of the half but United continued to frustrate the league leaders with some resolute defending.
The hosts' frustration was beginning to show as two long-range efforts from Lampard failed to hit the target.
But for all their possession, Chelsea was now being forced to try and break the deadlock with long shots.
Chelsea continued to camp in United's half but the lack of penetrating final ball was a real problem.
Substitute Ballack, on for Joe Cole, shot into the side-netting in the 89th minute as Chelsea's frustration mounted - but the hosts had to settle for a point.