CHELSEA boss Avram Grant reflected
on a job well done after
seeing his side come from behind
to beat Arsenal 2-1 at Stamford
Bridge and keep alive their
hopes of catching Premier
League leaders Manchester United.
The Gunners - who have secured
just one win from eight in
all competitions - went ahead
through Bacary Sagna on the
hour mark. But following a double
substitution from the
Chelsea manager with 20 minutes
left, Didier Drogba struck
twice to turn the game around
and stretch Chelsea's unbeaten
home league record to 78 games
as they moved into second place.
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The Blues are now within
touching distance of the champions,
who have to visit Stamford
Bridge at the end of April.
Grant reflected: I have always
said to the players when we were
chasing Arsenal and Manchester
United, many points behind
them, that we only wanted to be
able to be in this position - that
when they come to Stamford
Bridge it can be a game which if
we win we can go ahead of them.
Today, we did that.
We played good football from
the beginning and we responded
very well from going behind.
I don't know if we can win
the title now, but we will be
doing our best to do it.
It is important we play attacking
football and score goals;
for me, this is more important
than any other way - and I will
keep doing things in the way
that I am.''
Some sections of the Stamford
Bridge faithful chanted 'you
don't know what you're doing'
and called the name of their former
manager when Grant made
a double change with 20 minutes
left. Claude Makelele and
Michael Ballack were replaced
by Nicolas Anelka and Juliano
Belletti as Chelsea.
Those same supporters were
soon cheering as the substitutes
played their part in both of Drogba's
goals.
Grant, who gave captain John
Terry instructions on how to reshape
the team, said: When you
make a substitution, I do not
think any manager believes it
will succeed every time.
We wanted to be able to play
in two systems, and I think this
was the time to change.
We had chances but did not
score, so we wanted to put more
pressure on the defence.
I did not hear the crowd. I am
concentrating on what I need to
do and am very confident in
what I am going to do - because
I know the team and how they
are.''
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger
admitted his side had the game
for the taking, but lacked the
defensive authority'' to close it
out.
It was a game we should have
won, but we paid for some lapses
in concentration,'' he said.
It is difficult to swallow, because
we played quite well and
were in control of the game.
What was left to Chelsea was
to play long balls - and we did
not deal well enough with it.
The spirit was right, and the
mentality was fantastic. Overall
the team played very well - but
at the moment, I feel we have
some defensive problems which
we need to sort out.
We got caught on the long
balls and the physical battle.''
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