For many, Chelsea’s 2004-05 side was the best the Premier League has ever seen. But Arsenal could be about to do the double, and Petr Cech has compared the starting XI’s of both sides.
Jose Mourinho’s first season as Chelsea manager saw the Blues lose just one match throughout the entire campaign. But it is most renowned for boasting the fewest goals conceded in a Premier League season.
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Chelsea Premier League table on final day of the season
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A combination of John Terry, Ricardo Carvalho, William Gallas, Paulo Ferreira and Petr Cech conceded just 15 goals in 38 games. A record that Terry still celebrates every season, when the others fail to meet it.
It was a side boasting Didier Drogba, Arjen Robben, Joe Cole, Damien Duff, Frank Lampard and Claude Makelele, a player who was so good he literally has a position named after him. It was the perfect side.
Petr Cech compares Arsenal’s XI to Chelsea’s 2004-05 team
This season, Arsenal have embodied some of that Chelsea sturdiness at the back. The Gunners have not been particularly pleasing on the eye, but they have been rock-steady in defence and it’s won them a title.
Ending a 22-year wait to win the Premier League having last done so the season prior to Mourinho and Chelsea’s triumph in 2004-05, Cech compared each player in the starting line-ups on Give Me Sport.
But to the delight of Chelsea fans, Cech picked all 11 Chelsea players over Arsenal’s current offering, and did so in completely earnestly. Remember, this is a player who would go on to play for Arsenal, too.
He picked himself over David Raya, Gallas over Ricardo Calafiori, Terry over William Saliba, Carvalho over Gabriel, Ferreira over Jurrien Timber, Makelele over Declan Rice, and Lampard over Martin Odegaard.
He described Duff as “unbelievable” before picking him over Gabriel Martinelli; he picked Cole over Eberechi Eze, Robben over Bukayo Saka – his toughest choice – and Drogba over Viktor Gyokeres.
The differences could not be more striking, now
In complete contrast, would any of Chelsea’s current side get into Arsenal’s team right now? If comparing Reece James over Arsenal’s right-back contingent, most Arsenal fans would admit James is the pick.
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But that’s it in the defensive positions. In midfield, Enzo Fernandez would be in with a shout over the likes of Eze or Martin Odegaard given the Arsenal skipper has endured a poor season. Up top, Joao Pedro, too.
But they are arguable, and only three potential inclusions. That highlights the drop-off from Chelsea in the last 20 years, from that incredible side under Mourinho to what Xabi Alonso is about to inherit.
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