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Will Andre Villas-Boas be smiling today? PA
AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Chelsea v Arsenal

Could Arsenal show they’re really back on track by taking a big scalp? Would Chelsea’s recent poor form be undone by a chaotic last week? Miguel Delaney was following all of the action while keeping a watchful eye on Manchester United’s tricky trip to Everton

Send us your thoughts and comments on this afternoon’s action. Tweet us@mdelaneyst@thescore_iefind us on Facebook, or leave a comment below.

Chelsea 3-5 Arsenal

Everton 0-1 Manchester United

Welcome to another day of Premier League action. And some might say a very new day after last week’s dynamic-shifting events at Old Trafford.

Speaking of which, Manchester United are currently trying to bounce back from last week’s sensational defeat to Manchester City against Everton.It’s currently very subdued at Goodison Park, a fact possibly explained by the ludicrous kick-off time.

GOAL! Everton 0-1 Manchester United

Javier Hernandez set up Evra after a flowing move.

Tom Cleverley already making such a difference to United. They look so much more fluent again.

United stroking the ball about superbly at the moment, good range of passing.

The teams for the 12.45 game:

Chelsea: Cech; Bosingway, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole; Mikel, Ramires, Lampard; Sturridge, Torres, Mata

Arsenal: Szczesny; Djourou, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Santos; Song, Ramsey, Santos; Walcott, van Persie, Gervinho

Rodwell strikes just wide. Everton coming back into it slightly. That is the offset of this United formation – an increased openness at the back. And didn’t we see that last week.

Fletcher takes Fellaini down at the edge of the box. Dangerous free-kick.

Baines steps up…

And in the meantime, we’ll have some relative downtime. For those who like their liveblogs in pairs, we’ve got good news: Miguel Delaney is liveblogging today’s Premier League action, beginning with Manchester United’s trip to Everton – and the massive London derby between Chelsea and a resurgent Arsenal.

… and smashes the bar!

United scramble it clear but that was almost another perfect free-kick from Baines. Quite central but got it over the wall and almost under the bar.

The Carling Cup quarter-final draw has, oddly, just been made. It’s interesting:

Chelsea v Liverpool

Arsenal v Man City

Man Utd v Crystal Palace

Cardiff v Blackburn

And we’re off at Stamford Bridge

HALF-TIME: Everton 0-1 Manchester United

A superb response from United to the events of last weekend but Everton have looked like there might be something in them over last few minutes.

At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea almost took the lead straight away as Cole broke down the left and squared for Torres. The Arsenal defence just did enough to put him off though.

And Chelsea break down the wings AGAIN, but the cross is poor. Lots of potential joy there for Chelsea.

Djourou does not exactly look comfortable at right-back

Atrocious miss from Gervinho. Walcott absolutely destroyed Cole for pace on the right before squaring crisply. And, although, Cech was out quick, Gervinho should have done better than scuff the finish well wide.

And Van Persie wastes another chance after another fine ball from Walcott. Beautifully curled effort from the winger but, from eight yards, Van Persie blazes over.

GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Arsenal

Arsenal immediately punished for not taking those chances and in the simplest way. Mata crosses from the right for Lampard to plunder a free header.

As Paul Walsh says below the line, Chelsea’s midfield offering no protection to their defence. There’s space to be exploited there for Arsenal.

Here’s a thought as both games go under a bit of a lull. When Jamie Redknapp talks about a “top, top player”, it’s a bit contradictory isn’t it? Because, the second “top” implies that a mere “top player” is not quite the very peak of the game. But, no matter how many times you use the word, “top” still has the same meaning: the top of the game.

Tom Cleverley has gone off injured. Not good for United.

Cleverley walking gingerly off the pitch after appearing to be winded. United haven’t made a sub yet.

And Sturridge should have made it 2-0 for Chelsea. Put through, he scuffed at the shot.

Nani has come on for Cleverley. No update yet on his injury. Everton slightly on top but Vidic defending manfully.

The Everton-United game has underlined exactly what United missed last week: Vidic and Cleverley

Koscielny basically holding the Arsenal defence together on his own meanwhile. Although seems only a matter of time until Chelsea make most of the space.

GOAL! Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal

Ramsey opens Chelsea up with a superb pass, Gervinho squares for Van Persie and the Dutchman rolls into the empty net. Clinical from Arsenal and you might even say vintage Wenger.

Goal disallowed for Chelsea. Sturridge offside.

GOAL! Chelsea 2-1 Arsenal

It had to be didn’t it? He scored the week of the Bridge affair and he’s scored this one. Meets Mata’s corner with his foot – as Mertesacker completely loses him – and directs it into the corner of the goal.

HALF-TIME: Chelsea 2-1 Arsenal

A ludicrously open game that Chelsea have shaded in general play and score. But chances at both ends and more likely to come.

Not to labour this point but United looking like a lesser team without Cleverley in the middle. They’ve withdrawn. Ferguson out on the touchline remonstrating.

More on the mythical tally in Wexford… Alan Shatter is again admitting its existence. Speaking on Radio 1 this morning, he said the Wexford tally indicated that the vote on Oireachtas inquiries would come down the the wire.

Judicial pay had a “far longer lead in” in terms of discussion. “When it came to Oireachtas inquiries, the issue was more complex, and unfortunately a lot of the attention was taken by the presidential election.”

Emer McLysaght has more here.

Johnny Evans has another brainfreeze, almost forcing Vidic into an own goal. United now living on the edge.

Everton on top at the moment. Can’t quite force breakthrough though

INto the 89th minute at Old Trafford.

Goodison Park even, where the linesman is injured.

Six minutes of injury time at Goodison.

Gueye goes down under Evra;s challenge. But Mark Halsey dismisses claims for a penalty.

GOAL! Chelsea 2-2 Arsenal

Another supreme Arsenal break – even if they were offered up space. A divine ball out wide finds Santos who proceeds and then slips the ball under Cech.

And, in typical Arsenal fashion, they almost offer the game to Chelsea again. Szczesny comes out to meet a break and clatters into Cole. Only booked but might well have been red.

To be fair, the keeper then redeems himself with a fine save from Lampard’s free-kick.

FULL-TIME: Everton 0-1 Manchester United

Vidic returns to hold United together in a performance that started superbly but regressed badly after Cleverley’s departure. Importance response to last week though. And Everton can be buoyed by their display.

GOAL! Chelsea 2-3 Arsenal

A super finish by Walcott who caps what has been an impressive performance. Can he improve on it? This game is that open!

This is a ludicrously open game. According to Paul Hayward, this is the ninth game in a row in which Chelsea haven’t kept a clean sheet. That hasn’t happened since 2003!

Should have been 4-2 Arsenal. Ramsey could have squared but wasted his opportunity, playing it straight into Cech.

Sturridge off for Malouda as Chelsea have lost their way.

30 minutes is a long time for this Arsenal defence to hold out.

Lukaku getting his bib off. Might he make the difference?

Chelsea beginning to get back on top now.

This is getting a bit scrappy now though.

Chelsea perspiring, Arsenal probing at the minute.

Meireles on for Mikel. had to happen. Chelsea need bit more ingenuity.

Brilliant from Iain Macintosh:

Carl Jenkinson. Putting him on now is the football equivalent of going down into the cellar to check out that strange noise.

Ivanovic lucky not to get a card there as he elbows Van Persie in the back of head. A few choice words from the Dutchman that could be easily lip-read followed.

GOAL! Chelsea 3-3 Arsenal

Brilliant long-range strike from Mata! But might have been a free-kick in the build-up as Lukaku reefed Santos out of the way to create space.

Oh Andre Villas-Boas enjoyed that. Like at the end of Top Gun or something.

Ten minutes left. This is not looking good for Arsenal now. Momentum only in one direction.

GOAL! Chelsea 3-4 Arsenal

John Terry slips atrociously to allow Robin van Persie in and easily round Cech. An atrocious error from the Englishman just as Chelsea looked sure of securing victory!

This is a ludicrous game.

Into stoppage time.What price John Terry to be the hero?

GOAL! Chelsea 3-5 Arsenal

A block-busting finish by Van Persie after Arsenal catch Chelsea on the break. What a performance he’s had!

FULL-TIME: Chelsea 3-5 Arsenal

A sensational game. The entertainment was brilliant. Robin Van Persie was brilliant. Juan Mata was brilliant. But the defending was atrocious. Huge win for Arsenal who will feel the belief flowing back. A bad stutter for Villas-Boas’s evolving Chelsea team.

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