In the third round of the Premier League, the Emirates Stadium is about to host the highly anticipated London Derby, with Arsenal at home against Chelsea. For over a hundred years, matches between these two teams have never lacked dramatic conflicts, incredible goals, iconic moments, and grudges. Before this week's big battle, the Premier League officially reviewed the 11 most memorable classic moments between the two teams in the Premier League era , revisiting the legendary past of this top English derby.

1. September 1997 | Winterburn's desperate long-range strike changed the course of the derby

This 1997 clash at Stamford Bridge was full of twists and turns, with the two sides tied 2-2 as the clock ticked down. At the time, Arsenal defender Nigel Winterburn had long been out of goal-scoring form, with 18 months since his last goal, and no one expected him to be the game-changer.

In the final moments of the match, Winterburn received the ball and decisively drove forward, opting not to pass to prolific scorers like Bergkamp or Ian Wright. He unleashed an unstoppable curling shot from long range, which flew directly into the top corner of the net, securing a 3-2 victory for Arsenal against Chelsea. This rare decisive goal by a defender became one of the most unexpected winning moments in the history of the two teams' derby.

2. October 1999 | Kanu's stunning 15-minute hat-trick creates an epic comeback

In the 1999 battle at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea quickly took a 2-0 lead with goals from Flo and Petrescu. At that time, the Blues were undefeated at home that season, and victory seemed certain. However, Nigerian legendary striker Kanu performed a miraculous feat, scoring three goals in the last 15 minutes to complete an epic turnaround, helping Arsenal to a 3-2 comeback victory.

The winning goal was the most classic; Kanu skillfully adjusted and scored from an extremely tight angle on the byline, with almost no shooting space, stunning everyone in the stadium. After the match, Kanu directly stated that it was the most spectacular goal of his career, and even Arsène Wenger couldn't help but marvel at this incredible score.

3. December 2006 | Essien's 35-yard worldie protects the Blues' unbeaten record

This match was also Ashley Cole's first direct confrontation with his former club after transferring to Chelsea, making the game full of talking points. Arsenal took the lead in the 78th minute with a goal from Flamini, and Chelsea's legendary 51-match unbeaten home record in the Premier League was on the brink of ending.

In desperate circumstances, Ghanaian powerhouse Essien stepped up, unleashing a powerful long-range shot from 35 yards out . The ball appeared to be heading wide but took a strange deflection into the net, scoring a dramatic equalizer. The end of the match was full of drama: Hleb missed a golden opportunity for Arsenal to win, and Lampard and Essien both hit the post. This thrilling 1-1 encounter became a classic example of a midfield wonder goal.

4. Summer 2006 transfer window | Ashley Cole's controversial transfer creates a classic Premier League transfer feud

Ashley Cole came through Arsenal's academy and was a meritorious left-back for the team. This cross-city transfer became one of the most controversial transfer incidents in Premier League history. In the winter 2005 transfer window, both parties met privately without permission, an illegal operation that led to an FA investigation and penalties for all involved.

Although Cole renewed his contract with Arsenal in the summer of 2005, he ultimately left due to a breakdown in salary negotiations. Arsenal only offered a weekly wage of £55,000, which did not meet his demand for £60,000, infuriating Cole. In the summer of 2006, Cole formally joined Chelsea in a swap deal involving Gallas.

Since then, Cole was nicknamed "Cashley" by Gunners fans, and upon his first return to the Emirates Stadium, he was mocked by fans throwing fake banknotes. This long-standing feud remains unforgettable years later. Cole admitted that the fans' hostility deeply hurt him, but he never regretted the transfer, winning countless honors at Chelsea and being successfully inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame in 2024.

5. November 2009 | Drogba's unstoppable free-kick conquers the Emirates Stadium

As Arsenal's natural nemesis, Drogba scored a terrifying 13 goals in 14 matches against the Gunners. In this 3-0 victory in 2009, Drogba scored one of the most classic goals of his career against Arsenal.

Previously, Drogba was known for his ability to finish in the box. This long-range, powerful free-kick goal led to external recognition of his set-piece prowess. Drogba, who supported Arsenal since childhood and idolized Henry, always displayed incredible fighting spirit against his former love, especially after Wenger had dismissed his threat before the match, which made him even better. After the match, Wenger reluctantly admitted: "Finally, we don't have to face the torment of Drogba anymore."

6. October 2011 | Van Persie's epic hat-trick, 8 goals in a goal-fest

The 2011 match at Stamford Bridge was a classic goal-fest, full of twists, turns, and suspense. Lampard scored early to give Chelsea the lead, and Van Persie equalized; Terry put Chelsea ahead again in the first half, but Santos and Walcott scored two goals to turn the game around, and Mata equalized at 3-3 before the final whistle.

In a desperate moment, Arsenal captain Van Persie took control of the game, scoring two goals in the final minutes. His goal, capitalizing on Terry's slip, was particularly classic, ultimately completing a hat-trick and helping Arsenal to a 5-3 away victory against the Blues.

After this match, Van Persie's form exploded, scoring 7 goals in three matches in late October, achieving 35 goals in the entire year, and winning the Premier League Golden Boot with 30 goals in a single season, officially entering the ranks of world-class strikers.

7. March 2014 | Wenger's 1000th game milestone, brutally crushed 6-0 by Chelsea

This match was Arsène Wenger's 1000th official game as Arsenal manager, a night that should have been a memorable milestone but ultimately turned into the most painful defeat of his career. Facing Mourinho's Chelsea, the Gunners' defense completely collapsed at the start, conceding 2 goals in 7 minutes and trailing by three goals after 17 minutes.

To make matters worse, Gibbs was mistakenly sent off, leaving Arsenal with ten men, and they eventually suffered a brutal 0-6 defeat away from home. This was Wenger's most devastating loss in his managerial career and Arsenal's largest margin of defeat against Chelsea. After the match, Wenger took responsibility, stating that it was the darkest day of his coaching career, and he even missed the post-match press conference. Mourinho, years later, even joked that Wenger would never forget his 1000th game.

8. October 2014 | Wenger and Mourinho's touchline clash, a decade-long feud erupts

The decade-long public rivalry between the two managers finally erupted in this 2014 derby. Previously, Mourinho had openly mocked Wenger as a "specialist in failure," triggered by Wenger questioning Chelsea's deliberate modesty and fear of contending for the title.

During the match, Cahill fouled Sanchez, and an emotionally charged Wenger directly pushed Mourinho on the touchline. The two fiercely confronted each other, neither backing down, and their refusal to shake hands after the game became an iconic moment. Wenger later admitted he lost control and acted inappropriately; Mourinho magnanimously stated he would not dwell on it.

Chelsea won this match convincingly 2-0. Fàbregas assisted against his former club, setting up Diego Costa to seal the victory, extending Mourinho's unbeaten record against Wenger to 12 games.

9. February 2017 | Hazard's solo run to greatness, single-handedly defeats the Gunners

After a subdued 2015/16 season, Hazard returned to his peak under Conte, and this half-field solo run against Arsenal became a highlight of his career. Hazard picked up the ball in his own half, dribbled past Koscielny and Coquelin, evaded them again after feinting, and calmly slotted the ball past Cech.

This unstoppable solo goal helped Chelsea to a 3-1 victory, extending their lead at the top of the table to 12 points and laying the foundation for their title win that season. Hazard stated after the match: "Scoring against Arsenal is always special, this is one of my most satisfying goals." This goal perfectly illustrated the dominance of Hazard at his peak.

10. May 2019 | Europa League final all-London clash, Blues bid farewell to three legends

The 2019 Europa League final saw the first all-London European final in Premier League history, with Emery's Arsenal facing Sarri's Chelsea. This match was full of goodbyes and legendary moments, as Chelsea won 4-1 to lift the trophy.

Kante played through injury, overcoming pre-match knee fears, and tirelessly dominated the midfield throughout; Giroud scored against his former club, Pedro found the net, Hazard scored twice, and Iwobi pulled one back for Arsenal.

This was Sarri's last match as Chelsea manager and his first major trophy in his coaching career; it was also Hazard's farewell match for the Blues, as he officially announced his departure to Real Madrid after the game; Arsenal legend Petr Cech also officially retired after this match. The triple farewell of two legendary goalkeepers and a manager made this final a derby classic.

11. April 2022 | Nketiah's derby brace seals greatness, 4-2 away victory over Chelsea

In a rescheduled Premier League match during the 2021/22 season, Arsenal, deep in a three-match losing streak, visited Stamford Bridge. The 22-year-old academy striker Nketiah stepped up in a crisis and achieved legendary status, becoming the biggest winner of the London Derby. At that time, Arteta decisively benched the out-of-form Lacazette, opting to start local youngster Nketiah, a substitution that proved to be inspired.

In the 13th minute of the first half, a fatal error occurred in Chelsea's defense: Christensen's misplaced backpass was gifted to Nketiah, who cleverly intercepted, ran through on goal, and calmly slotted it home to break the deadlock. Werner then equalized for Chelsea, Smith Rowe restored the lead for the Gunners, and Azpilicueta scored to equalize again, making it 2-2 at halftime. In the 57th minute of the second half, Nketiah displayed excellent predatory instincts in the box, latching onto Tavares' cross and poking it into the net to complete his brace , putting Arsenal ahead once more. In stoppage time, Saka won and calmly converted a penalty to seal the victory, as Arsenal secured a commanding 4-2 away win, ending their three-match losing streak and inflicting Chelsea's third consecutive home defeat of the season.

In this match, Nketiah, with his agile movement and efficient finishing, dismantled the Blues' defense. His standout performance as a substitute, with a derby brace, made him one of the most representative new star killers for Arsenal against Chelsea in recent years, firmly establishing his name.

In the second leg, Nketiah again exploded in the second half, capitalizing on successive Chelsea defensive errors to score, and Saka's stoppage-time penalty sealed the victory, helping Arsenal to a 4-2 away win and inflicting Chelsea's third consecutive home defeat of the season. The young academy striker's brace in a derby against a major rival, winning on two fronts, became one of the most iconic new star moments in recent derbies.

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