5 Premier League stars to have turned out for Chelsea and Arsenal

Just as you’ve settled in to tending the garden and getting used to weekends watching the cricket the traditional Premier League curtain raiser returns. This year’s Community Shield sees two of the game’s biggest rivals square up at Wembley as Arsenal and Chelsea make the sort trip to the national stadium.

There’s always a bit of fire whenever these two clash, add to that the animosity between the two managers and Petr Cech’s decision to swap blue for red should up the ante when these two do battle under the arch.

There’s been something of a history in recent times of players making both Stamford Bridge and the Emirates their home, here we look at five of the best.

Cesc Fabregas

He was the missing piece in the Chelsea jigsaw when he came in last season and right from his commanding performance at Burnley in their opening game it was clear that Jose had pulled off a master stroke in signing the Spaniard.

The former Barcelona schemer laid on 18 assists as the Pensioners romped to the title and left many questioning why Arsene Wenger chose not to re-sign his former player.

As a mullet sporting 16-year-old Fabregas lit up north London and went on to make over 200 league appearances before returning to his boyhood club Barca in somewhat acrimonious circumstances.

Ashley Cole

A name that is uttered with detest in north London is that of Ashley ‘Cashley’ Cole. The full-back caused nigh on a riot when he moved to the Fulham Road in the summer of 2006 after ‘trembling with anger’ at the Gunners’ seemingly ‘paltry’ contract offer.

It can be argued that the England legend had the last laugh as he got the wages he wanted and bagged a Champions League medal but ultimately condemning himself to a lifetime of insults from crowds across the country.

Emmanuel Petit

Another man, another resplendent haircut. Emmanuel Petit won the league and the FA Cup at Highbury before taking a familiar route to Cataluna. He then turned up at Chelsea but seemed short of his previous powers.

The World Cup winner was hampered by knee injuries and retired upon leaving The Bridge in 2004.

William Gallas

Fan of the occasional paddy and unnervingly wearing number 10 despite being a defender, Mr Gallas had a spell at each of these clubs with all his success coming in blue.

The famously moody stopper became something of a bad omen for Wenger’s men in a barren period between 2006 and 2010.

Nicolas Anelka

A man who loves a club more than Jack Grealish on his summer holidays, Anelka has parked his rather extravagant motor at both Highbury and Stamford Bridge.

He earned himself a move from Arsenal to Real Madrid as a youngster with the Gunners before topping the Premier League scoring charts later in his career at Chelsea. He can now be found selling his aged wares in India.

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