MX23RW : Friday, March 29 12:03:12| >> :60:16:16:
[monks data]
Arsenal logo
Premier League
Jan 13, 2001 at 3pm UK
 
Chelsea logo

1-1

Pires (3')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Terry (62')

On this day: John Terry nets first Premier League goal for Chelsea

Back on this day in 2001, Chelsea defender John Terry scored his first Premier League goal in a London derby against Arsenal.

Love him or loathe him, what cannot be disputed is that John Terry is one of the finest centre-backs to have played in the Premier League.

Yet, while the Chelsea legend's ability to read the game sees him snuff out danger on an almost weekly basis, he has also proven himself to be a threat to the opposition up the other end of the pitch.

At the time of writing, the 34-year-old has scored 37 goals from open play, which makes him the highest-scoring defender in Premier League history. While David Unsworth found the net 38 times during his playing career, many of his were scored from the penalty spot.

It all started for Terry as far as Premier League goals were concerned 14 years ago today, when the Blues made the short trip across London to take on Arsenal at Highbury.

It was not the best of starts for Claudio Ranieri's visitors, though, as they found themselves 1-0 down in just the third minute.

Arsenal winger Robert Pires burst between Dennis Wise and Sam Dalla Bonna on the edge of the area, before he unleashed a curling effort that bent inside Carlo Cudicini's far post.

The Gunners appeared to take confidence from the Frenchman's strike, with Thierry Henry and Freddie Ljungberg both calling Cudicini into action as the half wore on.

Having seen his side struggle to gain a foothold on proceedings during the opening 45 minutes, Ranieri, who was notorious for tinkering with his selection, switched from a 3-5-2 to a 4-4-2 formation.

It was a decision that was rewarded in the 62nd minute as the away side drew themselves level, thanks in part to a misjudgement from home goalkeeper David Seaman.

The England number one failed to connect with Wise's corner, which left Terry with the simplest of headers to break his Premier League duck, although he had already scored in a FA Cup tie against Gillingham a year earlier.

Both sides had opportunities to claim all three points in the closing stages, but the clinical touch deserted them, meaning that Terry's effort from close range was decisive.

ARSENAL: Seaman; Dixon, Stepanovs, Keown, Silvinho; Pires, Vieira, Ljungberg, Parlour; Wiltord, Henry

CHELSEA: Cudicini; Leboeuf, Desailly, Terry; Harley, Wise, Poyet, Dalla Bona, Jokanovic; Hasselbaink, Gudjohnsen

ID:198626: cacheID:198626:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4384:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Ray Parlour of Arsenal celebrates during the FA Carling Premier League match against Newcastle United played at Highbury in London on December 9, 2000
Read Next:
OTD: Parlour hits hat-trick against Newcastle
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!