Didier Drogba on target against Arsenal in MLS All-Star Game

By on July 28, 2016

Almost eleven years ago to the day, Chelsea legend Didier Drogba netted an emphatic brace against Arsene Wenger’s men in the Community Shield to start a long-standing tradition of scoring against Arsenal. Over the years, Drogba has made a habit of coming up big when it counts against Arsenal and he has scored more goals against the Gunners than any other opponent in the English Premier League with thirteen goals in fifteen games.

The Montreal Impact forward might have recently turned thirty-eight but still had the firepower in his legs to continue the streak in the MLS All-Star Game on Thursday night. Although the Gunners came out on top 2-1 over the All-Star team, Drogba brought the crowd to its feet with a late first-half strike against his old rivals.

Moreover, it was the first goal of his career against former Chelsea teammate and good friend Petr Cech.

Drogba only played for the first half of the game and he had few opportunities after Joel Campbell had given Arsenal an early lead from the penalty spot. He gradually shifted wider and wider to get on the ball as the half lulled to a close and his opportunity to score on former Chelsea teammate Petr Cech was rapidly dwindling. However, he made his one chance count, scoring with the last kick of the half.

Sacha Klejestan’s through ball opened up a pocket of space in the middle for Giovani dos Santos, who fed Drogba’s run down the right in turn. The forward saw his first low effort denied by Cech, and then his second by a defender on the line. Only at the third time of asking could the big man finally put the ball into the back of the net to the roar of the Avaya stadium crowd.

Arsene Wenger reflected on Drogba’s goal in his post-match press conference, saying: “When I see him in the box and fighting with young defenders, I always think now there is danger there, because you know he will get the upper hand and score a good goal, and that’s what he did.”

There has been no love lost between Drogba and Wenger over the years but the pair embraced like old pals after the game and took a few minutes to catch up.

Drogba will rejoin the Montreal Impact squad this weekend for their meeting with DC United on Sunday and already has eight goals in twelve appearances so far this season for the French club.

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.