Final Chelsea vs Arsenal clash of Abramovich era sees future of Tuchel and Co up in air

Nine matches into what history will soon seal off as Chelsea’s 'Abramovich Era', the new, ambitious Russian owner of the club had his first hard sight of the high standards of the league he had signed up to.

Chelsea went to the old Highbury stadium. They were beaten for the first time in the Premier League since the stunning, big-spending takeover. Arsenal’s 2-1 victory that October 2003 day, it turned out, would form part of a record-breaking 49-match unbeaten league run.

Chelsea ended the season second, Roman Abramovich’s initial tranche of player-investment having established them as a would-be superclub. Arsenal still finished 11 points clear of them, but the 2003/04 season had pivoted around several epic encounters between North and West London.

In February, Arsenal twice came back from a goal down to beat Chelsea in league and FA Cup. In the Champions League last eight, they met each other in a see-saw tie settled by a Chelsea winner in the 87th minute of the second leg.

By which time the tall, gaunt manager of Arsenal had begun to complain about how a sudden influx of new-owner wealth was disturbing the balance of English and European football.

Arsene Wenger would be repeating that line for the next decade-and-a-half, as Abramovich’s Chelsea went on to win five Premier Leagues and Arsenal were obliged to keep looking back on the 2004 title as their last.

Abramovich’s 19-year hold on Chelsea will come to an end before the beginning of next season, and possibly within what remains of this season if there is quick agreement on the sale of the club, made inevitable because of UK government sanctions against Abramovich for his links to a Russian government that has ordered its troops into Ukraine.

Chelsea have won five