Chelseafc.com continues a look back over another eventful year at the club with the words reported at the time. The league concludes.

Would the players need time to get over the disappointment of Barcelona? Guus Hiddink demanded a reaction, and what better opportunity than by winning at Arsenal?

Florent Malouda recognised as much in the run up to the game. 'We have to stay positive, now it is over we can't do anything against this feeling of being robbed, and we still have to carry on for the club, for ourselves and the fans,' he said.

The team did just that, and ripped Arsenal to pieces, guaranteeing Champions League football with a resounding 4-1 win.

The Blues were far more ruthless throughout, an Alex header followed by Anelka's 17th in the league this season making it 2-0 by the break.

Arsenal gave us the third shortly after the interval through an own-goal and then put pressure on by scoring at the correct end. However Malouda completed the four-goal haul shortly before the end.

It may not have healed the wounds of Wednesday, but it remained an enjoyable afternoon in north London.

'Going home in a minute,' sang the Chelsea fans after the opening goal, in acknowledgement of the efficient ground evacuation there against Man United in the other European semi a few days earlier.

Arsenal's 21-game unbeaten league run had come to an end in emphatic style.

'We are very delighted. I am delighted and the team is delighted with the performance for several reasons,' Hiddink said.

'But first we have to be critical to ourselves and say where I'd like to improve. We started the first 20 minutes with a hangover from Wednesday and allowed Arsenal to play their beautiful game.

'The reaction of the team was great and we came through with a beautiful goal from Alex and we could have had more through Anelka and Malouda, but 2-0 at the break was good.

'The second half was the same, we went on with the same dominance and control and we went on to score more.

'I can be very proud of the team after the injustice of not being in the Champions League Final.'

Arsenal 1-4 Chelsea at Emirates stadium on 10-05-2009
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech; Bosingwa (Ivanovic 76), Alex, Terry (c), A Cole; Mikel, Essien; Anelka, Lampard, Malouda (Ballack 88); Drogba.
Scorers Alex 28, Anelka 38, Touré o.g 48, Malouda 84.
Arsenal (4-1-4-1): Fabianski; Sagna, Touré, Silvestre, Gibbs; Song (Denilson 67); Walcott (Adebayor 67), Fàbregas (c), Nasri, Diaby (Bendtner 59); Van Persie.
Scorer Bendtner 70.
Booked Fabregas 26

It returned a feel-good factor to Stamford Bridge and Cobham. The side had done itself justice, even if justice had not been done.

A new home kit was to be debuted at the weekend against Blackburn, whose Premier League status was again secured. With third in the bag, Hiddink's men could use this game and the next against Sunderland as FA Cup Final preparation.

The final home game of the season, it turned into a day of celebration, and will be remembered more for the atmosphere around the stadium than the events on the pitch.

More goals from Anelka (his 18th of the league season, taking him level at the top with Man United's Ronaldo) and Malouda wrapped up a victory that should have had a greater margin, Lampard in particular guilty of not taking golden chances.

Hiddink resisted temptation to meddle with his team, fielding what he saw as the strongest available to him. The fans responded to his work with an outburst of singing.

'Roman, Roman, sign him up,' sang the crowd during the second half, the watching owner responding with a big smile and laugh. 'Guus Hiddink, we want you to stay,' then took over as the song of the game.

At the final whistle the coach took the mic and thanked everyone, the players doing similar on a lap of appreciation. Hiddink exited through a guard of honour from the team.

Roy Bentley had also shown nimble feet in front of the Matthew Harding End on the occasion of the 85th birthday for our original trophy-winning captain.

Chelseafc.com picked out Anelka as the game's standout performer, adding that the Blues looked generally in fine fettle. Confidence would be high moving onwards towards Wembley.

Chelsea 2-0 Blackburn at Stamford Bridge on 17-05-2009
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech; Bosingwa, Alex, Terry (c), A Cole; Mikel, Essien; Anelka, Lampard, Malouda; Drogba.
Scorers Malouda 3, Anelka 58.
Booked Bosingwa 26
Blackburn (4-5-1): Robinson; Andrews, Nelsen (c) (Doran 44), Givet (Khizanishvili h-t), Warnock; Diouf, Tugay, Grella,Villanueva, Pedersen (McCarthy 65); Samba.
Booked Grella 63, Khizanishvili 83.



One game in the Premier League remained, and to the opponents, it mattered greatly. Sunderland needed a point to guarantee safety, and relegate their north east rivals Newcastle and Middlesbrough.

Hiddink again promised Chelsea would not be taking the game lightly, it being the last opportunity for match practice before Everton at Wembley.

Three days before the game were the Player of the Season awards. The two main gongs could have been predicted, Ashley Cole voted Players' Player, and Frank Lampard winning the Fans' Award, for a record third time. Essien's volley 15 days earlier earned the Goal of the Season award.

Up in Sunderland, we ended the season with a victory, though rather less convincingly than some might have anticipated.

Hiddink, making his final Chelsea selection in the Premier League, wouldn't have won many friends on Wearside with his strong selection. He did however opt to rest Lampard and Alex, who were replaced with Belletti and Ivanovic.

Anelka was looking for a goal that would seal the Golden Boot, and would do so from the right flank, possibly buoyed by the knowledge that Ronaldo would not be figuring for Manchester United at Hull, Sunderland's other relegation rivals.

An uneventful first half was eclipsed by an entertaining second that contained five goals. After a minute Anelka fired home his 19th league strike of the season from 30 yards to tie up the Golden Boot before Kieran Richardson equalised shortly afterwards.

The points were made secure as sub Kalou and Cole scored in the closing stages before Kenwyne Jones claimed a late consolation.

The final whistle at the Stadium of Light was greeted with relief all round, Chelsea to have three points and Sunderland to remain in the top flight, with news of Newcastle and Middlesbrough's defeats filtering through.

Hiddink gave his final Premier League press conference, light heartedly turning down the Sunderland manager's job after his opposite number Ricky Sbragia had just stood down.

Sunderland 2-3 Chelsea at Stadium of Light on 24-05-2009
Sunderland (4-5-1): Fulop; Bardsley, Davenport, Ferdinand, Collins; Malbranque (Healy 78), Whitehead (c), Tainio (Reid 64), Richardson (Murphy 85), Leadbitter; Jones.
Goal Richardson 52
Booked Bardsley 39
Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry (c), A Cole; Essien (Kalou 64); Mikel (Mancienne 77), Belletti (Ballack 26); Anelka, Drogba, Malouda.
Goals Anelka 46, Kalou 73, A Cole 85
Booked A Cole 33

The only concern was the fitness of Belletti, who limped off in the first half and was now a doubt for the Cup Final.

'We'll see tomorrow how Belletti will react to the kick he got on his thigh,' Hiddink said. 'The other ones who were not here today, Alex and Lampard, have practiced in the last days and were having a bit of a problem at the beginning of the week but will be fit for Saturday. The only question mark will be Belletti.'

To be continued…