We got fecking Arsenal. All that effort has now come to nought.

Winners will have the "honour" of facing Real Madrid, assuming they beat Monaco (most are, but I am more doubtful).

We will have the honour of losing to Arse five times in one season.

Sir Les Patterson comments on Chelsea Chat:
It could have been a far worse draw in my opinion. We could have drawn both legs away. This is a bit like Goliath being taken into intensive care, nursed back to health, and then thrown in against David again.

Chelsea 0-0 VFB Stuttgart
Lots of moaning on Chelsea Chat, but I thought it was a solid performance. Could have nicked one at the end when Gronk hit the post and Mutu had two sitters saved. Stuttgart mostly reduced to long-range shooting, except for two gilt-edged chances, one when their impressive leftback Lahm (on loan from Bayern) ghosted past Gallas and Parker but put his shot wide, and a fierce shot from some midfielder that would certainly have beaten Carlo at the near post if it had not flashed just wide.

The big news is that Manure are out. For pragmatic reasons it would probably have been to our advantage to have them still in the competition and distracted from the Prem, but the image below is just lovely.

Manchester City 0-1 Chelsea (Gudjohnsen)
Usual pattern of not playing well but nicking a goal to win it. Fowler had a howler, or we would have lost. Sublime pass from Bridge to let Guddy in behind the defence for the winner.

VFB Stuttgart 0-1 Chelsea (Meira o.g.)
Classic display of how to play "away". Stuttgart dominated, but defence held up, Johnson in particular having a massive game. Johnson created the goal with a dangerous cross on one of his excellent runs down the right wing. Crespo was waiting for a tap in and Meira had little choice but to attempt to clear the ball, only to send it into his own net.

Chelsea 1-2 Arsenal (Gudjohnsen, Vieira, Edu)
Quick Guddy opener in the first thirty seconds when Arse uncharacteristcally gave the ball away in midfield. After that, same old story.

Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea (Mutu, Reyes[2])
Mutu crap again for most of the game except for the well-taken goal, working hard but giving the ball away and choosing the wrong options a la Gronk. As usual the lead didn't last, midfield was crap and Arse deserved the win. No goalkeeping mistakes to excuse the result this time. Oh well, it's "only" the FA Cup, more crucial league encounter up next.

Portsmouth 0-2 Chelsea (Parker, Crespo)
Comfortable win over a poor side.