Players who traded Stamford Bridge for the Emirates

The distance between Stamford Bridge, Chelsea's stadium, and the Emirates, the home of Arsenal, is barely 3.7 kilometers.. That is to say, a very small difference for the rivalry between two of the various London clubs and members of the famous 'Big Six' of the Premier League.

However, it is a path that, in recent years, not only fans travel to accompany and tuck their away team in the enemy fiefdom, but the players themselves do to change their shirts and colors. The lion and the blue for the canyons and the red. A trend that William Gallas and Lassana Diarra made fashionable back in 2007 and that continues to this day with Willian's signing for Arsenal. Here are the names that are part of that list:

William Gallas, Chelsea to Arsenal for free (2007)

The summer of 2007 was one of the busiest between Chelsea and Arsenal. And it is that up to three operations were carried out. On the one hand, the 'gunners'They were made with William Gallas and Las Diarra. While, on the other, the ‘blues’ received Ashley Cole.

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Gallas, for his part, left behind José Mourinho's Chelsea in which he won two Premier League, an FA Cup and a Community Shield to rise to prominence as head of defense at Arsenal, even becoming captain in his second season at Emirates, in addition to wearing the number '10' that Dennis Bergkamp orphaned. Finally, his level declined as Arsène Wenger and the board decided not to accept his high salary claims, so he did not renew and signed with Tottenham as a free agent. He did not achieve a title during his four-season tenure.

Lassana Diarra, from Chelsea to Arsenal for 2.9 million euros (2007)

The French pivot passed without pain or glory through Arsenal. Like Gallas, it arrived in 2007 for free, but its contribution was much more rare and short-lived. 12 games in total, divided between the Premier League (7), the Champions League (2) and the League Cup (3). He was barely half a season as a player 'gunner', Being transferred during the winter market to Porsmouth, with whom, paradoxically, he ended up winning the FA Cup at the end of the course. That good role later served as a ticket to sign for Real Madrid in the winter of 2008.

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Yossi Benayoun, from Chelsea to Arsenal on loan (2011)

In case of Yossi benayoun it is one of the most striking. Since, for his part, the Israeli footballer he came to Arsenal on loan at 31 years old. However, his signing was more satisfactory than expected due to the good performance he gave during the campaign. 7 goals and 5 assists in the 26 games he played. Despite this, at the end of the loan he returned to a Chelsea who repeated the formula to send Benayoun to another London team, in this case to West Ham.

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Petr Cech, from Chelsea to Arsenal for 14 million (2015)

Petr Cech will always be remembered as one of the best goalkeepers of the Premier League era. After four leagues, a Champions League, four Cups, three League Cups, four Community Shields and eleven seasons defending the 'blues', Changed neighborhoods in 2011. Without a doubt, Arsenal's most successful signing in their continued fishing at Chelsea. Despite arriving at the age of 33, the Czech goalkeeper was crucial for the 'gunners'. It is true that it went from more to less, but it should be noted that to his record in his four courses at Emirates he added a Cup and two Community Shields. At 36 he hung up his gloves to return to Stamford Bridge as sports director.

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David Luiz, from Chelsea to Arsenal for 8'7 million (2019)

Surely David Luiz has been one of the most criticized players of this last season at Arsenal. Numerous have been his mistakes in defense (examples such as the matches against Manchester City or Tottenham) that cost his team points that, despite this, even decided to renew the 33-year-old Brazilian central defender to silence the criticism and rumors that pointed to a possible way out. Too It should be noted that in his first year at the Emirates, he was proclaimed champion of the FA Cup, precisely against Chelsea. Things of destiny.

Willian Borges, from Cheseal to Arsenal for free (2020)

The last to arrive and the one who awakens the most enthusiasm among all the Arsenal fans. Age (32 years) has once again been one of the main topics of debate. However, the possibility of being able to get their services for free means that they can become one of the most profitable signings. And it is that the Brazilian winger has been giving an excellent performance in his seasons with Chelsea. A total of seven courses have been those that have been wearing the elastic 'blue', Where he has always been a differential player and who has contributed. 63 goals and 62 assists They are numbers to take into account when passing through the Bridge.

In addition to all of them, there are also many names that made the reverse path. Such as those of Ashley cole (2007) u Olivier giroud (2018), not counting those who made a previous step through other clubs such as Emmanuel Petit, Cesc Fabregas or Nicolas Anelka. A mutually beneficial trend that seems, despite the existing rivalry, no longer looks to be going away.