Day: November 11, 2024
Chelsea FC 1 Arsenal 1
Pedro Neto drilled in a fine equaliser as Chelsea and Arsenal both missed the chance to make up ground on Premier League leaders Liverpool following an entertaining draw at Stamford Bridge. The result leaves the two teams on 19 points, nine adrift of top spot, and Arsenal without a win in their past five games in all competitions. The visitors opened the scoring when Gabriel Martinelli slammed the ball past Blues keeper Robert Sanchez at his near post after collecting a back-post cross from the returning Martin Odegaard.
Chelsea’s leveller was deserved. Neto ran on to an Enzo Fernandez pass before cutting inside and striking a powerful low left-footed shot past David Raya’s dive. England winger Bukayo Saka limped off late on with an injury as both sides strived to create a winning chance. Arsenal came closest but Leandro Trossard was unable to divert William Saliba’s cross into the net from six yards, a second before referee Michael Oliver blew for full-time. Chelsea have lost once in their past 10 matches and played like a team filled with confidence.
Cole Palmer set the tone when his long-range strike was tipped over by Raya before Malo Gusto headed a good chance over the bar from close range. Martinelli also had a good chance in the first half before Kai Havertz had a strike ruled out for offside. This was always going to be an important game for Arsenal but more so after Liverpool’s win over Aston Villa on Saturday which meant the Gunners started the day 10 points off the top of the table. Manager Mikel Arteta was able to start captain Odegaard for the first time in two months after his return from an ankle injury and as he grew into the game he had a big influence on the Arsenal midfield.
Why Is The Poppy So Closely Associated With Remembrance Day?
Armistice Day commemorates the end of World War I on November 11, 1918, when the Allied forces and Germany signed an armistice agreement. The armistice took effect at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month, formally ending hostilities on the Western Front after four years of devastating warfare. Armistice Day is now observed in many countries as a day to remember and honor all who served and sacrificed in military conflicts. In the UK, Canada, and other Commonwealth countries, it has become known as Remembrance Day, focusing on honoring those who have served in all wars. In the United States, it is known as Veterans Day, dedicated to honoring military veterans.
The poppy is closely associated with Remembrance Day due to its symbolism and its origins in World War I. The connection began with the poem In Flanders Fields, written in 1915 by Canadian Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae. He wrote the poem after witnessing red poppies growing in the war-torn fields of Flanders, Belgium, where many soldiers had lost their lives. The poppies, growing amidst the devastation, became a symbol of hope, resilience, and remembrance for those who had fallen in battle.
Inspired by the poem, an American academic named Moina Michael promoted the poppy as a symbol of remembrance after the war. The idea spread internationally, and soon the poppy became a widely recognized symbol of remembrance in the British Commonwealth and other countries. Today, wearing a red poppy on Remembrance Day honors the memory of those who served and sacrificed in wars and conflicts worldwide.