Didier Drogba’s 84 minute display was superb, but 10 seconds of Chelsea’s 5-1 thrashing of Tottenham Hotspur should stand as proof that Roberto di Matteo must start him against Barcelona on Wednesday. 

The Ivory Coast international may be 34 but his stunning goal at Wembley summed up why he should start against the Champions League holders – and extend his stay at Stamford Bridge

The moment came shortly before the interval. The Blues had just survived a pair of let-offs at the back as Rafael van der Vaart had had a header cleared off the line and a delicious cross had just evaded Emmanuel Adebayor before striking the post. It had been a cagey opening, but if anyone was going to break the deadlock it was Spurs.

Then, John Terry launched a long ball forward, as a method of pressure relief more than attacking intent. Drogba took control with his back to goal, held off William Gallas, flicked it out to his left in a move that seemed to take him away from a threatening position, a notion he dispelled immediately with a dexterous swivel and superb shot past Carlo Cudicini.

The Ivorian may be 34, but his strike was timeless, trademark Drogba – and it summed up completely why Barcelona will fear him far more than Fernando Torres.

Much has been made of Torres’ recent upturn in form, but all of it centres around its gradual nature. His work-rate, build-up play – smart crosses from the right wing, even. His goal to round off Chelsea’s Premier League win at Aston Villa was an encouraging sign of instinct slowly returning, but slowly is clearly the operative word.

The Spaniard is still finding his feet again and carries a visible nervousness in front of the net. His talents are known but there is absolutely zero sense that he is on the verge of an explosive, game-changing moment of brilliance of the kind that Drogba produced at Wembley.

That is the key. Picking weaknesses in this totemic, era-defining Barcelona outfit may seem like pointing out a shred of unripped shirt on the sleeve of the Incredible Hulk, but the aura of impregnability in their defence has waned, and must be targeted by a genuinely threatening striker if any side is to profit against them.

If Drogba starts on Wednesday, Gerard Pique, Carles Puyol et al will be aware that his powers could flare at any moment. That lingering menace creates uncertainty which can be exploited.

He may not be as mobile as he once was, but Chelsea’s bastionary battering ram has proved yet again that he can produce on the big occasion. It is a lesson already learned once this season when he blasted the Blues past Valencia in the crucial final game of the Champions League group stage.

As his age advances, Drogba’s involvement across a whole season is of course decreasing, but it is for games like Wednesday’s for which Di Matteo must save him. It is a policy which should continue into next year.

BY Obakeng Rachwene

Chelsea were left two points adrift of one of the four Champions League places on offer to English teams as Newcastle stole a march on their rivals for top-class European club football on Monday.

Chelsea were held to a 1-1 draw by Fulham, having kicked off knowing they needed to win by two clear goals to go above Newcastle and Tottenham Hotspur into fourth on goal difference after the Magpies beat Bolton 2-0 and Spurs lost 2-1 to Norwich earlier Monday.

The Blues were left two points shy of both Tottenham – their opponents in an FA Cup semifinal at Wembley on Sunday – and Newcastle with five league games of the season left.

Frank Lampard put Chelsea in front at a rainswept Craven Cottage by scoring his 150th Premier League goal – the first midfielder to reach that landmark – from the penalty spot on the stroke of halftime.

But eight minutes from time, United States international Clint Dempsey equalised for Fulham when his header from a corner deflected in off Chelsea defender Gary Cahill.

The Premier League’s top three clubs go into the first round of the Champions League proper, with the fourth-placed side set for a qualifying round.

However, Chelsea could scupper the qualification hopes of any other side that finish fourth by winning this season’s Champions League.

Chelsea are the only English side left in the tournament, although they are up against defending champions Barcelona in the semifinals.

Interim Chelsea manager Roberto di Matteo said a draw was a fair result.

“I thought we were quite in control of the game, to be honest, and maybe we didn’t pose them a threat enough for the second goal,” he told Sky Sports.

“But we’re still in there, hanging in there.

“We knew Craven Cottage is a difficult place to come. We’re getting closer to the teams ahead of us.”

At St James’ Park, France midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa gave Newcastle a sensational 73rd minute lead when he beat several defenders before slipping the ball into the corner.

Newcastle and Senegal striker Papiss Demba Cisse then made it 10 goals in nine games when, from close range, he turned in Shola Ameobi’s cross seven minutes from time.

“It was a special, special goal from Ben Arfa,” said Newcastle manager Alan Pardew. “Hopefully, it will edge the French manager (Laurent Blanc) to include him in the French squad (for Euro 2012).”

Tottenham fell behind at White Hart Lane when Anthony Pilkington fired the Canaries into a 13th minute lead.

But England striker Jermain Defoe drew Tottenham level 20 minutes later.

However, Norwich saw winger Elliott Bennett lash the ball past Brad Friedel as the Spurs defence backed off to make it 2-1 in the 66th minute.

Defeat meant Tottenham had won just once in eight league games.

“It was a bad day but we have to pick ourselves up,” said Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp.

Everton warmed up for their FA Cup semifinal against Merseyside rivals Liverpool at Wembley on Saturday with a 4-0 home rout of Sunderland.

All of the goals at Goodison Park came in a second-half spree, with winger Magaye Gueye firing Everton ahead in the 52nd minute.

The Frenchman then turned provider as South Africa’s Steven Pienaar sealed victory with a 75th minute shot from the edge of the box.

Barely 60 seconds later Leon Osman made it 3-0 before Nigerian striker Victor Anichebe added a fourth nine minutes from time, with Everton resting several players ahead of the Cup semifinal.

Victory also saw seventh-placed Everton go four points clear of Liverpool in their bid to finish above their neighbours for the first time since 2005.

Elsewhere, Aston Villa opened up a seven-point gap between themselves and the bottom three after a 1-1 draw at home to Stoke.

Andreas Weimann’s 32nd minute curling shot put Villa ahead before Robert Huth equalised for Stoke when he headed in a free-kick 19 minutes from time.