When Arsenal produced almost seamless form during the second part of the 1997-98 Premier League campaign to win the title, the likes of Tony Adams, Marc Overmars and Dennis Bergkamp all received high praise.
However, also in Arsene Wenger's squad was a young emerging English midfielder by the name of Stephen Hughes, who made 27 appearances in all competitions during that season. He also scored three times, all of which came against the same opposition.
In January 1998 he scored one of Arsenal's two goals in a victory over London rivals Chelsea in the League Cup and he found himself included in the home side's starting lineup for the league clash against the Blues 16 years ago today.
The Gunners were just behind their second-placed visitors in the standings, but they went about bridging that gap in the sixth minute at Highbury. Nicolas Anelka saw his initial effort blocked by Chelsea goalkeeper Ed de Goey, but Hughes was on hand to convert the rebound from the edge of the penalty area.
Soon after, Arsenal centre-back Steve Bould escaped a red card when, as the last man, he hauled down Gianluca Vialli. However, referee Dermot Gallagher deemed the offence worthy of just a yellow card.
Arsenal then went on to make the most of their good fortune three minutes before the break. Bergkamp's cross towards the back post was nodded back into the danger zone by Adams for Hughes, who reacted quickest to head in his second goal of the game.
Chelsea enjoyed more of the possession after the restart, but it was the hosts that looked the more likely to score the match's third goal. Anelka was twice foiled by De Goey, while Ian Wright came off the bench in the closing stages, only to see his shot from a narrow angle skid wide of the target.
The West Londoners were unable to make the most of those misses, though, as Hughes's double proved to be the difference between the two sides.
ARSENAL: Seaman; Grimandi (Dixon), Winterburn, Adams, Bould; Hughes, Petit, Parlour, Overmars (Platt); Bergkamp, Anelka (Wright)
CHELSEA: De Goey; Petrescu (Granville), Leboeuf, Duberry, Le Saux; Di Matteo, Wise, Newton (Flo), Charvet; Vialli (Zola), Hughes
Liam Apicella
