Cole: Chelsea can have away day to remember

Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole declared that his side’s superb away record in Europe would inspire the self-belief that they can still overcome Arsenal in their Champions League quarter-final showdown.

Chelsea may have now gone 17 games without having beaten Arsenal after drawing the first leg of their tie at Stamford Bridge.

Having seized a 52nd-minute lead through Eidur Gudjohnsen, they held the advantage for just eight minutes before Robert Pires headed home the equaliser.

Marcel Desailly was sent off late on for two bookable offences – a needless handball and a mistimed tackle – in the space of just three minutes, leaving his side to abandon their search for a winner.

The Frenchman, who will now be suspended for the return fixture, admitted: “The sending off does not matter. What matters is that I will miss the second leg.

“It is the mark of a great team that Arsenal scored when they were having a difficult period but we will still go there and be positive.”