Match report: Arsenal 0 Chelsea 0
NEWS2 hours
A hard-fought London derby ended goalless with defences on top, keeping the Blues 10 points clear at the top of the table.
In what was a tight encounter, we can point to first-half penalty decisions turned down when considering what might have decided the match.
Oscar – twice – and the returning Cesc Fabregas were all brought down in the box. The Brazilian in particular can feel very hard done by, especially when David Ospina wiped him out well after the ball had gone.
The Blues’ best chance came when Ramires shot straight at Ospina from close range; at the other end,Thibaut Courtois had almost no meaningful saves to make. He and the defence were outstanding, limiting Arsenal to very little.
So it’s as you were at the top of the Premier League table. If Chelsea win our next two matches, at Leicester and at home to Crystal Palace a week today, we will be champions.
TEAM NEWS
With plenty of the pre-match talk centred on the availability of our strikers, in the end Jose Mourinhoopted for none in his starting line-up with both Diego Costa and Loic Remy unavailable. Didier Drogbastarted on the bench.
A fluid front four of Hazard, Ramires, Willian and Oscar spearheaded the Chelsea attack, with the latter most frequently the furthest man forward. That meant Nemanja Matic was joined in the centre of the park by Fabregas. The back five had a familiar look, and included three defenders voted into the PFA Team of the Year earlier today – Branislav Ivanovic, Gary Cahill and John Terry. Hazard, Matic and Diego Costawere also selected in a Chelsea-dominant XI.
Arsene Wenger named an unchanged side from the one that beat Reading in the cup last weekend.
Before kick-off, there was an impeccably-observed minute’s silence to mark the 30th anniversary of the Valley Parade fire disaster.
FIRST HALF
It was the visitors in all blue that dominated early possession of the ball, though the first moments of penalty-box action required Courtois to hold a Cazorla free-kick, and Cahill and then Ramires to clear a dangerous corner.
At the other end Oscar had a strong claim for a penalty after Bellerin caught his back leg. Five minutes had been played, with a good tempo maintained by both sides.
That looked harsh on our number eight but worse was to follow soon after when he was clobbered by Ospina having reached an immaculate Fabregas long ball before the Colombian keeper. Oscar’s flick goalwards was cleared from close to the line by Hector Bellerin, but not before Ospina had thundered into his face and body with considerable force.
It was no wonder Oscar required treatment; what was a surprise was that Michael Oliver didn’t award a penalty.
The referee had another decision to make when Fabregas tricked his way into the box past Cazorla; his compatriot dangled a leg, Fabregas went down but the man with the whistle deemed it simulation and booked the former Gunner. Again, though, it looked like there was contact.
Immediately after Arsenal had a penalty appeal of their own waved away – for handball against Cahill – the breaking Hazard was pulled back by Coquelin. He followed Fabregas into the book.
The Blues continued to look a threat going forward, quashing pre-match talk that suggested this would be a defensive Chelsea performance. Willian, enjoying an excellent opening half, danced through the Arsenal midfield before slipping in Ramires with a cute, angled ball. Frustratingly his first-time prod for goal lacked the power to beat Ospina. It was as good a chance as either side mustered all game.
Arsenal’s best opening came on 40 minutes when Sanchez, kept pretty quiet up to that point (often by the rugged Ivanovic), got inside Fabregas but dragged his effort well wide. Ozil then shot straight at Courtois after some penalty-box pinball, but the teams went in level after an entertaining opening act.
SECOND HALF
Drogba was introduced before play got underway again, against the team he has tormented more than any other over the years. Oscar, perhaps still suffering from the blow Ospina dealt him, was withdrawn. Fabregas moved forward, into the number 10 role, with Ramires dropping back alongside Matic.
It felt like the break had taken some of the fizzle out of proceedings, with little to report before the hour mark was up. Monreal wasted a good opening on the left and Hazard thrashed high and wide after cutting in from the left in trademark style. Drogba won three headers early on, too, proof of what he would bring to the attack.
Terry was alert to clear a threatening low Montreal centre, and as we broke after Courtois had claimed the resulting corner, Willian teed up Drogba outside the box. His curler was on target but not struck with power.
Mertesacker was given a presentable opening midway through the half when Courtois could only palm an inswinging free-kick the big German’s way. He snatched at the chance with plenty of bodies to try and find a way through. Willian was booked in the build-up for raising his foot. Ivanovic followed him for kicking Sanchez.
Then Fabregas stole the ball in midfield and picked out Drogba wide right. He cut inside into the area but met an army of red shirts, one of which deflected his effort behind.
Arsenal’s need of a win was arguably the greater, reflected when Wenger brought Welbeck on for Coquelin with 15 minutes remaining. Just before that, Cazorla dragged a good opportunity wide of Courtois’ left-hand post after finding a rare bit of space in the Chelsea box.
After palming a deflected Welbeck cross behind, Courtois rose to claim a corner. It embodied the confident and effective defending a diligent Blues backline displayed throughout. On this form, it is no wonder three of the back five were chosen by their fellow professionals in the team of the season.
Ramsey, Cazorla and Monreal were all booked towards the game’s conclusion for cynically halting Chelsea breaks. When Fabregas was subbed off in added time, the boos he had received from the home supporters all game turned to applause.
There was one late scare, when Ozil and Welbeck missed their kick close to goal, but this was a valuable and well-deserved point at the home of our closest challengers – who stay 10 points behind the table-topping Blues.
Chelsea (4-3-3): Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry (c), Azpilicueta; Matic, Fabregas (Zouma 90), Willian (Cuadrado 90+3); Ramires, Oscar (Drogba h/t), Hazard.
Unused subs Cech, Filipe Luis, Mikel, Loftus-Cheek.
Booked Fabregas 23, Willian 68, Ivanovic 72
Unused subs Cech, Filipe Luis, Mikel, Loftus-Cheek.
Booked Fabregas 23, Willian 68, Ivanovic 72
Arsenal (4-3-3) Ospina; Bellerin, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Monreal; Coquelin (Welbeck 76), Ramsey, Cazorla; Ozil, Giroud (Walcott 84), Sanchez.
Unused subs Szczesny, Debuchy, Gibbs, Flamini, Wilshere.
Booked Coquelin 34, Ramsey 86, Cazorla 90+2, Monreal 90+4
Unused subs Szczesny, Debuchy, Gibbs, Flamini, Wilshere.
Booked Coquelin 34, Ramsey 86, Cazorla 90+2, Monreal 90+4
Referee Michael Oliver
Crowd 60,066
Crowd 60,066
