A solitary goal from Diego Costa was enough to see Chelsea leave the Emirates on a high note, defeating a 10-man Arsenal 1-0 early this morning.
The Gunners had the better start to the game, with players such as Matthieu Flamini and Joel Campbell getting possession then looking to stretch the Chelsea defence with pace. Thibaut Courtois was under immediate pressure and it looked as though Arsenal were about to pick their neighbours apart.
Yet the proceedings would change so very quickly, as a 17th minute Willian through ball found Costa on the run. Centre-back Per Mertesacker had little choice but to bring the striker down, though it was a harsh enough challenge to force referee Mark Clattenburg to show the German a straight red card. Like a pack of true predators it only took the visitors minutes to capitalise on the numerical advantage, with some nervy defending allowing Branislav Ivanovic to follow-up on a loose ball with a cross to the near-post that was tapped-in by Costa.
The goal would take much of the air out of the home side’s sails, who lacked attacking intent after the early substitution of Olivier Giroud. Arsenal’s best chance of the game arguably came when Matthieu Flamini struck a looping cross over the bar shortly before halftime.
Although the return of Alexis Sanchez off the bench would gain some momentum after the break, Chelsea quickly settled into a defensive rhythm and shutdown the majority of the Gunner’s attacks, who only tested Courtois once in the latter stages.
The win takes Chelsea up to 13th and a somewhat reachable nine points off sixth place, while Arsenal remain in third place on goal difference.
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Costa antics haunt the Gunners again
Few would have forgotten the events that unfolded when these two met earlier in the season at Stamford Bridge, where a heated battle between Costa and Laurent Koscielny saw the Frenchman controversially sent-off. The infamous Chelsea hitman was once again in the spotlight last night, undoubtedly making the most of Mertesacker’s challenge at the top of the 18-yard box, although Costa was just about one-on-one with Petr Cech.
A sixth goal in as many games from the Spaniard shortly after the red card would prove to be the difference as the Blues once more frustrated their London rivals. After a cross from Nemanja Matic went begging, an inability of the Arsenal defence to clear the lines would let Ivanovic send the ball back into the box, this time met by Costa at the near-post.
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Title hopefuls must show more
Coming into this match in third place and a favourite to claim the title come May, Arsenal fans really were looking to send their bitter enemies home with a crushing defeat. But in a fashion that has become typical of their team when playing Chelsea, the game looked beyond reach for Arsene Wenger’s side after the first-half and the final result may have been as mystifying to the onlookers as Olivier Giroud’s substitution in the 22nd minute.
An early spark coming from the middle of the pitch quickly faded after the hosts conceded and particularly after their key striker was taken out of the game, there was little even the red-hot Ozil or returning Sanchez could do to generate danger – recording just one shot on target in the second-half.
With no apparent signs that league leaders Leicester are slowing down and Sergio Aguero back at his best for Manchester City, this result is a slip-up for an Arsenal side that have had difficulty maintaining the necessary consistency to finish at the summit throughout the campaign.
Arsenal have now gone nine hours and 32 minutes without a #BPL goal against Chelsea #ARSCHE pic.twitter.com/u4VHIK7cfh
— Premier League (@premierleague) January 25, 2016
Stop and start continues under Guus Hiddink
Still undefeated in the Premier League since taking back the Stamford Bridge helm, Guus Hiddink has clearly brought about new spirit in a team that was hovering on the drop zone at the beginning of the New Year. Though for the first 20 minutes of the match Arsenal were having their way in the final-third, with cracks still visible in the defence that has shipped five goals over two games alone in January. The red card for the hosts’ key centre-back and the substitution of Giroud may have handed the game to Chelsea, however, snatching results when they were not the best team on the day was a trademark of their title winning campaign.
There are few occasions more enjoyable for the blue faithful than a win over the Gunners and claiming the double over their fiercest enemies will ease some of the pain this season has brought.
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