Chelsea 2-0 Arsenal: Gunners undone by Eden Hazard as Arsene Wenger continues to suffer against Jose Mourinho
- Kick off delayed by 15 minutes
- Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho clash on the touchline after Gary Cahill foul
- Eden Hazard puts Chelsea ahead from the penalty spot after foul by Laurent Koscielny
- Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois forced off and taken to hospital after head injury
A one-man team? Chelsea are so much more than that this season. Those who believe the title race rests on the hamstrings of Diego Costa may have to reconsider after this.
For a good 75 minutes, Arsenal snuffed out Costa’s threat. It did not matter. Chelsea were still on course for victory, through the quite brilliant Eden Hazard.
Just when Arsenal began imagining they might get a point from the game, a perfect long pass by Cesc Fabregas killed them.
Outstanding at the back, tireless through midfield, this Chelsea team is the real deal. They are five points clear of their nearest rival, Manchester City, after seven games going into the October international break and if that margin is repeated through the season the title comes to Stamford Bridge before the first blossoms of spring.
As the Premier League does not get won by gaps of 25 points that it unlikely to happen, but finding a way of stopping Chelsea in this form is easier said than done.
Not least because when Thibaut Courtois, arguably the best goalkeeper in the league, gets injured, his replacement is Petr Cech, arguably the second best goalkeeper in the league.
Chelsea’s strength in depth sets them apart. Jose Mourinho has built a powerful squad, full of options and nuance.
This was not the 6-0 monstering of Arsenal from a year ago, but it was impressive nonetheless.
Aside from a Jack Wilshere shot that struck Fabregas’s hand, inspiring a penalty shout, Arsenal did not really threaten.
They had good possession, minus the cutting edge and Danny Welbeck was made to work too hard to have an impact.
He ran and ran, but barely got a touch in an area that mattered. Chelsea cut to the heart of the matter at least twice. Once, when Hazard burst into the penalty area, again when Fabregas set up Costa for his ninth goal in seven Premier League games.
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