Match report: Chelsea 2 Arsenal 0 A goal in either half was enough to settle a fierce London derby at Stamford Bridge thanks to goals from Eden Hazard and Diego Costa. Chelsea’s excellent start to the campaign continued as the Blues moved five points clear at the top of the Premier League and Jose Mourinho maintained his record of never having lost to Arsene Wenger. An intense afternoon at the Bridge was settled by two individual pieces of brilliance. First, Hazard’s mazy run drew a foul inside the box allowing him to put us in front from the penalty spot midway through the first half, and then Cesc Fabregas, facing his old team, produced an inch-perfect pass to release Diego Costa who made no mistake with a clinical finish. It was a hugely satisfying afternoon, but with one sour note being the head injury sustained by Thibaut Courtois in the first half. An accidental clash with Alexis Sanchez forced the Chelsea goalkeeper’s substitution, with Petr Cech excellent as his replacement. TEAM NEWS Jose Mourinho made just one change from the side which won in Lisbon on Tuesday night, with Cesar Azpilicueta recalled in place of Filipe Luis at left-back for his 100th Chelsea appearance. That meant a start for Andre Schurrle alongside Oscar and Hazard, in behind Diego Costa in attack. Cesc Fabregas faced his former club for the first time as a Blue. Arsenal, who were in Champions League action a day later than us on Wednesday beating Galatasaray 4-1 at home, started with Santi Cazorla, Jack Wilhere and Mathieu Flamini in a three-man midfield, with Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez supporting main striker Danny Welbeck. The game was delayed by 15 minutes, with Arsenal captain Per Mertesacker opting to switch ends having won the toss. That meant Chelsea unusually attacking the Matthew Harding end in the first half. FIRST HALF The visitors started brightly and could boast the lion’s share of possession in the opening stages, the extra man in the middle seemingly providing an advantage. An early lofted pass beyond the Chelsea defence had Sanchez racing to beat Courtois to the ball but the goalkeeper just got there first,. The Chilean was unable to avoid making contact and his thigh hit Courtois’ head hard, temporarily rendering him unconscious. After treatment he looked okay to continue but was forced off soon after. Cech, on in his place, received a huge ovation from the home support. Between the injury and substitution, Chelsea improved and tempers flared on the pitch and off it, but there was little excitement. That changed after 26 minutes, when Hazard took possession midway inside the Arsenal half and danced sublimely past two challenges before committing Laurent Koscielny into a clumsy tackle inside the box. Referee Martin Atkinson did not hesitate in pointing to the spot and cautioning the Frenchman. Hazard assumed responsibility for the penalty and in trademark fashion stroked home into the bottom corner, sending Wojciech Szczesny the wrong way. Chelsea were in front and Stamford Bridge was rocking. Wilshere could have put Arsenal level when he found a clear route to goal but his first touch gave Cech the chance to rush from his line at claim at the midfielder’s feet. For all their possession it was Arsenal’s best chance of the half. They were doing a decent job of reaching Chelsea’s final third, but a well organised defence and poor decision making were costing the Gunners. Jose Mourinho would be demanding more from his side in attack after the break, but satisfied with the shape the game was taking. SECOND HALF Arsenal started well once more, with Cazorla flashing a shot just wide of Cech’s left-hand post before the Blues were almost gifted a second goal when Hazard again got the better of Calum Chambers before crossing low into the area. Flamini cut it out but sliced his clearance onto the post and behind for a corner, which was claimed easily by Szczesny. Just after the hour mark Wilshere saw his shot deflected behind off Fabregas. He was awarded a corner but protested vehemently that the Spaniard had handled. Atkinson said not. Wenger introduced Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in place of Cazorla as the game entered its final quarter. Mourinho countered by replacing Schurrle, who had been quiet, with John Mikel Obi who would add another layer of protection in front of the defence. Chelsea were looking increasingly comfortable with Arsenal’s threat and a breakaway from Diego Costa, who had to that stage been subdued, set up Hazard inside the box. The Belgian knocked the ball past his marker but from a tight angle shot high into the Shed. Our next chance wasn’t long coming, and it would fall to the right man. Under pressure from red shirts, Fabregas played a superb pass into space beyond the Arsenal backline, and Diego Costa was on hand to compose himself and dink the ball over Szczesny into the net. Game over. Both sides used their allotted number of subs as Arsenal sought a way back in, but Chelsea remained organised and when they did break though, Cech was on hand to prevent Lukas Podolski from scoring with a smart save at close range. On 90 minutes Welbeck was booked for an ugly challenge on the excellent Fabregas, before Diego Costa had the chance to claim his second of the afternoon, but somehow lifted Branislav Ivanovic’s cross over the bar. He will have been pleased to see the offside flag raised just afterwards. At the final whistle there were huge celebrations, and we now go into the international break with a healthy lead at the top of the table. Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Courtois (Cech 23); Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry (c), Azpilicueta; Matic, Fabregas; Schurrle (Mikel 68), Oscar (Willian 86), Hazard; Diego Costa. Unused substitutes: Filipe Luis, Zouma, Salah, Remy. Goals Hazard (pen) 27, Diego Costa 77 Booked Ivanovic 52, Oscar 85 Arsenal (4-3-3): Szczesny; Chambers, Mertesacker (c), Koscielny, Gibbs; Cazorla (Oxlade- Chamberlain 68), Flamini, Wilshere (Rosicky 82); Ozil, Welbeck, Sanchez (Podolski 78). Unused substitutes: Martinez, Monreal, Coquelin, Campbell. Booked Chambers 21, Koscielny 26, Welbeck 90 Referee Martin Atkinson UP CHELSEA!Up blues!!true blues
Posted on: Sun, 05 Oct 2014 15:31:23 +0000
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