Chelsea continued their fantastic Premier League form with an impressive 2-0 win over Arsenal.
The London derby was delayed by 15 minutes due to a group of some 3000 Arsenal supporters setting off flares inside the away stand of Stamford Bridge. The first chance of the game came to Arsenal when Alexis Sanchez had a shot from 30-yards-out go just wide of the post. Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was substituted for Petr Cech in the 24th minute after the Belgian keeper suffered a head injury after colliding with Sanchez earlier in the game, and the 22-year-old was taken to hospital as a precaution.
Chelsea took the lead in the 26th minute after the Blues were awarded a penalty after a brilliant, mazing run from Eden Hazard resulted in Koscienly brining the Belgian winger down in the penalty box. Hazard stepped up to the spot and the 23-year-old neatly put the ball past Szczesny to give the hosts the lead. Jack Wilshere came close to equalising in the 30th minute after the English midfielder was left unmarked inside the box; however, his first touch was just too strong and Cech easily collected the ball. The touchline was even tenser than the action on the field, with Wenger confronting Mourinho after Cahill recklessly challenged in hard on Sanchez right on the touchline in the 20th minute. This resulted in a furious Wenger violently pushing Mourinho in anger. Despite this drastic reaction from the Arsenal manager, he was not sent to the stand and both managers received warnings from the referee, Martin Atkinson.
Arsenal started the second half the brightest as in the 49th minute Santi Cazorla came close to equalising for the visitors. After some brilliant team play from the Gunners, Wilshere ran over the ball to set up an unmarked Cazorla on the edge of the penalty box, but the Spaniard’s shot went just wide of Petr Cech. Flamini almost gave the hosts a two-goal advantage in the 57th minute. Hazard sent in good low cross and Flamini’s clearance went in the completely opposite direction, but Szczesny managed to pull of a great save to prevent an own goal. There were shouts for handball in the 64th minute when Jack Wilshere had a wicked shot from outside the box that seemed to come off former Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas’ hand, but Atkinson waved off the penalty claim and Arsenal were awarded a corner. Chelsea again came close to doubling their advantage; Diego Costa laid the ball off to Eden Hazard inside the penalty box, but his close ranged effort flew over the bar and out for a goal kick.
Chelsea finally got their second goal of the match in the 77th minute and what a goal it was. Former Arsenal man Cesc Fabregas drifted an inch perfect cross over the top to Diego Costa and the Spanish striker managed to beat his man. The 25-year-old chipped the ball over the onrushing Arsenal keeper to make it 2-0 to Chelsea and to increase his own goal tally to 9 goals in 7 games. Danny Welbeck was lucky not to have been sent off in the 90th minute after the former Manchester United striker dived in late - with the studs showing - on Cesc Fabregas. However, the English striker was only shown a yellow card.