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Sunday 5 October 2014

Chelsea 2-0 Arsenal: Gunners Undone By Eden Hazard As Arsene Wenger Continues To Suffer Against Jose Mourinho

.Cesc Fabregas picked out the pass. That will have hurt. Diego Costa supplied the timely finish that gave the scoreline emphasis. Another slap in the face. Yet what should really worry Arsenal, and the rest of the Premier League, was that this was the performance that proved Chelsea were no one-man team. Yes, Costa scored - again. But he was not needed, such was the excellence of Eden Hazard's performance. Even without Costa, Chelsea had found a way to win. Their title challenge might not hinge on one man, after all.

Cesc Fabregas picked out the pass. That will have hurt. Diego Coasta supplied the timely finish that gave the scoreline emphasis. Another slap in the face.
Yet what should really worry Arsenal, and the rest of the Premier League, was that this was the performance that proved Chelsea were no one-man team. 
Yes, Costa scored – again. But he was not needed, such was the excellence of Eden Hazard’s performance. Even without Costa, Chelsea had found a way to win. Their title challenge might not hinge on one man, after all. 
Eden Hazard scores the opening goal for Chelsea from the penalty spot after the Belgian forward had been brought down by Laurent Koscielny for the penalty
Two police horses patrol outside Stamford Bridge as the game was delayed by 15 minutes following a flare going off in the away end of the ground
Two police horses patrol outside Stamford Bridge as the game was delayed by 15 minutes following a flare going off in the away end of the ground
Jack Wilshere was recalled to the Arsenal midfield, in part to help provide solidity against former Gunners star Cesc Fabregas, who has started the season brilliantly
Jack Wilshere was recalled to the Arsenal midfield, in part to help provide solidity against former Gunners star Cesc Fabregas, who has started the season brilliantly
Young Arsenal fullback Callum Chambers takes the ball away from Chelsea's in-form striker Diego Costa in front of watching England manager Roy Hodgson
Young Arsenal fullback Callum Chambers takes the ball away from Chelsea's in-form striker Diego Costa in front of watching England manager Roy Hodgson

MATCH FACTS 

Chelsea: Courtois, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta, Matic, Fabregas, Schurrle, Oscar, Hazard, Costa. 
Subs: Cech, Luis, Zouma, Mikel, Salah, Remy, Willian.
Goals: Hazard, Costa 
Arsenal: Szczesny, Chambers, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Flamini, Sanchez, Wilshere, Cazorla, Ozil, Welbeck. 
Subs: Rosicky, Podolski, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Monreal, Martinez, Campbell, Coquelin.
Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire)

Arsenal found a way of stopping the prolific Costa for all of 78 minutes, but it made no difference. 
They did not go down by six, as happened last season, but one would have been enough and it fell to Chelsea’s man of the match to deliver it.
With Costa snuffed out for much of the game, Hazard rose to the occasion, winning and converting the penalty that first separated these teams. He was exceptional, running at Arsenal, committing them, unnerving them every time he got in or around the box. 
When Costa did escape the shackles of Arsenal’s back line it was to set up Hazard who arrived later, Frank Lampard style, but shot over the bar with 15 minutes remaining.
And then the moment every Arsenal fan, deep down, had dreaded. Fabregas, playing his first game for his new club in England against the one that made his name, playing the sort of pass that used to define games in the red and white of Arsenal – long and accurate, setting up Costa for a chance that was only ever going to be a goal.
On he ran, outstripping Arsenal’s defence before drawing Wojciech Szczesny and lobbing him, deftly, to out the result beyond doubt. 
Chelsea go into the October international break five points clear of nearest rivals Manchester City after just seven games. Repeat that through the season and the title comes to Stamford Bridge before the first blossoms of spring. The rest must find a way of stopping them. Easier said than done, in this nick. 
England manager Hodgson was at Stamford Bridge to see the likes of Chambers, Kieran Gibbs, Wilshere and Danny Welbeck for Arsenal, and Chelsea's Gary Cahill
Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez looked bright for the visitors, getting an early shot away as the Gunners attempted to right the wrongs of last season's 6-0 thrashing
Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez looked bright for the visitors, getting an early shot away as the Gunners attempted to right the wrongs of last season's 6-0 thrashing
Thibaut Courtois suffered a heavy blow when he came out to challenge Alexis Sanchez but played on for a while despite what looked like a serious injury
Thibaut Courtois suffered a heavy blow when he came out to challenge Alexis Sanchez but played on for a while despite what looked like a serious injury
Sanchez immediately shows concern for Courtois as the keeper appeared badly hurt on the pitch and the Chelsea goalkeeper had to be treated by paramedics after
Sanchez immediately shows concern for Courtois as the keeper appeared badly hurt on the pitch and the Chelsea goalkeeper had to be treated by paramedics after

It is not just league position or points totals that make Chelsea the early favourites for this title. When Thibaut Courtois was forced to leave the field after 23 minutes, the identity of his replacement gave some indication of Chelsea’s incredible strength in depth.
Petr Cech, arguably the best goalkeeper of last season, has been reduced to the understudy role in this campaign. Arsenal were rumoured to have wanted him, but Chelsea would not sell to a rival on this occasion. 
Sunday’s match showed why. Losing the outstanding Courtois does not seem such a loss when the man taking his place is as good, just older. 
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger advances on Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho after the former complained about a nasty tackle from Cahil on Sanchez
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger advances on Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho after the former complained about a nasty tackle from Cahil on Sanchez
Wenger pushes his opposite number as the two managers, who have had a long-running feud, fought on the side of the pitch
Wenger pushes his opposite number as the two managers, who have had a long-running feud, fought on the side of the pitch
The scrap between the two managers certainly raised the atmosphere at Stamford Bridge, and Wenger was even more unhappy when Arsenal fell behind soon after
The scrap between the two managers certainly raised the atmosphere at Stamford Bridge, and Wenger was even more unhappy when Arsenal fell behind soon after
Hazard goes down under the clumsy challenge of Koscielny to earn Chelsea the penalty that went a long way towards winning them the game
Hazard goes down under the clumsy challenge of Koscielny to earn Chelsea the penalty that went a long way towards winning them the game

Courtois had soldiered on for 13 minutes before conceding that, yes, a collision with Alexis Sanchez had affected his vision. He took the full weight of Sanchez’s thigh on the run to the head and at first looked out cold, splayed like a boxer on the receiving end of a sucker punch.
Revived, Courtois continued, but a break in play saw him sit down and call for treatment, and there appeared to be evidence of bleeding in his right ear. There has been much discussion of late about the treatment of head injuries, but one of the complications is that players tend to disguise the extent of any problem.
Courtois would no doubt have been asked had he lost consciousness and whether he could see straight, and would have replied to the medical team’s satisfaction. It took a while for him to admit the truth. He was replaced by Cech and taken to hospital for the standard precautionary tests. 
Laurent Koscielny pleads his innocence after referee Martin Atkinson points to the spot, but his tackle on Hazard was a clear penalty 
Laurent Koscielny pleads his innocence after referee Martin Atkinson points to the spot, but his tackle on Hazard was a clear penalty 
Hazard sends Wojciech Szczesny the wrong way to put Chelsea ahead after his brilliant run through the centre of Arsenal's defence had earned the penalty
Hazard sends Wojciech Szczesny the wrong way to put Chelsea ahead after his brilliant run through the centre of Arsenal's defence had earned the penalty
Hazard celebrates with his teammates after putting Chelsea ahead as they looked to continue their unbeaten start to the season at the expense of Arsenal
Hazard celebrates with his teammates after putting Chelsea ahead as they looked to continue their unbeaten start to the season at the expense of Arsenal
Mesut Ozil, who looked off the pace again after being returned to the left hand side, tries to hold off Chelsea right back Cesar Azpilicueta
Mesut Ozil, who looked off the pace again after being returned to the left hand side, tries to hold off Chelsea right back Cesar Azpilicueta

The value of Cech was seen almost immediately. Within seven minutes of coming on he had made a quite magnificent anticipatory save at the feet of Jack Wilshere, having been put in by a square pass from Santi Cazorla. By that time, however, Arsenal were no longer searching for the lead, but an equaliser.
The breakthrough had come in the 27th minute after a quite brilliant run by Eden Hazard. There was a touch of the mazy Maradonas about the way he jinked through Arsenal’s defences, before Laurent Koscielny dashed across and felled him with a clumsy tackle that earned a booking and, more calamitously, a penalty. Hazard took it, slipping the ball low to the right as Wojciech Szczesny dived the wrong way.
It was a game of high excitement but limited opportunity. Sanchez had a shot fly harmlessly wide after three minutes, but there Arsenal’s first-half chances ended. 
Chelsea, too, were kept at bay. Fortunately, while the main event may have been light on punches thrown, the undercard shaped up nicely. 
Hazard gets a foot in to stop Santi Cazorla's progress as Arsenal looked to get back on level terms in the second half 
Hazard gets a foot in to stop Santi Cazorla's progress as Arsenal looked to get back on level terms in the second half 
Jose Mourinho tells Brazilian midfielder Oscar what he expects of him as Chelsea began to sit back and defend their slender lead at home to Arsenal
Jose Mourinho tells Brazilian midfielder Oscar what he expects of him as Chelsea began to sit back and defend their slender lead at home to Arsenal
Andre Schurrle throws himself in front of a Chambers clearance as the German worked extremely hard defensively before being replaced by John Obi Mikel
Andre Schurrle throws himself in front of a Chambers clearance as the German worked extremely hard defensively before being replaced by John Obi Mikel

In the 21st minute a foul by Gary Cahill on Sanchez brought Arsene Wenger to his feet in a furious rage. He marched down the touchline towards the incident, encroaching on Chelsea’s technical area in the process. 
This upset Jose Mourinho who attempted to stop him, at which point Wenger placed both hands on the Chelsea manager’s chest and gave him a shove.
For a split second, Mourinho seemed a little concerned, as if he might have to summon John Terry or Diego Costa as back-up. 
Instead, the fourth official stepped in and restored order, although Wenger did seem keen to go back for seconds. He retired to his corner, an amused smile on his face, with the look of a man who had taken round one on points at least, if not the fight itself.


Via -.Dailymail.

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