Chelsea 2 Arsenal 0

Last updated : 19 September 2015 By Paul Lagan

Chelsea are back - a fully deserved 2-0 victory over title rival Arsenal who self-destructed by having two men sent off - Gabriel for violent play and Santi Cazorla for two yellow cards.

But that was only half the story. This was a rejuvenated Chelsea, unmistakable from earlier league outings and they dominated Arsenal when they had 11 men and toyed with them when down to nine.
Kurt Zouma opened his Chelsea league account eight minutes after the restart with a glancing header form a Cesc Fabregas free kick with Arsenal down to 10 men.
On the stroke of the half-time whistle, Gabriel incredibly back-heeled out at Diego Costa.
Referee Mike Dean was on the spot and saw it and rightly sent off the Brazilian.
Costa had seconds earlier luckily remained on the pitch when no action was taken by Dean, despite first chest bumping Laurent Koscielny, then slapping him in the face - twice.
Perhaps this was the luck Mourinho said his side had been lacking in recent matches.
They certainly took advantage of it and when Arsenal were reduced to nine men within 11 minutes left, Chelsea knew the points were won.
But they still had time to hit number two on 91 minutes when a deflected Hazard shot zipped post hapless Peter Cech
A tense opening couple of minutes with both side,met sting each other's defences with early through balls.
But the first effort on goal came from the boot of ex-Arsenal man Cesc Fabregas who sizzled a right-footer that ex-Chelsea man Petr Cech comfortably held on six minutes.
Two live wire Theo Walcott was called offside - a dangerous game played by the Chelsea rearguard.
Chelsea took control of the match, dominating possession, but no end product in terms of a goal.
A speculative shot by Diego Costa on 23 minutes, was again expertly handled by Cech.
Arsenal finally made Asmir Begovic earn his wages, when on 28 minutes, Walcott was put through by Sanchez. But the England striker's drive did not faze the Bosnian goalkkker who smothered the ball easily.
Cesc Fabregas cut the Arsenal defence a
Art with a majestic ball to the path of Pedro. The Spain wide man coolly got the ball under control six yards out but Cech was quick to snaffle the effort.
Eden Hazard thought he had won a penalty after a long run was ended when he and Gabriel locked bodies in the penalty area on 33 minutes
But referee Mike Dean opted to favour the defender, much to the annoyance of Jose Mourinho.
A Kurt Zouma pile driver from 30 yards earned applause from the crowd but sailed over Cech crossbar.
Chelsea piled on the pressure and Cech was forced into another's ace, this time from Pedro.
It all kicked off on the stroke of half time with a yellow card for Gabriel and Costa.Gabriel was unlucky as he had tried to act as peacemaker when Costa and Laurent Kiscielney clashed. Costa chested these fender to the ground, then put his hands into his face.
Quite how the Chelsea man remained on the pitch was a mystery. But what was clear was when
Dean showed a straight red for Gabriel at the bounce-up on the half-way line the Arsenal man appeared to give Costa a back-heel flick.
Arsene Wenger replaced Francis Coquelin with defender Calum Chambers during the break.with the man advantage. Chelsea piled on the pressure - Costa plauged the Arsenal defence with high-energy runs, but each time he was thwarted by dogged defending.
But the home side finally breached the def me on 52 minutes and it was simplify itself.
A curling clipped free-kick by Fabregas was met by the glancing head of in-running Kurt Zouma who swept the ball past Cech from close range.
Despite a strong showing with 10 minutes of the game left, the visitors went into self-destruct mode when already booked Santi Cazola needlessly scythed down Cesar Azpilicutea and was handed a second yellow card then a red.
It was effectively game over but with the first minute of five added minutes at the end of the game, time the Blues doubled their lead through the boot of Hazard from just inside the Arsenal penalty area.
It took a deflection on the way past Cech off Chambers, but Hazard will claim it, Chambers certainly won't

 

 

 

 

Teams: Begovic, Ivanovic, Fabregas, Zouma, Oscar, Hazard, Pedro, Costa, Matic, Cahill, Azpilicueta
Subs: Blackman, Ramires, Falcao, Mikel, Remy, Terry, Loftus-Cheek

Arsenal: Cech, Gabriel, Koscielny, Ozil, Walcott, Ramsey, SNchez, Monreal, Zazola, Bellerin, Coquelin
Subs: Ospina, Bebuchy, Gibbs, Arteta, Giroud, Oxlade-Chaberlain, Chambers

Referee: Michael Dean