Eden Hazard’s superb solo effort set Chelsea on their way to pushing 12 points clear at the top of the Premier League table, as the Blues comfortably dispatched of Arsenal 3-1.
Chelsea started the game quite slowly, as Arsenal pushed high up the pitch and put David Luiz and Thibaut Courtois under pressure. But Marcos Alonso’s anticipation and predatory instincts saw Chelsea take the lead, as the Spaniard nodded home after Diego Costa’s header had rebounded off the bar and back into play.
A lengthy stoppage was subsequently held as Hector Bellerin came off with concussion.
In the second-half Chelsea continued to display their superiority, and were it not for a couple of stray final balls Chelsea could have added to their slender lead. Arsene Wenger again watched from the stands as his side got muscled off the park and nowhere was this more prevalent than when the electric Hazard weaved his way through Arsenal’s statuesque defence, leaving Francis Coquelin embarrassed on the floor, before firing the ball past Petr Cech.
Chelsea’s return to dominance came full circle when Chelsea hero Cech aimlessly cleared the ball to former Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas who volleyed into an empty net. Late substitute Olivier Giroud grabbed one goal back, guiding his header past Courtois, having previously seen the Belgian shot stopper tip his effort round the post from close range.
