Blues secure bore-draw at Arsenal

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Chelsea moved up to fourth in the Premier League - and just two points off top spot - with a battling draw against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

In what was a dour encounter, played in horrendous, gale-force conditions, both teams did exceptionally well to overcome the elements yet failed to ignite a game between two Premier League heavy-weights that could have set the tone for the remainder of the festive period.

Whilst Arsenal threatened twice late on through Olivier Giroud, the best chance of the game fell to Frank Lampard, who smacked a tremendous volley against the crossbar. Both Fernando Torres and then Willian found Gunners keeper Wojciech Szczesny in defiant form with efforts of their own as the Blues enjoyed the better of the first half.

Arsenal predictably demonstrated a more attacking outlook after the interval following an at best tentative showing prior to half-time, but, those two opportunities for Giroud aside, they never looked like seriously troubling Petr Cech, who, on his 309th league appearance for the West Londoners, recorded his 150th Premier League clean sheet.

The home support thought they should have had a first-half penalty when Theo Walcott flung himself to the ground after minimal contact from Willian - in truth, that desperation demonstrates just how toothless Arsenal were in trying to unpick their cross-town rivals, with José Mourinho, in the meantime, maintaining his undefeated streak against Arsene Wenger - a run now standing at an impressive ten games.

The result does little for either team, and ensures Liverpool top the table over Christmas - but with the Merseysiders taking on Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium and Arsenal travelling to in-form Newcastle on Boxing Day, that lead may well be short-lived should the Blues themselves overcome Swansea on the same day.

Ultimately, a draw was a deserved result - the Arsenal fans may have labelled the Blues "boring", but in truth, Chelsea shaded this match, and one wonders what the outcome might have been had Mourinho been a little more cavalier in his approach. Yet, the gap at the top is nonetheless reduced to a mere two points - and back-to-back triumphs over Swansea and then Liverpool at Stamford Bridge may well put the Blues in the driving seat heading into the New Year. Not bad for a team in crisis...

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