Gunners Gagged : Arsenal 0 Chelsea 3

Chelsea tightened their grip on top spot in the Premier League and put a massive dent in Arsenal's own title ambitions with a convincing win at Emirates Stadium.
The Blues, then under Guus Hiddink, were the last team to beat the Gunners on their own ground, ripping them apart 4-1 here in May, reports sportal.nz.
While this encounter was nowhere near as much a one-sided affair, it still highlighted the gulf between the two sides' ability to produce a big performance when required.
Chelsea - who restored their lead on Manchester United to five points - grabbed a brace at the end of a first half in which Arsene Wenger's men had enjoyed plenty of possession, but without really troubling Petr Cech.
The Gunners were made to pay when Didier Drogba converted Ashley Cole's low centre, and Thomas Vermaelen's own goal effectively killed off the contest before the interval, with the Ivory Coast striker drilling in a late free-kick to seal matters.
There is, of course, plenty more football to be played before they crown the 2010 champions, but even with a match in hand, it is difficult to see Wenger's young squad - without Robin van Persie until at least April - clawing back what is now an 11-point deficit, and indeed they could still face a battle to secure a top-four finish.
Arsenal may have dedicated this afternoon's match to their charity of the season at Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital, but there was little compassion shown towards former Gunner Ashley Cole, who was resoundingly booed every time he touched the ball.
It had been a bright start from the hosts, with Bacary Sagna's deep cross flicked back into the penalty area by Andrey Arshavin, but Cesc Fabregas was unable to make decent contact.
Eduardo almost robbed England captain John Terry on the edge of the Chelsea box, but Ricardo Carvalho cleared the loose ball.
Chelsea, though, looked dangerous on the break and were somewhat unfortunate to see Drogba's run clear onto a pass from Joe Cole halted by an offside flag.
Nicolas Anelka, whose big break came at Arsenal, then went down in the penalty area as he got ahead of Sagna, who wrestled him to the ground, but referee Andre Marriner was not interested.
There was a brief stoppage in play when the referee removed an object, which looked like a fake camera, which had been thrown on in the direction of Frank Lampard, the England midfielder fit again following a thigh injury.
Arsenal had plenty of possession, but lacked spark in the final third, with the absence of Dutch forward Van Persie painfully clear.
It was no real surprise when Chelsea went ahead on 41 minutes.
Terry played in Ashley Cole down the left, and he whipped a low centre across the six-yard box, where Drogba got in between the static Arsenal centre-backs to steer the ball into the net off the angle of post and bar.
Before Wenger could regroup his team in the dressing room, it was 2-0.
Cole was again the provider, as this time his ball from the left was deflected into the Arsenal net off Vermaelen's shin.
Wenger had to do something to inject fresh life into his shell-shocked side, and it came in the form of England forward Theo Walcott, defensive midfielder Alex Song the man sacrificed.
Arsenal certainly had more urgency following the restart, and thought they had a goal back when Arshavin smashed home from close range - but the effort was ruled out for a high boot from Eduardo on Cech.
Chelsea almost grabbed a fortunate third goal when Drogba's shot deflected off William Gallas and then Lampard, but Manuel Almunia made a quick change in direction and touched the ball around the post.
Arsenal were getting desperate and called for what would have been a harsh penalty as substitute Carlos Vela went down under a challenge from Branislav Ivanovic.
On 71 minutes, Ashley Cole was replaced by Paulo Ferreira, the England defender clenching his fists towards the travelling Chelsea fans as he left the pitch, before heading straight down the tunnel.

The Blues should have had another penalty wheh JT was swung around by his waist in the lead up to a corner but again Marriner bottled it.
Arsenal threatened, but once again lacked a decisive pass at the key moment.
Drogba wrapped things up for Carlo Ancelotti's men when he smashed in a 25-yard free-kick with four minutes left.

Dragons Defeated : Porto 0 Chelsea 1

Nicolas Anelka stunned Porto for the second time this season as Chelsea finished top of Group D with a 1-0 victory in the Estadio do Dragao, reports SBS The World Game.
Anelka, who scored the winner when the two teams met at Stamford Bridge, stooped to head home a cross from Florent Malouda in the 69th minute.
It was another uninspiring performance from the Blues who had the woodwork to thank in the first half when Fernando Belluschi's 25-yard effort smashed off the crossbar.
But for the third time in Europe this season, Chelsea emerged winners by a solitary goal and in each of those games, Anelka has been the matchwinner.
Chelsea were quickly into their stride against Porto in a surprisingly sparsely populated stadium. There were many empty seats among the Porto sections of the ground and the atmosphere which accompanied the start of the game was hardly intimidating for Chelsea.
In the sixth minute, Malouda, scorer of their wonderful opener against Wolves last Saturday, was off target with a 25-yard low drive which drifted wide of the target.
In the 15th minute, Chelsea won a corner when Didier Drogba's shot was turned over by Beto.
Unfortunately for the English side, Deco floated the flag-kick over everybody in the penalty area.
The Portugal international was given a warm reception by the Porto fans in that part of the ground.
In the 18th minute Michael Ballack almost finished off a neat move by the Blues but his final shot was deflected for another wasted corner.
But the home side almost took the lead in the 20th minute with their first real attack of the game.
Belluschi's 25-yard drive was palmed into the path of Radamel Falcao Garcia by Petr Cech but the Chelsea goalkeeper redeemed himself with another fine save at the feet of the Porto forward. Porto were unlucky not to break the deadlock in the 29th minute when Argentinian Belluschi, playing his first game for a month, again tried his luck from 20-yards.
This time his shot beat Cech in the Chelsea goal but rebounded off the crossbar to safety.
Chelsea were living dangerously but Porto did not appear to have the guile to create anything other than the occasional long-range effort.
A 20-yard drive from Deco flashed past Beto's left-hand upright in the 36th minute.
It was hardly a thrilling spectacle and the stay-away Porto fans clearly made the right decision.
Jesualdo Ferreira's side may have come close to scoring with two long-range shots but Chelsea had coped easily with much of their attacking play.
Time and again Chelsea wasted the ball in good areas, with full-back Branislav Ivanovic one of the main culprits.
Chelsea created nothing in an opening half that was instantly forgettable.
The English outfit made a much better start to the second half and Deco sent a shot flashing beyond the far post in the 52nd minute.
Moments later, Malouda drilled two low crosses into the penalty area but they eluded the Chelsea strikers on each occasion.
At least there was more purpose about Chelsea's play now and Ballack was booked for a challenge on Cristian Rodriguez as the Porto player threatened to run clear.
Porto brought on the Hulk to great cheers from the home fans in the 59th minute. The Brazilian striker replaced Silvestre Varela.
In the 67th minute Chelsea replaced the ineffective Ballack with Michael Essien.
Essien, who scored two goals against Wolves last weekend, was left out of the starting line-up after collecting a minor knock on his knee.
But clearly coach Carlo Ancelotti was anxious to add some drive to a rather lack-lustre midfield.
It brought instant results, although not from Essien. Yuri Zhirkov broke down the left and his pass found Malouda inside the penalty area.
This time the winger's cross found the head of Anelka as the France international stooped to head his third goal of the Euro campaign in the 69th minute.
It was Anelka's sixth goal of the season and his first in eight games for the Blues.
In the 80th minute substitute Ernesto Farias brought a fine save from Cech with a low drive from the edge of the penalty area but Chelsea were home and dry.

Wanderers Wrecked : Chelsea 4 Wolves 0

Chelsea opened up an eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League with a 4-0 demolition of woeful Wolves at Stamford Bridge before Man.Utd. cut it back to five, reports sportal.co.nz.
The Blues were three goals to the good inside the first 22 minutes through Florent Malouda and a double from Michael Essien.
Joe Cole's first goal for 13 months completed the rout in the second half as Chelsea set a new club record for home wins and kept Wolves entrenched in the bottom three.
The victory over Wolves was their 12th in a row in all competitions at home - the previous record was 11 between February 25 and September 17, 2006.
The clean sheet also saw the Blues equal their record of 10 consecutive games without conceding at home.
But they could have gone behind in the fourth minute when a fine Wolves move saw Matthew Jarvis break free on the right.
However, his cross just eluded David Edwards as he arrived in the six-yard box.
Wolves paid a heavy price for the miss a minute later as Malouda collected a poor Wolves header inside the centre-circle and ran on unchallenged to unleash a 20-yard shot into the roof of the net.
Another sweet Chelsea move in the 11th minute almost brought them a second goal but Wolves goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey tipped Salomon Kalou's 20-yard angled drive around the post.
However, the relief for Wolves was shortlived as from Malouda's resultant flag-kick, Essien rose unmarked to head home from six yards.
Chelsea made it three in the 22nd minute when John Mikel Obi fed Essien with a short pass on the edge of the penalty area and the Ghanaian's low drive went under Hennessey for his second of the game.
The home side was determined to record their 1000th league win at Stamford Bridge as well as complete a year since their last defeat at home.
Wolves manager Mick McCarthy had spent much of the half shaking his head in disbelief at his side's reckless defending.
But in the 39th minute Wolves almost conjured a goal out of nothing when a header from Sylvan Ebanks-Blake was superbly kept out by Petr Cech.
Chelsea's performance had been even more admirable without the likes of injured quartet Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Deco and Michael Ballack.
Their quick, incisive passing game was too much for Wolves who spent much of the half chasing shadows.
Chelsea continued where they left off in the second half and a superb crossfield pass by Nicolas Anelka found Malouda free on the left.
However, the France international slipped at the vital moment and saw his shot saved by Hennessey.
The Wolves keeper was in action again in the 52nd minute when he held on to a shot from Alex as Chelsea threatened to increase their advantage.
But Chelsea did make it four in the 56th minute and it was a welcome strike for the fit again Joe Cole.
The England midfielder, out for 10 months since January, side-footed the ball beyond Hennessey after Anelka's cross had been turned into his path by Kalou.
It was Cole's first goal for the Blues since the win over Aston Villa back in October 2008.
Moments later Anelka made way for substitute Gael Kakuta to make his first-team debut.
In September, Chelsea were found guilty by FIFA of inducing Kakuta to breach his contract with Lens two years ago and were punished with a transfer ban until 2011, while suspending the player for four months.
But the Court of Arbitration for Sport suspended the bans until Chelsea's case is heard in full and that allowed Kakuta to make his debut.
Essien almost claimed a hat-trick in the 63rd minute but his shot was palmed onto the top of the bar by Hennessey.
Kakuta almost celebrated his debut with a goal 10 minutes from time but his 25-yard effort curled the wrong side of the upright.
Essien then sent a 20-yard drive just wide of the post as a hat-trick continued to elude him.

Five Points Clear : Chelsea 1 Man. Utd. 0

Captain John Terry put Chelsea five points clear of Manchester United at the top of the Premier League with a second-half match winner to claim a 1-0 victory at Stamford Bridge, reports sportal.nz.
Terry glanced home a 76th minute free-kick from Frank Lampard although United claimed Didier Drogba was in an offside position.
United had their chances with Wayne Rooney twice going close but the Blues made it a club record of 11 straight home wins.
It was the home side who created the first goal attempt when Branislav Ivanovic burst down the right flank and let fly with a left-foot shot which Edwin van der Sar did well to hold at the near post.
United though were far more comfortable on the ball with the home side given little time to build from the back.
But a long cross from Michael Ballack in the 18th minute found the lurking Drogba on the edge of the six-yard box but the Ivory Coast striker failed to direct his header on to the target.
United, despite their dominance, had not created a clear cut chance.
In the 23rd minute, Chelsea won a free-kick but Lampard wasted the chance to test the United defence when he sent his curling effort beyond the far post.
Drogba was fouled by Wes Brown in the 27th minute in a central position 25 yards from goal.
It was another chance for the home side but again Lampard's free-kick was poor as he sent his effort straight into United's defensive wall.
Moments later Nicolas Anelka tried to beat Van der Sar from 35 yards but the United keeper dealt with it most comfortably.
Van der Sar was tested again when he made a one-handed save to keep out a curling shot from Anelka in the 32nd minute.
A quick counter attack from Chelsea saw Anelka put Deco free on the right flank but his cross eluded Ballack before arriving at the feet of Drogba.
The Ivory Coast striker was unable to control the ball and it ran harmlessly into the arms of Van der Sar.
Drogba then broke into the penalty from the right flank but his angled drive ended in the upper tier of the stand as referee Martin Atkinson brought proceedings to a finish for the opening period.
In the 50th minute Drogba got the better of United's John O'Shea but his 25-yard shot went wide of the target.
Ivanovic was booked for a foul on Giggs in the 57th minute as the game began to open-up.
Ricardo Carvalho managed to get his body in the way of a fierce shot from Darren Fletcher moments later. It was a fine piece of defending by the Chelsea man.
A cross from Anelka fell kindly to Lampard on the edge of the penalty area but the England midfielder's shot was easily saved by Van der Sar.
Chelsea had gone over 14 hours since they last conceded a goal at Stamford Bridge.
It was time for the home side to make a change and Carlo Ancelotti opted to remove Deco in favour of Joe Cole, who was celebrating his 28th birthday.
Rooney should have punished Chelsea in the 66th minute when he took a return pass from Antonio Valencia on the edge of the penalty area. But the England striker sent his shot a foot wide of the far post.
Seconds later Rooney brought a fine save from Petr Cech with a 20-yard curler which was destined for the top corner until the Czech international intervened.
There was a worrying moment for Chelsea in the 71st minute when Drogba was kicked in the chest by Jonny Evans. Astonishingly, Drogba was then booked by Atkinson.
Chelsea was in front in the 76th minute when Ashley Cole was fouled by Fletcher on the left flank.
Captain Terry rose to glance Lampard's free-kick into the corner of the net but United were furious that Drogba appeared to be in an offside position as the ball bounced beyond Van der Sar and into the net.
Rooney was booked afterwards and then Atkinson booked O'Shea and Carvalho in the 82nd minute as tempers flared.
Valencia was lucky remain on the pitch with a two-footed challenge on Lampard but Atkinson handed him a yellow card.

Transfer Ban Suspended

Chelsea should be able to sign players in January after the Court of Arbitration for Sport suspended their FIFA-imposed transfer ban, reports clubcall.com.
The Blues had been banned from making any transfers in the next two transfer windows after being found guilty of tapping up Gael Kakuta from French club Lens. However Chelsea launched an immediate appeal against the ban and then asked for the punishment to be suspended until the final decision on the situation has been made.
CAS have agreed to that and with the decision only set to be made in the New Year, Chelsea should be free to strengthen in the next window.
A statement from CAS read: "The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has granted the request for a stay filed by Chelsea Football Club Ltd and Mr Gael Kakuta in relation to the decision taken by the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber on 27 August 2009.
"The FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber imposed, inter alia, a restriction of four months' ineligibility on Mr Gael Kakuta, and Chelsea Football Club Ltd was banned from registering any new players, either nationally or internationally, for the next two complete, consecutive registration periods. Such sanctions are now stayed until the CAS renders its final decision in this matter."

Drogba Double : Atletico Madrid 2 Chelsea 2

Didier Drogba announced his return to European football with a brace as Chelsea qualified for the knockout phase of the Champions League with a 2-2 Group D draw at Atletico Madrid, reports wwos.ninemsn.com.au.

Drogba, back after a three-match suspension, scored twice in the final ten minutes to put Chelsea in front only for second half substitute Sergio "Kun" Aguero to score his second with a 90th minute equaliser.
Chelsea knew a win would see them through to the next phase but in the end a draw was enough due to FC Porto's 1-0 win at APOEL in Tuesday's other group match.
Drogba, who had not played in the Champions League since May after he was hit with a three-match ban for berating the referee after the semi-final defeat to Barcelona, showed his striking prowess.
"It was a good game but frustrating because we didn't win it," said Drogba.
"I have played many Champions League games with Chelsea in the past and to be honest I am just happy to be back on the pitch.
"We have qualified which is great although it would have been nice to do it with a win."
Aguero had put Atletico into a 66th minute lead but the Ivory Coast forward headed an equaliser on 82 minutes and struck again on 88 minutes.
Argentine Aguero equalised in the final minute for Atletico's first goal in the competition and ended Chelsea's 100% record but they still progress.
Chelsea now hope to be back in Madrid in May for the final at the Santiago Bernabeu as they aim to win the Champions League for the first time in their history.
With qualification wrapped up Carlo Ancelotti's side can concentrate on the crunch title clash with Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Atletico, third from bottom in Spain, have just two points in the group and can now only hope for a spot in the Europa League as they prepare for a weekend derby against Real Madrid.
"We have a good team here and we will do everything to try and stay in Europe," said Aguero. "It would not be a failure to go into the Europa League."
Chelsea routed Atletico 4-0 in their first match in London a fortnight ago without Drogba and they have the worst defensive record in the Spanish top-flight so they must have feared the worst.
Ancelotti resisted the temptation to rest stars with Manchester United on the horizon and even welcomed back Ashley Cole who recovered from a knee injury to begin at left back.
His opposite number "Quique" Sanchez Flores played a somewhat conservative 4-5-1 with Diego Forlan as the main striker.
Atletico were far from defensive despite their formation and were shooting from long range to try and steal a goal.
Jose Antonio Reyes almost scored in the 20th minute with a super curling shot but Petr Cech tipped the effort over the crossbar.
Chelsea had plundered an impressive 17 goals in their last four matches but didn't threaten too much. However, they went close on the half hour mark when Salomon Kalou, a two-goal hero against Atletico in the first game, headed just wide.
Six minutes into the second half Drogba watched on in agony as his free-kick was touched onto the post by goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo.
Flores decided to throw on Aguero for Florent Sinama Pongolle and it reaped rewards when the Argentine volleyed in from 15 yards out 12 minutes after coming on.
It was Atletico's first goal in this season's Champions League and the first Chelsea had conceded in Europe.
Drogba should have equalised in the 73rd minute after being put through on goal but dragged his shot poorly wide.
However he found his touch in the 82nd minute heading in Malouda's cross and he outmuscled his marker to score again in the 88th minute before Aguero completed a crazy final ten minutes.

Wanderers Whitewashed : Bolton 0 Chelsea 4

Chelsea won at Bolton for the seventh league game in succession, by 4-0, to stamp their hold on top spot in the Premier League, reports sportal.nz.
Beaten in their last two away games, there was no chance of the west Londoners suffering a third against the hosts, who had Jlloyd Samuel sent off.
Chelsea have now scored eight goals in four days against Gary Megson's team, and were brutally destructive when confronted with a team a man down.
It was hard enough for Bolton when they had 11 on the park, but they was merely the victim for Chelsea to bully after Samuel's red card.
Frank Lampard's penalty in first-half injury-time set up the win, with the key moment being Samuel's red card for the trip on Didier Drogba which conceded the spot-kick.
Bolton worked feverishly but it was always a losing battle. Deco added the second and Zat Knight's own goal made it 3-0, before Didier Drogba grabbed a fourth in injury-time.
Bolton brought back goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen and striker Kevin Davies, both rested when these two sides clashed in the Carling Cup fourth round at Stamford Bridge in midweek.
The hosts had Chris Basham in for his first start of the season as Bolton aimed to inflict Chelsea's third successive away defeat, while the Blues reverted mainly to their Saturday-best side.
Tamir Cohen's header over from Lee Chung-Yong's free-kick was Bolton's only serious early chance as Chelsea had five decent early openings.
Drogba headed just over from a Nicolas Anelka cross, then Jaaskelainen touched over another effort from the big striker before saving from Anelka.
Michael Essien flashed an angled effort just wide, before Drogba got clear and was only halted by Jaaskelainen's outstretched boot.
Bolton persisted with their set-plays and aerial attacks aimed at Davies and Johan Elmander, and the ploy concerned Chelsea's defence.
The visitors had a 30th-minute Branislav Ivanovic strike ruled out by a linesman's flag - Michael Ballack was adjudged to be offside. Chelsea players complained bitterly, but referee Peter Walton was unmoved.
Bolton were soon back under pressure - and in the final seconds of injury-time, Chelsea were ahead, after Drogba had been brought down. Lampard lashed home the penalty.
Gary Megson made two half-time changes, sending on Ricardo Gardner and Paul Robinson for Basham and Lee.
Cohen lashed a free-kick over after John Terry had bodychecked Gardner in full flow, then Cohen was too slow to react to a fine Davies knockdown and Essien produced a remarkable saving tackle a yard out.
Drogba was booed every time he touched the ball by Bolton's fans, but he did not dive for the penalty having been clearly caught from behind.
Jaaskelainen made fine saves twice at the feat of the Ivory Coast star, and then from an Anelka effort before Lampard crashed an 18-yard effort against the bar.
Robinson was booked for a foul on Ivanovic before Jaaskelainen beat away a fierce Anelka drive after the former Bolton man had cruised past three defenders.
Chelsea had been under pressure in the air from set-plays, but when they broke from defence after 61 minutes they grabbed their second.
Anelka was the architect, streaming down the left before angling his pass for Deco to sidestep Paul Robinson's lunging tackle to clip the ball into the net.
Bolton sent on Mark Davies for Fabrice Muamba after 66 minutes, with Chelsea firmly in control.
Paulo Ferreira was booked late on, but Chelsea were in full control and it was 3-0 when Knight - under pressure from Ivanovic - got the final touch to Ricardo Carvalho's cross.
Bolton, to their credit, kept coming forward and won a succession of corners which Chelsea were at last beginning to defend properly.
But Chelsea got their fourth in injury-time when Anelka's cross was flicked on by Lampard for Drogba to fire home.