Arsenal vs Chelsea: Blues frustrate Gunners in goalless draw

Arsenal missed their chance to return to the top of the Premier League after being held to a bruising 0-0 draw by title rivals Chelsea in a spiteful London derby on Monday.

This was the final English top-flight fixture before Christmas, but there was little festive cheer on display at the Emirates Stadium as Chelsea battered Arsenal with a series of bruising challenges.

John Obi Mikel was fortunate to avoid a red card after the Chelsea midfielder crunched into Mikel Arteta, while Arsenal also complained they should have had a penalty for Willian's challenge on Theo Walcott.

It was a frustrating night for Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who failed to secure his first win over Jose Mourinho at the 10th attempt and as a result saw his side waste an opportunity to climb back above leaders Liverpool.

Instead, second placed Arsenal go into the Christmas programme level on points with Liverpool but behind the Anfield outfit on goal difference.

Chelsea, who moved up to fourth and are two points behind Liverpool, finished the more satisfied side after stifling Arsenal with ease and creating the better of the few chances on offer.

"We controlled the game defensively. It was a tactical match, a match where neither side wanted to lose," Mourinho said.

"We want creative players who use the ball and kill opponents. But there are some matches where we have to take one step backwards and play with a different philosophy."

Wenger had admitted Arsenal had a point to prove after last weekend's 6-3 thrashing at Manchester City prompted many pundits to question his team's chances of lasting the pace in the title race, but this spluttering performance will hardly silence the doubters.

Mourinho sent Chelsea out in a 4-5-1 formation, with Fernando Torres as the lone striker, and that cautious approach worked impressively as Arsenal struggled to find any rhythm.

It didn't help that torrential rain and gale-force winds lashed the Emirates throughout the match, making passing something of a lottery.

Frank Lampard made a typically intelligent run to meet Cesar Azpilicueta's cross in the early stages, but for once the Chelsea midfielder's clinical finishing deserted him and he scuffed a mistimed effort well wide.

Mourinho's men finally cast off their defensive shackles just before the break and almost took the lead when Lampard met Eden Hazard's pass with volley against the crossbar.

The ball rebounded to safety, but Arsenal were under the cosh again moments later when Torres tested Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny with a snap-shot on the turn.

Wenger was growing increasingly vexed on the touchline and he was furious when referee Mike Dean refused to even book Mikel for his aggressive lunge on Arteta.

Mikel's eyes were on the ball when he went into the tackle and Arteta slid in with equal intent, but it was the Chelsea midfielder whose follow-through contained more menace and could easily have left the Spaniard nursing a serious injury.

Arsenal's anger increased when they appealed in vain for a penalty after Willian's challenge caught Walcott on the foot without making contact with the ball.

Willian squandered a golden opportunity to add to Arsenal's angst when he shot straight at Szczesny after a rapid break caught the hosts out-numbered.

Arteta was the victim of another crunching tackle from Ramires, but the Brazilian escaped with just a booking.

By now Walcott, usually so mild mannered, had had enough and the winger responded by chopping down Azpilicueta, earning a yellow card of his own.

The tone of an already fiery match became ever more combustible after Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic caught Mesut Ozil and then started a bout of shoving with an incensed Kieran Gibbs.

Arsenal's Tomas Rosicky sought retribution and went into the book for a crude foul on Ivanovic.

It was Arsenal who finished the stronger, with Giroud firing into the side-netting and then forcing Cech to block at his near post.

Bacary Sagna's header was cleared off the line by Azpilicueta, but neither side deserved to take the points on an ugly night.

FULL TIME

Liverpool are top of the Premier League at Christmas for the first time since 2008 after Arsenal were held to a goalless draw by Chelsea at Emirates on Monday.

Arsenal enjoyed greater possession but amazingly had only one shot at goal in more than 90 minutes of play.

Chelsea came the closest with Lampard hitting the crossbar in the first half while Arsenal were denied a penalty when Walcott went down in the box under a challenge from Willian.

"We came here to win the game. But they're at home - it's up to them to bring it to us," said Chelsea captain John Terry.

Arsenal failed to score at home in the Premier League for the first time in 11 matches, the last time a 0-0 vs Everton in April of this year.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was pleased with the outcome.

"It was a tactical match. A match that Arsenal want to win but didn't want to lose and Chelsea wants to win but doesn't want to lose," he said speaking to Sky Sports.

"We had the biggest chance of the game, I'm glad we have goalline technology so nobody could complain when Frank Lampard hit the crossbar.

"The goalkeeper was not in the game, we controlled the game defensively. We let Mikel Arteta play the ball from side to side, we were completely under control. It was important not to lose and be five points behind the leaders."

"It was 100 per cent a penalty when Theo Walcott was fouled, in my mind there is no doubt. I don't know why it was not given.

"We should have won it. They came here to defend and catch us on the break. We were a bit edgy at the start but we took control in the second half and should have won it," said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.

"It was a game of very few chances and we couldn't take ours. If you cannot win the game don't lose it."

He was adamant that Walcott should have been given a penalty.

"I made no changes as we had a good balance and I felt that we had enough strength to see it through."

90+2" Walcott takes the corner but Chelsea clear.

90+1" Luiz finds the Arsenal after Chelsea get a free kick from 30 yards out.

90" Three minutes of added time as Arsenal get a corner which is cleared off the line by Azpilicueta.

87" Chelsea make their final substitution with Torres making way for Luiz.

85" Giroud meets a brilliant cross from Gibbs but Cech saves as Arsenal have a shot on target for the first time.

84" The official attendance at Emirates is over 60,000. A draw for Arsenal would take Arsenal into second behind Liverpool on goal difference.

83" Gibbs goes around on the left but his cross floats out.

80" Arsenal have yet to make any changes with ten minutes remaining.

78" Arsenal's best chance goes begging as Giroud hits a half-volley into the side-netting after Ramsey floats the ball over the wall of defenders.

76" Chelsea make another change as Oscar replaces Willian.

75" Ramires hobbles out being injured after going for a header with Ramsey.

73" Hazard is replaced by Schurrle.

71" Terry heads wide from six yards after Lampard floats a free-kick into the far post.

70" YELLOW! Rosicky is booked as Ivanovic gets caught by Rosicky in what looks like retribution for his challenge on Ozil before.

68" Tempers flare after a high challenge from Ivanovic on Ozil.

66" Torres heads down a long ball for Lampard who shoots at goal from 30 yards and Szczesny gathers.

65" YELLOW! Walcott is booked for tripping Azpilicueta on halfway.

63" YELLOW! Ramires is booked for a clumsy late challenge on Arteta.

60" Arsenal are yet to have a shot at goal despite enjoying possession.

58" Arsenal press forward as Giroud runs down the left flank before Rosicky's cross from the centre to Sagna on the right is over hit.

55" Arsenal after a break by Willian whose pass to Ramires in front of goal is played just behind the Brazilian.

51" Chelsea break through but Willian's cross does not find Ramires in the middle.

50" Rosicky plays a one-two with Giroud before his shot from the edge of the box is blocked by Terry.

49" Walcott takes the corner on the left but Giroud cannot get a good header off in the centre.

48" Arsenal make early forays and earn the first corner.

46" Arsenal get the second half underway with no changes by either side.

HALF TIME

45" Ozil's shot from the centre is blocked by Cahill before Rosicky's effort from 25 yards out is wide.

44" Chelsea counter after Ramsey loses the ball and Willian's shot from the left after a pass from Hazard is saved by Szczesny.

42" Ozil is flagged offside as Walcott takes a corner but Torres gets his head on it.

38" Arteta is back on his feet after his clash with Mikel.

36" Walcott goes down under a challenge from Willian inside the box following a pass by Ozil but his appeals for a penalty are waved away by the referee.

34" It is a sea of blue near the Arsenal goal line as Hazard passes to Torres whose shot is blocked by Szczesny..

32" Chelsea have the first real crack at goal as Hazards tees it up for Lampard whose volley rebounds after hitting the crossbar before Arsenal scramble it away.

30" Mertesacker heads away a cross from Azpilicueta from the left into the box.

27" Ramires heads over a fine cross from Willian into the box following a break by Chelsea.

25" Sagna makes a fine run on the right and crosses for Giroud which is defended well by Cahill.

24" Ozil wins a free-kick off Lampard in front of goal but Ramsey's floats it over the wall only to see running out.

22" Lampard puts the corner into the box but the whistle goes for a Mikel foul on Szczesny.

20" Chelsea get a corner as the rain pours heavily at Emirates.

17" Gibbs crosses from six yards out on the left which is headed out by Terry.

16" Arsenal control the ball in midfield before Ramsey hits a looping ball for Walcott in the box but Azpilicueta manages to clear.

14" Chelsea on the defensive with Cahill and Cech clearing under pressure.

12" Lampard makes a sliding tackle on Sagna on the touchline as Arsenal get another free kick.

11" Ramsey is caught by Azpilicueta for an Arsenal free-kick just inside their own half.

9" Arsenal get first corner but Walcott's delivery goes wide.

7" Torres makes a break through the middle before being checked by Mertesacker.

6" Arsenal press but Rosicky's throughball for Giroud is intercepted by Cahill and the Blues clear.

4" Arsenal press forward but Hazard wins the ball off Ramsey as Chelsea counter attack.

2" Arsenal concede a corner after a poor back pass by Gibbs which is taken by Lampard.

1" Chelsea get the game underway at the Emirates.

Arsenal will be aiming to bounce back from two defeats last week to return to the top of the Premier League for Christman when they host Chelsea at Emirates on Monday night.

Arsenal won nine and lost none of their first 13 Premier League home games against Chelsea but have won just two and lost four of the last eight.

Chelsea have won eight and lost just two of the last 11 meetings with Arsenal in all competitions.

The Gunners will be without midfielder Jack Wilshere, who starts a two-match suspension, while German forward Lukas Podolski returns to the bench after three months out with a hamstring injury.

For Chelsea, who can move level on points with current leaders Liverpool with a win, left-back Ashley Cole also returns to the substitutes' bench.

Serbia defender Ivanovic starts after serving a one-match ban while skipper John Terry also returns.

TEAMS

Arsenal - Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs; Arteta, Ramsey; Walcott, Ozil, Rosicky; Giroud.

Subs: Fabianski, Monreal, Jenkinson, Flamini, Cazorla, Bendtner Podolski

Chelsea - Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Mikel, Lampard; Ramires, Willian, Hazard; Torres.

Subs: Schwarzer, David Luiz, Cole, Oscar, Mata, Schurrle, Eto'o.

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