London - Eden Hazard scored a sublime solo goal as
Premier League leaders Chelsea thrust a dagger into
Arsenal's title aspirations with a 3-1 victory at Stamford
Bridge on Saturday.
The Belgian winger left a trail of defenders in his wake to
double Chelsea's lead in the 53rd minute, in between a
contentious header by Marcos Alonso and a late lob from
Arsenal old boy Cesc Fabregas.
It was Chelsea's 11th home victory in succession and their
16th win in 18 league games, stretching their lead over
third-place Arsenal to a huge 12 points with 14 games of
the season remaining.
"I think we are showing we deserve to stay on top of the
table," said Chelsea manager Antonio Conte.
"I am very pleased for my players. In every session they
show me great attitude and great will to fight and win this
league."
Chelsea have been close to unplayable since Conte
changed their system to a 3-4-3 during their 3-0 loss at
Arsenal on September 24 and it seems only a matter of
time until they are crowned champions.
For Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who watched from
the stands as he served the third game of a four-match
touchline ban, his side's season is following a wearily
familiar pattern.
Arsenal have lost their last five games at the Bridge and
had conceded 13 unanswered goals prior to Olivier
Giroud's stoppage-time consolation.
Beaten for the fourth time in nine league games, they once
again face the prospect of a run-in given suspense only by
the tussle for Champions League places.
Wenger felt Alonso's goal was "100 percent a foul" on
Hector Bellerin, but conceded: "We were really naive and
not clinical in our defending. Then Chelsea looked the
better side."
With a raft of midfielders unavailable, Wenger was obliged
to start with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain alongside Francis
Coquelin in the middle, while Theo Walcott replaced Giroud
in attack.
Arsenal had conceded two goals in the first 13 minutes of
Tuesday's 2-1 loss at home to Watford.
They almost caught Chelsea cold here, Alex Iwobi curling
wide after Thibaut Courtois overhit a pass towards David
Luiz.
But after Gary Cahill had headed into the ground and over
the bar at the other end, Chelsea went ahead in the 13th
minute with a goal that left Arsenal's fans fuming.
Pedro sent a cross into the box from the right that Diego
Costa headed against the bar at the near post, sending the
ball spinning into the air.
As Bellerin got himself in position to head it away, and with
Walcott watching on impassively, Alonso flew in, cleaning
his fellow Spaniard out with his forearm and heading the
ball home.
Referee Martin Atkinson allowed the goal to stand and
Arsenal's disappointment was compounded by the sight of
a dazed Bellerin being led down the tunnel, with Gabriel
taking his place.
Chelsea were buoyant, Costa driving a shot into the side-
netting and Pedro forcing Petr Cech to push the ball behind
from Alonso's accurate cut-back.
But Arsenal ended the first half strongly, Courtois
producing a stunning one-handed save to turn Gabriel's
header over the bar and then dropping onto a tame effort
by Mesut Ozil.
It took a last-ditch tackle by Laurent Koscielny to prevent
Hazard scampering clear early in the second half, but
when the Chelsea number 10 picked up the ball minutes
later there was no getting it back.
After striding onto a loose ball in the centre circle, he beat
Koscielny, shrugged off Coquelin, leaving him flat on his
back, and then outfoxed Koscielny again before squeezing
a shot past Cech.
On the touchline, Conte celebrated with even greater
abandon than usual, leaping into the crowd.
There were flickers from Arsenal, Courtois clawing away a
deft header from substitute Danny Welbeck, before
Fabregas lobbed in from 25 yards after Cech shanked the
ball straight to him.
Giroud reduced the arrears, heading in from Nacho
Monreal's cross.
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