Chelsea 2-0 Arsenal: A class difference far beyond their reach.

Arsenal had the best game they could, but Chelsea were too clinical and possessed many ways to finish off their opponents.

Eden Hazard opened the scoring for Chelsea from the penalty spot in the first half after he was fouled by Koscielny inside the penalty area. Towards the end of the second half, Diego Costa sealed the 2-0 victory with a superb assist from Cesc Fabregas.

The defeat at Stamford Bridge marked Wenger's 12th consecutive match without a win against Mourinho. The French manager once again received an unwelcome gift from "The Special One" on the occasion of his 18th anniversary managing Arsenal. Earlier this year, in March, Arsenal suffered a humiliating 0-6 defeat at Stamford Bridge, also in Wenger's 1000th match in charge.

Fabregas (in the blue shirt) showed his superiority over any other Arsenal midfielder. Photo: AP.

Contributing to Chelsea's victory was former Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas. The Spanish midfielder continued to play in a deeper role alongside Matic in this match due to Ramires' injury and successfully fulfilled his role in controlling the tempo of the game. Furthermore, Fabregas ended any hopes for Arsenal with a perfect pass to Diego Costa, who raced down to beat Szczesny.

Fabregas's brilliance was a testament to the Spanish midfielder's performance against his former team. His display was even more impressive in contrast to Mesut Ozil's on the other side. Manager Wenger once revealed that he didn't re-sign Fabregas because he already had Ozil, but it's clear the German player couldn't replicate what his senior counterpart did in this match. It was a moment of brilliance that broke through the opposing defense.

Throughout the match, Alexis Sanchez and Santi Cazorla were Arsenal's two most notable attacking players. However, their efforts were unable to get the team inside Chelsea's penalty area. Arsenal's most notable moment was Cazorla's pass to Wilshere, but the English midfielder controlled the ball too long while facing goalkeeper Cech.

Coach Wenger tried to inspire his players, but all he got was a pointless argument with Mourinho on the beach. Photo: DM.

Arsenal tried to control possession and maintain their traditional passing game to avoid one-on-one situations with Chelsea players. This style of play helped Arsenal maintain a fairly balanced game against the home team for most of the match. However, Chelsea's difference came from their star players, and this was proof of the disparity in class between the two teams. At the crucial moment, Arsenal lacked the players to lift the team up.

Eden Hazard had a phenomenal performance, constantly dribbling straight into the Arsenal defense. One of these proved effective midway through the first half, forcing defender Koscielny to foul the Belgian midfielder after he dribbled past three Arsenal players. Hazard also had another one-on-one opportunity in the second half, but his shot from a tight angle went over the crossbar.

Diego Costa, in a match where he didn't manage a single shot on target before scoring, demonstrated Chelsea's composure. A momentary lapse in concentration from Arsenal allowed the Brazilian midfielder to force the ball into the net. This was also Costa's ninth goal in just seven Premier League games.

Chelsea are far too strong for Arsenal at this time, both individually and collectively. Photo: DM.

Arsenal's striker, Welbeck, who has been attracting attention in recent days, also failed to create any significant chances against Chelsea's tight defense. Against the home team's solid backline, Welbeck was frequently forced to drift back to midfield to retrieve the ball and play wide. His speed was significantly limited as he started too far from Chelsea's goal.

Chelsea's victory was marred by a setback as goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois suffered an injury after a collision with Alexis Sanchez. The Belgian international was replaced by Petr Cech and immediately taken to the hospital for examination. Sanchez's hip struck Courtois' head, causing blood to flow from the young goalkeeper's ear.

Starting lineup

Chelsea: Courtois (24'), Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta, Matic, Fabregas, Schurrle (Mikel 69'), Oscar (Willian 87'), Hazard, Diego Costa.

Goals: Hazard (penalty, 27'), Costa (78')

Arsenal: Szczesny, Chambers, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Wilshere (Rosicky 82'), Flamini, Cazorla (Chamberlain 69'), Ozil, Sanchez (Podolski 79'), Welbeck.

According to VnExpress.net