Chelsea against Arsenal

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Carlos Vela on for Andriy Arshavin</b>

Essien is through on goal again as Arsenal fall apart. With so much time, Essien fails to make a decision and in the end hits a feeble poke at Fabianski.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b> <b>A stunning goal from Alex!!!</b> Everyone was waiting for Drogba to hit the free kick, but Alex strode forward and leathered past a helpless Fabianski! An unbelievably powerful strike! Chelsea have sealed their win now.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> <b>Koscielny</b> carded for a crude trip on Anelka as the Frenchman looks to get away. A very dangerous free kick...

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Yuri Zhirkov on for Ramires</b>

Chelsea clear the corner and Ramires streaks away with Anelka. The Frenchman plays him through on goal but he is marginally offside.

A Premier League debut for Emmanuel-Thomas, his presence forcing Ferreira into conceding a corner.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Jay Emmanuel-Thomas on for Jack Wilshere</b>

So close for Arsenal! Rosicky whips a wonderful cross in towards goal, Chamakh meets it and sees his header bounce marginally wide.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> <b>Paulo Ferreira</b> carded for intentionally felling Rosicky as he broke.

All through the second half the story has been the same, Arsenal seeing plenty of the possession but creating no real chances or troubling Petr Cech.

Chamakh heads clear at the back post and Arsenal push forward.

Chelsea have a free kick after Drogba tangled with Squillaci...

Fabianski makes an awkward looking save from a Drogba effort, at least he kept it out!

Rosicky involved again, a lovely lay-off from Nasri finds him in space and he curls a low effort into the arms of his compatriot Petr Cech.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Paulo Ferreira on for Branislav Ivanovic</b>

Alex Song tries his luck from distance after nice approach play from Arsenal, it's sliced though and flies wide.

Chamakh rises to meet the corner, he looks to nod it down for Wilshere but Chelsea clear.

Rosicky earns a corner for Arsenal with his first touch...

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Tomas Rosicky on for Abou Diaby</b>

Ashley Cole hammers the ball into the net emphatically! But it won't count, he was in an offside position when he was found by Anelka.

Arsenal were looking for a penalty as Chamakh goes down very theatrically. Never a penalty.

Drogba trips Song, free kick to Arsenal just inside the Chelsea half.

Chelsea enjoying a spell of possession for the first time in the half. They will just be trying to ease some of the pressure on their defence.

Great play from Ramires and then Essien as the Ghanaian breaks. He releases Anelka, whose cross is over hit and misses Drogba.

Nasri has looked the liveliest of Arsenal's attackers, this time he comes within inches a slipping Chamakh in behind Chelsea. It's all Arsenal at the moment.

Mikel heads the free kick clear as far as Clichy, who tries an outrageous shot from 30 yards which was never troubling Cech.

Arshavin bundled over by Ramires, Arsenal free kick near the corner flag.

Arsene Wenger must be considering changes, Vela or Rosicky? I'm not sure what difference either of those would make.

Anelka misses an open goal! Woeful defending from Squillaci, facing his own goal he fails to control a bouncing ball, allowing the Frenchman in. He rounds Fabianski and all he has to do is roll it into the empty net. He can't and finds the side netting.

Fabianski claims the corner and starts a counter attack. Arshavin whips in a dangerous ball which almost falls for Wilshere, the youngster dispossesses Cech a finds Chamakh. The Moroccan cuts inside and looks to shoot, but Ramires flies in with a cracking challenge.

Chelsea on the front foot this time, Drogba plucking the ball out of the sky and running at Koscielny. The summer signing does excellently, his sliding tackle giving away a corner.

No danger from the corner. I don't see why Arsenal even bother taking them.

From the cleared corner Wilshere advances, Diaby again with the ball, he manages to get a shot off which takes a huge deflection and goes out for a corner.

Abou Diaby is in for a moment after being found by Arshavin, his first touch is poor and Arsenal have to make do with a corner. Needless to say the corner is easily cleared by Chelsea.

Yet another wasted corner for the Gunners. Hardly suprising given the height difference between the two teams.

Straight up the other end and Arsenal have a corner, conceded by the improving Ramires.

Safe hands from Fabianski as he takes the cross.

Corner to Chelsea, Ramires find Malouda brilliantly, the Frenchman's cross is turned behind...

Chamakh rises highest and aims a header towards goal which is narrowly wide.

Arsenal take the free kick short and earn a first corner of the second half.

The man who committed the foul, Song, heads it clear. Ramires brings down Wilshere as Arsenal look to come forward.

Drogba breaks after Nasri loses possession, Song is forced to bring him down and Chelsea have the first set piece of the second half.

Arsenal need to try and get Arshavin and Nasri involved, they have looked like their mostly likely route to a goal.

Clichy striding forward after playing a neat one-two with Wilshere. His cross is deep, looking for Chamakh and Cech makes an easy catch.

<b>KICK OFF</b> Chelsea start the second half.

The teams are back out at Stamford Bridge...

What can Arsenal do in the second half? There are very few options on their bench, with Rosicky the only experienced option for them with attacking ability.

Arsene Wenger will be frustrated with his team. On the balance of play they probably deserve to be level, but they switched off and Chelsea punished them.

<b>HALF TIME</b> Chelsea don't have time to take their corner, but they do lead at the break thanks to Didier Drogba's strike.

Another corner for Chelsea, Clichy sliding in on Malouda...

At a second glance, Diaby is very lucky to have escaped serious injury. The challenge was a little wreckless from the Chelsea man.

<b>TWO MINUTES ADDED TIME</b>

Abou Diaby is down and looks in agony after a coming together with Michael Essien. There didn't look to be any intent to harm Diaby from Essien.

More good work from Ramires, bursting through several challenges to win a throw in for Chelsea. He looks lifted by the goal.

Anelka looks to get away behind Clichy, he is promptly stopped by the linesman's flag.

Ramires is growing into this game, showing excellent strength to shrug off Song and earn a free kick.

Chamakh has a glimmer of an opening behind the Chelsea defence, his first touch is poor and Chelsea are off the hook.

13 goals in 13 games against Arsenal. Wenger must be sick of the sight of Didier Drogba.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b> <b>Drogba opens the scoring!</b> Ramires finds Ashley Cole with a perfectly waited pass, Cole's low cross finds Drogba at the near post who back-heels it beyond a stranded Fabianski. 1-0 to the champions.

Anelka lays it off for Ramires to try his luck, but the Brazilian scuffs his side-footed shot wide.

Chelsea showing a bit more menace since the half hour mark, we're still waiting for the opening goal though...

Chelsea looking for penalty as Malouda's header hits Koscielny. Not a chance as it hit him in the stomach.

Another wasted corner from Chelsea. Teams just don't seem to value corners anymore...

Best chance so far from Drogba, who gets the better of a flailing Clichy, he fires a low shot at goal and Fabianski did well to turn it over the bar.

Clichy does excellently, getting his head on Malouda's cross and then stopping Drogba in his tracks.

Arsenal are beginning to look more and more threatening, Samir Nasri tucks in from the right and his bouncing effort skips just wide of the post.

Didier Drogba has been quiet so far. Given his history against Arsenal and his poor performance last week he'll want to put on a strong showing today.

Handball by Arshavin as he blocks Essien's attack. He's lucky to escape a card there.

The set pieces have wasted so far, Arsenal doing nothing with their corner.

A fantastic effort from Arshavin, taking a touch to compose himself before firing a 25 yarder at Cech's goal. The Chelsea stopper makes a fine one-handed save to give the Gunners a corner.

Arsene Wenger will be happy with the start his depleted side have made here, they don't look overawed by the league leaders.

Arsenal survive another corner, a really open contest at Stamford Bridge.

Essien dispossesses Arshavin and earns Chelsea's fourth corner of the match...

Chamakh gets his head to the corner, but his header is weak and straight at Cech.

Sagna's cross is knocked behind at the back post by Ivanovic...

He does better this time, being alert to gather a through pass as Anelka loomed large.

Fabianski almost makes a text-book Arsenal goalkeeping error. Ashley goal puts the ball across, and under pressure from Anelka the Pole fumbles, luckily straight to Gael Clichy.

The delivery is easy for Cech to collect.

Neat passing, as you'd expect from Arsenal. Abou Diaby tees up Nasri for an effort which results in an Arsenal corner.

Drogba's cross is a peach, Michael Essien glances his header marginally wide.

Drogba's corner is an out-swinger, Alex's volley is diverted behind for another corner.

Arsenal have had the better of the opening exchanges here, but Chelsea have a second corner...

Anelka attempts to fire at goal from 25 yards, as he sets himself Arsenal defenders fling their bodies in the way of the shot.

The corner is confidently defended by the visitors.

Fantastic break from Chelsea, Anelka cutting back towards Drogba and Sagna hits it out for a corner.

Alex Song is too strong for Malouda, who goes down looking for a foul. Nothing given by the referee.

My mistake, Malouda got a touch on it, goal kick to Arsenal.

Corner to Chelsea, Drogba gets to the byline and Squillaci turns it behind...

Chamakh tries to control the ball with his back to goal, but Alex is too strong for him.

Sagna is back on his feet after after his blow from Drogba.

Sagna is down after colliding with Drogba's elbow, it was accidental from the Chelsea striker.

Arsenal look confident early doors, despite all of their injury problems.

Another chance for Arsenal, Arshavin cutting in from the left and hitting a low drive straight at Petr Cech. He got past Ivanovic too easily then.

An incredibly open start at Stamford Bridge, Anelka chasing a through ball that is over hit.

An intelligent effort from Malouda, wrong footing Koscielny a attempting to lob Fabianski, who watches the ball float narrowly over his crossbar.

The game has settled down now after a frantic opening!

Drogba shoots at goal from the free kick and sends it high over Fabianski's goal.

First attack for Drogba, outmuscling Sagna and sending an effort in from the edge of the box which is blocked. Song then brings down Drogba for a free kick...

What a chance early on!Koscielny has a free header two yards out and diverts it over the bar! What a start for Arsenal.

Straight from kick off Chamakh diving header from Sagna's cross is deflected for and Arsenal corner!

<b>KICK OFF</b> Arsenal start the game.

The teams are in the tunnel at Stamford Bridge, kick off is close...

Arsenal have Chamakh up top, supported by Nasri and Arshavin. The talented Jack Wilshere will be expected to produce some magic from his midfield berth.

Chelsea have gone for Anelka and Drogba up front, Ramires starts in a three-man midfield.

With Man City's win closing the gap on Chelsea, they will be eager to restore their cushion. An injury-hit Arsenal team face a huge challenge this afternoon, can the young Gunners rise to it?

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2010/1002/alexsongdidierdrogbagaelclichy20100207_275x155.jpg">

In the meantime, you can read our match <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/preview?id=293195&cc=5739">preview</a>, while we also have Arsene Wenger explaining how Arsenal will cope with the <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=829084&sec=england&cc=5739">physical battle</a>.

Live commentary will appear from 1600 BST.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Paulo Ferreira on for Branislav Ivanovic</b>

Alex Song tries his luck from distance after nice approach play from Arsenal, it's sliced though and flies wide.

Chamakh rises to meet the corner, he looks to nod it down for Wilshere but Chelsea clear.

Rosicky earns a corner for Arsenal with his first touch...

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Tomas Rosicky on for Abou Diaby</b>

Ashley Cole hammers the ball into the net emphatically! But it won't count, he was in an offside position when he was found by Anelka.

Arsenal were looking for a penalty as Chamakh goes down very theatrically. Never a penalty.

Drogba trips Song, free kick to Arsenal just inside the Chelsea half.

Chelsea enjoying a spell of possession for the first time in the half. They will just be trying to ease some of the pressure on their defence.

Great play from Ramires and then Essien as the Ghanaian breaks. He releases Anelka, whose cross is over hit and misses Drogba.

Nasri has looked the liveliest of Arsenal's attackers, this time he comes within inches a slipping Chamakh in behind Chelsea. It's all Arsenal at the moment.

Mikel heads the free kick clear as far as Clichy, who tries an outrageous shot from 30 yards which was never troubling Cech.

Arshavin bundled over by Ramires, Arsenal free kick near the corner flag.

Arsene Wenger must be considering changes, Vela or Rosicky? I'm not sure what difference either of those would make.

Anelka misses an open goal! Woeful defending from Squillaci, facing his own goal he fails to control a bouncing ball, allowing the Frenchman in. He rounds Fabianski and all he has to do is roll it into the empty net. He can't and finds the side netting.

Fabianski claims the corner and starts a counter attack. Arshavin whips in a dangerous ball which almost falls for Wilshere, the youngster dispossesses Cech a finds Chamakh. The Moroccan cuts inside and looks to shoot, but Ramires flies in with a cracking challenge.

Chelsea on the front foot this time, Drogba plucking the ball out of the sky and running at Koscielny. The summer signing does excellently, his sliding tackle giving away a corner.

No danger from the corner. I don't see why Arsenal even bother taking them.

From the cleared corner Wilshere advances, Diaby again with the ball, he manages to get a shot off which takes a huge deflection and goes out for a corner.

Abou Diaby is in for a moment after being found by Arshavin, his first touch is poor and Arsenal have to make do with a corner. Needless to say the corner is easily cleared by Chelsea.

Yet another wasted corner for the Gunners. Hardly suprising given the height difference between the two teams.

Straight up the other end and Arsenal have a corner, conceded by the improving Ramires.

Safe hands from Fabianski as he takes the cross.

Corner to Chelsea, Ramires find Malouda brilliantly, the Frenchman's cross is turned behind...

Chamakh rises highest and aims a header towards goal which is narrowly wide.

Arsenal take the free kick short and earn a first corner of the second half.

The man who committed the foul, Song, heads it clear. Ramires brings down Wilshere as Arsenal look to come forward.

Drogba breaks after Nasri loses possession, Song is forced to bring him down and Chelsea have the first set piece of the second half.

Arsenal need to try and get Arshavin and Nasri involved, they have looked like their mostly likely route to a goal.

Clichy striding forward after playing a neat one-two with Wilshere. His cross is deep, looking for Chamakh and Cech makes an easy catch.

<b>KICK OFF</b> Chelsea start the second half.

The teams are back out at Stamford Bridge...

What can Arsenal do in the second half? There are very few options on their bench, with Rosicky the only experienced option for them with attacking ability.

Arsene Wenger will be frustrated with his team. On the balance of play they probably deserve to be level, but they switched off and Chelsea punished them.

<b>HALF TIME</b> Chelsea don't have time to take their corner, but they do lead at the break thanks to Didier Drogba's strike.

Another corner for Chelsea, Clichy sliding in on Malouda...

At a second glance, Diaby is very lucky to have escaped serious injury. The challenge was a little wreckless from the Chelsea man.

<b>TWO MINUTES ADDED TIME</b>

Abou Diaby is down and looks in agony after a coming together with Michael Essien. There didn't look to be any intent to harm Diaby from Essien.

More good work from Ramires, bursting through several challenges to win a throw in for Chelsea. He looks lifted by the goal.

Anelka looks to get away behind Clichy, he is promptly stopped by the linesman's flag.

Ramires is growing into this game, showing excellent strength to shrug off Song and earn a free kick.

Chamakh has a glimmer of an opening behind the Chelsea defence, his first touch is poor and Chelsea are off the hook.

13 goals in 13 games against Arsenal. Wenger must be sick of the sight of Didier Drogba.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b> <b>Drogba opens the scoring!</b> Ramires finds Ashley Cole with a perfectly waited pass, Cole's low cross finds Drogba at the near post who back-heels it beyond a stranded Fabianski. 1-0 to the champions.

Anelka lays it off for Ramires to try his luck, but the Brazilian scuffs his side-footed shot wide.

Chelsea showing a bit more menace since the half hour mark, we're still waiting for the opening goal though...

Chelsea looking for penalty as Malouda's header hits Koscielny. Not a chance as it hit him in the stomach.

Another wasted corner from Chelsea. Teams just don't seem to value corners anymore...

Best chance so far from Drogba, who gets the better of a flailing Clichy, he fires a low shot at goal and Fabianski did well to turn it over the bar.

Clichy does excellently, getting his head on Malouda's cross and then stopping Drogba in his tracks.

Arsenal are beginning to look more and more threatening, Samir Nasri tucks in from the right and his bouncing effort skips just wide of the post.

Didier Drogba has been quiet so far. Given his history against Arsenal and his poor performance last week he'll want to put on a strong showing today.

Handball by Arshavin as he blocks Essien's attack. He's lucky to escape a card there.

The set pieces have wasted so far, Arsenal doing nothing with their corner.

A fantastic effort from Arshavin, taking a touch to compose himself before firing a 25 yarder at Cech's goal. The Chelsea stopper makes a fine one-handed save to give the Gunners a corner.

Arsene Wenger will be happy with the start his depleted side have made here, they don't look overawed by the league leaders.

Arsenal survive another corner, a really open contest at Stamford Bridge.

Essien dispossesses Arshavin and earns Chelsea's fourth corner of the match...

Chamakh gets his head to the corner, but his header is weak and straight at Cech.

Sagna's cross is knocked behind at the back post by Ivanovic...

He does better this time, being alert to gather a through pass as Anelka loomed large.

Fabianski almost makes a text-book Arsenal goalkeeping error. Ashley goal puts the ball across, and under pressure from Anelka the Pole fumbles, luckily straight to Gael Clichy.

The delivery is easy for Cech to collect.

Neat passing, as you'd expect from Arsenal. Abou Diaby tees up Nasri for an effort which results in an Arsenal corner.

Drogba's cross is a peach, Michael Essien glances his header marginally wide.

Drogba's corner is an out-swinger, Alex's volley is diverted behind for another corner.

Arsenal have had the better of the opening exchanges here, but Chelsea have a second corner...

Anelka attempts to fire at goal from 25 yards, as he sets himself Arsenal defenders fling their bodies in the way of the shot.

The corner is confidently defended by the visitors.

Fantastic break from Chelsea, Anelka cutting back towards Drogba and Sagna hits it out for a corner.

Alex Song is too strong for Malouda, who goes down looking for a foul. Nothing given by the referee.

My mistake, Malouda got a touch on it, goal kick to Arsenal.

Corner to Chelsea, Drogba gets to the byline and Squillaci turns it behind...

Chamakh tries to control the ball with his back to goal, but Alex is too strong for him.

Sagna is back on his feet after after his blow from Drogba.

Sagna is down after colliding with Drogba's elbow, it was accidental from the Chelsea striker.

Arsenal look confident early doors, despite all of their injury problems.

Another chance for Arsenal, Arshavin cutting in from the left and hitting a low drive straight at Petr Cech. He got past Ivanovic too easily then.

An incredibly open start at Stamford Bridge, Anelka chasing a through ball that is over hit.

An intelligent effort from Malouda, wrong footing Koscielny a attempting to lob Fabianski, who watches the ball float narrowly over his crossbar.

The game has settled down now after a frantic opening!

Drogba shoots at goal from the free kick and sends it high over Fabianski's goal.

First attack for Drogba, outmuscling Sagna and sending an effort in from the edge of the box which is blocked. Song then brings down Drogba for a free kick...

What a chance early on!Koscielny has a free header two yards out and diverts it over the bar! What a start for Arsenal.

Straight from kick off Chamakh diving header from Sagna's cross is deflected for and Arsenal corner!

<b>KICK OFF</b> Arsenal start the game.

The teams are in the tunnel at Stamford Bridge, kick off is close...

Arsenal have Chamakh up top, supported by Nasri and Arshavin. The talented Jack Wilshere will be expected to produce some magic from his midfield berth.

Chelsea have gone for Anelka and Drogba up front, Ramires starts in a three-man midfield.

With Man City's win closing the gap on Chelsea, they will be eager to restore their cushion. An injury-hit Arsenal team face a huge challenge this afternoon, can the young Gunners rise to it?

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2010/1002/alexsongdidierdrogbagaelclichy20100207_275x155.jpg">

In the meantime, you can read our match <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/preview?id=293195&cc=5739">preview</a>, while we also have Arsene Wenger explaining how Arsenal will cope with the <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=829084&sec=england&cc=5739">physical battle</a>.

Live commentary will appear from 1600 BST.