Chelsea edged another step closer to a fourth Premier League title with a goalless draw against Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday.
Jose Mourinho’s side now need two wins from their remaining five matches, with Leicester City and Crystal Palace the next two teams in their sights.
Whilst yesterday’s 0-0 at the Emirates won’t live long in many neutral’s memories, the celebrations from Chelsea players at the end suggested it was a very welcome result.
Here we have identified five things we learnt about both sides from an afternoon where defences came out on top in north London.
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Click on Jose Mourinho posing for a photo to reveal five things we learnt from Arsenal v Chelsea on Sunday
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Chelsea are boring, but they don’t care
Chelsea are not going to win any support from any neutrals any time soon, that is certain. Once again Jose Mourinho set up his side not to lose, and particularly in the second half attempted to send everyone to sleep by simply sitting back and waiting for the referee to signal another 0-0.
Arsenal fans attempted to goad with chants of ‘boring boring Chelsea’, but the celebrations from John Terry and co at the final whistle told it’s own story.
They are not going to win any awards for attractive football any time soon, but their methods look as though they have been effective enough to earn a fourth Premier League title.
Even the ‘best’ referees can’t get a simple decision right
The 2014-15 season has arguably been the worst season ever for officials – and that is saying something.
Michael Oliver took charge at the Emirates yesterday, and is widely considered to be one of the best young officials in the game.
Yet he missed one of the most blatent penalties of the season in the first half, when David Ospina came flying out to clatter Oscar – so badly that the Brazilian was forced off at half time with concussion.
Jose Mourinho was livid with the decision, and it’s fair to say on this occasion it was justified.
Arsenal and Wenger have a mental block against Chelsea
Many were predicting yesterday may have been lucky 13 for Arsene Wenger against Jose Mourinho, with the Gunners heading into the match as the form team in the country and on a run of eight straight Premier League wins.
Yet once again they had no answer to Mourinho shutting up shop, and any sign of a chance was snatched at by the Gunners.
Wenger’s record against Mourinho is well documented, but that is now five matches in a row where the Gunners have failed to score against Chelsea.
The players must be aware of that statistic, and the mental block is looking more difficult to overcome with each game the sides play against one another.
Arsenal fans are split over Cesc
Sunday’s game marked Cesc Fabregas’ first return to the Emirates since leaving the club, and it’s fair to say his reception was mixed.
Arsene Wenger had pleaded with Arsenal fans to show respect to their former captain, and for the most part that is what they did.
Of course there were some boos for the man who swapped north London for west London via a spell in Barcelona, but there was also some applause when he was substituted with just a few minutes remaining.
It is fair to say Arsenal fans remain totally split on where they stand on the Spaniard.
Arsenal look smarter defensively
Chelsea took plenty of the headlines for another superb defensive display, but Arsenal also deserve some credit for the way in which they defended against the champions elect.
The Gunners have been accused of being too soft and naive defensively in the past, but they restricted Chelsea to very little going forward yesterday, and showed they were willing to be cynical in disrupting their counter attacks, with Santi Cazorla, Francis Coquelin and Nacho Monreal all booked late in the game for professional fouls.
The introduction of Coquelin and the return of Laurent Koscielny appear to have transformed the Gunners defensively, and they will hope to carry that into next season.
