Chelsea 2-0 Arsenal
by Amar Azam
at Stamford Bridge

A MUCH anticipated pre-match handshake between Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger did little to thaw frosty relations between the old foes.

Out-of-form Chelsea clinched the victory over their London rivals, but the manner of the win — controversial refereeing decisions saw Arsenal reduced to 10 men on the cusp of half-time and nine before the 80-minute mark — left the Gunners boss fuming. Mourinho, of course, saw it otherwise.

The match was fiercely contested with goals from Kurt Zouma and a deflected shot from Eden Hazard deciding the points.

It was, however, the performance of referee Mike Dean that came under greatest scrutiny.

Arsenal defender Gabriel Paulista was sent off after an ugly confrontation with Diego Costa shortly before half time. Wenger was critical of the opposition player’s antagonistic style.

“[Costa] will do the same again next week and the week after that and he always gets away with it,” said Wenger.

When asked if the FA should take retrospective action, the Arsenal manager added: “That is the least they could do. Costa can do what he wants and yet he stays on and everyone who responds to him has to be sent off.”

Chelsea took the lead on 53 minutes when an unmarked Zouma, in for club captain John Terry, glanced a free-kick beyond Arsenal’s goalkeeper Petr Cech. The former Chelsea stopper had rarely been troubled before that.

Hazard, last season’s player of the year, secured the win late on when his shot flew off Arsenal defender Calum

Chambers. Hazard is slowly regaining his form after a slow start to the season.

Meanwhile, Mourinho defended his controversial forward. “He played like he has to play and that is why you have full stadiums and you sell football to television around the world for millions and millions. Because the game has to be played like that, OK? Man of the match, for me.”

Cazorla was sent off near the end of the match for a second yellow card after bringing down Cesc Fabregas.