Arsenal 0-0 Chelsea: Blues Hold Gunners In Scrappy No Score Draw
Premier League heavyweights Arsenal and Chelsea played out a cautious draw at the Emirates as Jose Mourinho extended his unbeaten record against Arsene Wenger. Two points now separate the top five with both the Gunners and the Blues firmly in the title race.
A cagey and tactical first half saw Chelsea create the better openings. Two Blues Brazilians combined as Ramires nodded over from a Willian centre. Frank Lampard then volleyed against the underside of the bar when Eden Hazard's fine ball over the top put him in.
Hosts Arsenal wanted a penalty ten minutes before half time when Theo Walcott went down in the box under the challenge of Willian. Referee Mike Dean waved away appeals, however. Willian also worked Wojciech Szczesny as the interval approached.
Ramires lunged in on Mikel Arteta in the second half on a slick, wet pitch, so match official Dean showed clemency and booked the Chelsea midfielder. The Gunners anchor had earlier been on the receiving end of a similar challenge from John Obi Mikel.
Lampard then forced Szczesny into a low stop after Fernando Torres's knockdown. A tetchy undercurrent also developed, further reducing goalmouth action. Olivier Giroud later fired wide for Arsenal after a fine move that saw Tomas Rosicky and Aaron Ramsey involved.
Gunners frontman Giroud then spurned a second opening from close range after Kieran Gibbs combined with Rosicky. A combination of Blues captain John Terry and goalie Petr Cech got this effort over their own bar.
Cesar Azpilicueta then cleared off the line in stoppage when Bacary Sagna's deflected header from an Arsenal corner almost squeezed in as Chelsea took a share of spoils back to Stamford Bridge.