Barclays Premier League leaders and defending champions, Chelsea, have kept their firm grasp of this season’s title challenge today as a goal in either half saw them defeat London rivals Arsenal 2-0 at Stemford Bridge.
Clinical finishing from Didier Drogba and defender Alex saw the title-holders through in what could have been a closer affair, had Arsenal capped several dominant spells with any sort of end product.
As it was, it would be last year’s Golden Boot, Drogba, who opened the scoring and sent home fans into raptures on 39 minutes as he finished following a good cross from Ashley Cole.
Before this goal, Chelsea stopper Petr Cech was called into action by an Arshavin shot, which, had it found the net, could have opened this game up.
Instead it was Chelsea who kept their four point lead at the head of the Barclays Premier League, their win secured by Alex, as the Chelsea defender drove a powerful free-kick into the top-corner of Almunia’s goal.
Chelsea’s closest rivals are now Manchester City, who sit four points adrift in second place after producing a workman-like win at home to Newcastle.