morning papers arsenal away 4-1

The Times
Arsene Wenger loses his grip on reality as Chelsea crush Arsenal

Arsenal 1 Chelsea 4

Matt Hughes at the Emirates Stadium
Such is Arsène Wenger’s endless optimism that he sees the heaviest of grey skies as a dark shade of blue, but after this second humiliating home defeat in five days even the Arsenal manager must sense the storm clouds gathering over the club. If not, then the loud booing that rang around the half-empty Emirates Stadium after the final whistle will surely have altered even his sunny disposition.

The world as viewed by Wenger must be a beautiful place in which to live, because he sees no problems, only solutions. To him, the recession is probably a good thing that forces us all to go back to basics, swine flu should be welcomed for advancing the cause of vegetarianism and Mikaël Silvestre remains a top-class central defender. Then again, even Wenger’s optimism has its limits.

In keeping with the Frenchman’s relentless positivity it is almost possible to view Arsenal’s heaviest home defeat since 1977 as a good thing, if only for revealing the extent of rebuilding required before they are capable of challenging for trophies again. All of Arsenal’s biggest faults were in evidence, with a combination of woeful finishing and comical defending enabling Chelsea to stroll to their biggest victory in this part of North London since 1960 and secure a top-three finish in the Premier League.

The first step to recovery in any failing enterprise is an honest recognition of your faults, however, which has never been a Wenger strength, as was demonstrated by his postmatch analysis. He was once mocked for being myopic, but his condition is now gripped by delusion.

“It was not a 4-1 defeat today,” Wenger said. “You can be very positive or very negative. It’s a major disappointment to lose 4-1, but going forward we had a very interesting game and created plenty of chances. That was never a 4-1 game.
“We should have been 2-0 up before they scored. We made a mistake and were one down, but we missed seven or eight clear-cut chances and every mistake we made was punished because we were playing a team of quality. Three months ago everybody said we’d finish tenth and they’d have been happy to have finished fourth.”

In his programme notes Wenger had been even more indulgent, describing the two early goals his side conceded against Manchester United last week as an “accident” that should be disregarded, and arguing that Arsenal showed themselves to be equals to the champions over the two legs. Such a claim was eye-catching in print and was made to look utterly ludicrous out on the pitch, as the home side imploded.

Arsenal did start the stronger, as Wenger had claimed, with Theo Walcott missing four good chances in the first 20 minutes, but then proceeded to self-destruct in a manner that only they can.

Accident-prone does not even come close to describing recent defensive efforts of a side that have conceded 11 goals in three matches against Liverpool, United and Chelsea.

Many of Arsenal’s problems stem from the knee injury that ended William Gallas’s season against Villarreal last month, not least because it facilitated the return of Silvestre to the side. The French defender was culpable for Chelsea’s first two goals, being outjumped by Alex at a free kick controversially won by Didier Drogba and failing to close down Nicolas Anelka after he had skipped past Samir Nasri, although Lukasz Fabianski should have done better with his shot.

Chelsea’s third was the kind of aberration that seems only to happen to teams that are struggling, with Kolo Touré diverting Ashley Cole’s cross into his own net, while they were also hopelessly exposed for the fourth as Florent Malouda tapped in after Anelka had hit the post. Wenger must sign an experienced central defender as a matter of urgency this summer, particularly as Touré remains unsettled, although the same situation faced him last summer and all he came up with was Silvestre.

“At the moment I don’t know what funds will be available,” Wenger said. “I will be told by the club. I believe we need to continue to improve. Things are not as doom and gloom as everybody wants to make it after a defeat.

“We play in a strong league with opponents who are top quality. We have to continue to improve, but the areas where it is right. It’s not about quantity of money, necessarily. You wouldn’t like to come out and say we’ll buy four defenders. I feel we have quality defenders. It’s more a question of balance.”
To linger so long on Arsenal’s deficiencies is an injustice to Chelsea, who demonstrated impressive resilience to respond to their own Champions League exit by sealing qualification for next season’s group stage. Drogba was a menace for the right reasons, Malouda continued his recent upsurge in form and it is difficult to see them failing to provide Guus Hiddink with the silverware his outstanding work as interim manager clearly merits by winning the FA Cup.
It is equally hard to envisage a trophy of any description ending up in the hands of Arsenal, whose best hope of success lies with their women’s team, who claimed another title yesterday. The four years that have passed since the men’s last triumph is testing fans’ patience, although Wenger risked being accused of rudeness when he snapped that “everybody is free to leave the stadium when he wants” in response to a query about the mass walkout.

Not even Wenger can look on the bright side all of the time.

Arsenal (4-2-3-1): L Fabianski 6 - B Sagna 6, K Touré 5, M Silvestre 4, K Gibbs 5 - A Song 5, A Diaby 6 - T Walcott 6, C Fàbregas 6, S Nasri 5 - R van Persie 6. Substitutes: N Bendtner 6 (for Diaby, 59min), Denilson 5 (for Song, 67), E Adebayor 6 (for Walcott, 68). Not used: A Ramsey, J Djourou, V Mannone, E Eboué. Next: Man Utd (a)

Chelsea: (4-2-3-1): P Cech 6 - J Bosingwa 6, Alex 6, J Terry 6, A Cole 7 - M Essien 6, J O Mikel 6 - N Anelka 6, F Lampard 7, F Malouda 7 - D Drogba 7. Substitutes: B Ivanovic (for Bosingwa, 77min), M Ballack (for Malouda, 88). Not used: F Di Santo, S Kalou, J Belletti, Hilário, M Mancienne. Next: Blackburn (h)

Referee: P Dowd Attendance: 60,075

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Telegraph:

Arsenal v Chelsea: Arsenal lack leadership as Chelsea secure third
The last time Arsenal lost a home league game this badly the nation was recovering from someone swearing live on television – and Didier Drogba was not even born.

By Henry Winter at The Emirates

Not since the Sex Pistols were at their blaspheming peak in the Seventies have Arsenal been this embarrassed. Never mind the ball-users, here's why they need ball-winners.

Forget the Beautiful Game, Arsenal must acquire some ugly traits: tracking back, closing down, not being turned, marking tighter, making tackles, making the loose ball theirs, defending more doggedly. Arsene Wenger is famous for not seeing his players' mistakes or misdemeanours but he must surely now detect the flaws bedevilling Arsenal.

No leadership; his captain, Cesc Fabregas, could have been dismissed. No toughness at centre-half; Kolo Toure and Mikael Silvestre were constantly outmanoeuvred. No defensive nous in midfield; Samir Nasri, in alarmingly polite "after you Claude'' mood, failed to stick with Nicolas Anelka who was presented with the freedom of the Emirates to score. If Wenger is going to win a trophy with his promising collection of players, and the potential of individuals like Cesc Fabregas, Theo Walcott and Robin van Persie is there, Arsenal's manager must make his side harder to beat. He must think Keown not Kaka.

The three teams above Arsenal in the Premier League all possess a better balance between defence and attack. In thumping Arsenal, Chelsea rubbed in the importance of power and resolve, bouncing back from their Champions League distress against Barcelona with real character.

Having turned the air blue on their last outing, Chelsea focused brilliantly on having the blue flag flying proudly again. John Terry dominated at the back, Anelka, Frank Lampard and the excellent Florent Malouda raided forward persistently while Drogba was on his best behaviour, minding his Ps and Qs and most definitely his Fs. Disciplined and dynamic, Chelsea swept into the group stage of next season's Champions League, leaving fourth-placed Arsenal to battle through a qualifier first.

The only swearing flowed from Chelsea fans eager to voice their verdict on last Wednesday's contentious Champions League exit. "**** Uefa; we should be in Rome,'' was chorused for much of the second half. Uefa's president, Michel Platini, certainly did not escape with a ribald re-working of The Clash's Rock the Kasbah. Nearby, an Arsenal banner declaring "Keep The Faith'' hung rather limply by the end.

Wenger is an accomplished manager who has some serious decisions to make, not only in the transfer market. The Frenchman must establish whether he is going to switch Theo Walcott into the centre. The England flier started on the right of Wenger's 4-2-3-1 system but was swiftly cutting inside. During a recent meeting, Walcott is believed to have discussed with Wenger his desire to operate more centrally. He deserves to be unleashed.

Walcott was certainly lively early on, even imposing himself physically on defenders, bowling Ashley Cole over to the delight of the Arsenal fans. He also tested Petr Cech with a flicked, near-post shot that the Chelsea keeper pushed away. Arrowing into the box, Walcott then cut the ball back but Abou Diaby sliced the ball woefully wide.

Walcott's pace is a strength Arsenal do not exploit enough; a couple of Fabregas balls over the top released the whippet-like No 14 down the channels and, although the threat dissipated, the lesson was clear. Walcott can do damage through the middle.

These early moments brought smiles to Arsenal faces, particularly when Kolo Toure went through the back of Drogba. When Fabregas caught Drogba on the left foot, the muscular striker went down a little too cheaply. As Phil Dowd brandished a yellow card at Fabregas, Arsenal's captain delivered his own verdict, indicating diving. Arsenal fans also responded, "same old Drogba always cheating''.
Drogba ignored all this, lifting in a free-kick and suddenly all Arsenal's flaws were highlighted. Alex outjumped Mikael Silvestre, steering a header past Lukasz Fabianski, who almost waved it into the net like a lollipop lady ushering kids across a road.

Arsenal sympathisers will point out that this was the first league goal conceded at home in 13 hours and 16 minutes, an impressive streak of obduracy obliterated yesterday. Arsenal's fragility was seen again. Fabregas was dicing with oblivion, lunging in on Malouda, grateful to Dowd's largesse. "The referee's from Norway,'' speculated the Chelsea fans. Staffordshire actually.

Arsenal went back to their passing football, Van Persie denied by Jose Bosingwa's goal-line clearance, before Chelsea went through the gears again, exposing Arsenal's soft centre when Anelka turned away from Nasri, raced through the middle and fired past Fabianski as Silvestre debated whether to challenge.
Arsenal's back-four was a mess. Anelka accelerated past Silvestre again. Drogba held the ball up well, taking another clattering without demur, this time from Toure. Arsenal's pain deepened after the break. The defence was in such tatters that Toure, sliding in a vainful attempt to intercept Ashley Cole's cross, merely diverted it past Fabianski. Confidence is always an issue with Toure's and his self-belief was now shot to pieces; he even conceded a corner under no pressure.
Facing a rout, Wenger had to send for the cavalry, however disgraced. Nicklas Bendtner dashed on, exuding an eagerness to atone for letting the side, and his trousers down on a recent night out. He delivered more than a belts-and-braces performance, hard work spiced with a good goal, heading in Bacara Sagna's fine cross.

Emmanuel Adebayor, missing against Manchester United in the Champions League, had arrived by then, to a flurry of boos. Arsenal briefly perked up, Van Persie testing Cech but worse was to come, Malouda poaching a fourth. Wenger has a lot of work to do.

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Mail:
Arsenal 1 Chelsea 4: Rampant Blues power past Arsene’s lightweights

By NEIL ASHTON

By the time Florent Malouda got the goal his fabulous performance deserved, Arsenal's supporters were already streaming for the exits, finished off for another season after finally losing the faith. They were beaten by a team assembled for magic money, Arsene Wenger's latest barb at their big-spending neighbours after Chelsea handed out the mother of all beatings in Arsenal's backyard. Gone backwards? More like gone at all levels.

Key battles were not lost, they never even started. Mikael Silvestre versus Didier Drogba? No contest. Cesc Fabregas versus Frank Lampard? Forget it. Robin van Persie versus John Terry? An embarrassment. It was a humbling experience for Wenger and his team, five days since Manchester United marched on to their territory and trampled all over them in the Champions League semi-final second leg.

Once Alex scored with a header in the 29th minute, they were done for, the shattered confidence draining the life out of their tired little limbs, barely able to string a pass together as Nicolas Anelka, an own goal by Kolo Toure and Malouda's 86th-minute strike saw them off.

They have not lost this badly in a home league game since 1977, when an emerging Ipswich side turned over Terry Neill's team at Highbury, crashing four past the Gunners as the glory years began under Bobby Robson. Judging by events of the past five days, Arsenal's golden era has also gone, consigned to the time capsule that was buried under the main entrance when Arsenal made the ?350million move to the Emirates in August 2006. They occupy fourth position in the Barclays Premier League this morning, where they will remain until the final ball of the season is kicked against Stoke City on May 24, readying themselves for what is becoming an annual date with the Champions League qualifiers. After this they need a summer to recover, to recharge the batteries and remind themselves that playing for Arsenal remains a great privilege. Their supporters deserve better, certainly better than this.For 25 minutes they gave it a go, with Theo Walcott the most threatening Arsenal player, bounding his way past Chelsea's defenders and even poking his England team-mate Ashley Cole in the eye, much to the delight of the home support. With a new ?50,000-a-week contract in the post, he needed to show more composure in the opening minute, blasting his effort over Petr Cech's crossbar when Robin van Persie put him through. So far so good as Arsenal peppered Cech's goal, with Abou Diaby sending another effort wide and Walcott steering an inviting chance to the right of the post. It appeared to be game on until Fabregas clipped Drogba's heels, earning an inevitable booking after motioning to referee Phil Dowd that the most unpopular striker in the history of English football had taken yet another dive. From Drogba's subtle free-kick, Chelsea took the lead when Alex rose above the pathetic challenge of Silvestre to plant an excellent header beyond the reach of Lukasz Fabianski in the 29th minute. Arsenal looked for a leader, someone who could drag them back into the game but Chelsea, inspired by the mazy dribbles and the ghosting runs of Malouda, were unstoppable. Anelka scored their second just before half-time. It was too easy for the former Arsenal striker as he set himself up on the edge of the penalty area, fizzing a shot with the outside of his toe which spun away from Fabianski and into his bottom left corner.

Chelsea's supporters, still hurting from the perceived injustice against Barcelona on Wednesday evening, lapped it up, reminding the opposition-of last month's mismatch at Wembley when they met in the FA Cup semi-final. It got to Arsenal's players, notably Toure when he sent Cole's cross at the start of the second half beyond the stranded figure of Fabianski, a pitiful sight for this once great defender. The believers, the survivors still in the stands, were given hope when Nicklas Bendtner's header in the 70th minute beat Cech, a well-taken effort which met with the approval of Arsenal's dwindling support.

Moments later their hopes of a comeback were destroyed when Anelka's angled effort rebounded off the post and Malouda restored Chelsea's three-goal advantage. That was the signal for Arsenal's supporters to desert the stadium, turning their backs on the team as Chelsea's interim manager Guus Hiddink showed a playful side to his character by blowing kisses at them as they left. After this, it might as well have been the kiss of death.

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Independent:
Drogba is a diver, says humbled Wenger
Arsenal......... 1 Chelsea......... 4
By Mark Fleming

The integrity of several Chelsea players has been questioned in recent days, but no one can doubt their resilience. The sense of injustice at the nature of their Champions League elimination to Barcelona last week burns deeply, and instead of ranting at a referee this time they took out their frustrations in devastating fashion.

Chelsea shrugged off the disappointment and the controversy to condemn Arsenal to their second humiliating home defeat in five days. Almost inevitably, it was Didier Drogba who was once again cast as the villain, accused of diving by Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger. Guus Hiddink showed his intention not to buckle to public opinion by selecting Drogba for his starting XI. The Chelsea striker has become public enemy No 1 for his furious blast at referee Tom Henning Ovrebo after Wednesday's 1-1 draw with Barça. Drogba has divided opinion since that tie, into those who loathe him and those who only hate him.

The Ivorian did not score, which is unusual for him against Arsenal. But he led the line with his trademark aggression and energy as Chelsea inflicted on Arsenal their heaviest home league defeat since they lost 4-1 to Ipswich in 1977. After an opening spell which Arsenal totally dominated, Chelsea took the lead on 28 minutes, and Drogba had a key role to play.

He won a free-kick, drawing a foul from Cesc Fabregas who was booked by referee Phil Dowd for moaning too much that the Chelsea man had dived. Drogba arced the free-kick to the shaved head of Chelsea's Brazilian defender Alex, who rose above a static Mikaël Silvestre to force his header in via the underside of the bar. Wenger was furious at the decision. Asked if it was a dive, he replied: "It was. We live in a league where divers are rewarded. It's not right but it's like that." Whether he is wearing flip-flops or football boots, Drogba cannot take a step without treading in some kind of controversy.

Chelsea manager Hiddink paid tribute to his side's character after a victory in which the club guaranteed at least finishing third in the Premier League. "I felt the injustice, not being in the European Cup final," he said.
"That felt like a huge injustice for everyone in the team. Then we have this reaction against Arsenal. It's been a long time since Chelsea have made such a big victory against Arsenal. That's why I'm very proud of the boys in the way they reacted, tactically and mentally." It was the first league goal conceded at home by Arsenal since 21 December last year, and triggered something of an avalanche. Nicolas Anelka, who should have scored in first-half stoppage time, doubled Chelsea's advantage six minutes before the break.

The former Arsenal striker picked the ball up in midfield and, as Samir Nasri and Silvestre left it to each other to make a challenge, he drove at the Arsenal goal. His powerful shot from 25 yards had pace and swerve, but Lukasz Fabianski in the Arsenal goal, one of three changes from the team that lost 3-1 to Manchester United in midweek, should have done better.

Chelsea again exposed the cracks in the Arsenal defence with their third shortly after the interval. The excellent Florent Malouda released an overlapping Ashley Cole, whose dangerous cross was met by Arsenal defender Kolo Touré who steered the ball into the bottom corner of the goal.

Wenger responded by bringing on Nicklas Bendtner and Emmanuel Adebayor, the latter's arrival greeted by boos from disgruntled Arsenal fans. The response was swift. Bacary Sagna's hanging cross invited a finish, which Bendtner applied with his head from close range. The combination worked again moments later, but this time Petr Cech was on hand to save.

Arsenal only had themselves to blame as they should really have been a couple of goals up inside 20 minutes. Theo Walcott gave Cole almost as torrid a time as the home support.

The Arsenal supporters jeered Drogba's every touch, but the loudest abuse was reserved for Cole who had been excellent in midweek in defusing the danger posed by Barcelona's Lionel Messi but found Walcott a far trickier proposition. Walcott had four good chances to score in the first quarter of the game, but he missed the target three times and when he did find his range he could not beat the imposing form of Cech.

With 15 minutes left Arsenal were denied a penalty when Jose Bosingwa challenged Adebayor but referee Dowd waved play on. The decision effectively ended Arsenal's brief rally as within moments Malouda fired in a fourth to mark the Blues' biggest league win at Arsenal since 1960.

Wenger remained typically positive despite the scoreline. He said: "I do not believe this was a bad performance. It was not a 4-1 game. We are very disappointed. This is now an opportunity for us to show our mental strength."

Arsenal (4-1-4-1): Fabianski; Sagna, Touré, Silvestre, Gibbs; Song (Denilson, 67); Walcott (Adebayor, 67), Fabregas, Nasri, Diaby (Bendtner, 60); Van Persie. Substitutes not used: Mannone (gk), Ramsey, Djourou, Eboué.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech; Bosingwa (Ivanovic, 77), Alex, Terry, A Cole; Essien, Mikel; Anelka, Lampard, Malouda (Ballack, 88); Drogba. Substitutes not used: Hilario (gk), Di Santo, Kalou, Belletti, Mancienne.

Referee: P Dowd (Staffs).
Booked: Arsenal Fabregas.
Man of the match: Malouda.
Attendance: 60,075.

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Guardian:

Chelsea exorcism hands Arsenal a devilish reminder
Arsenal 1 Bendtner 70 Chelsea 4 Alex 28, Anelka 39, Toure (og) 49, Malouda 86
Dominic Fifield at The Emirates

There were pockets of chorused defiance at the end from those who remained amid swathes of empty seats, but Arsenal's fans must be growing weary of brutal reminders that their team are so painfully off the pace. Arsène Wenger suffered his heaviest home league defeat as this club's manager here yesterday. What made it all the more humiliating was that Chelsea hardly had to break into a sweat to inflict it.

Wenger remains committed to his vision of the club's future but his insistence that this was far from a poor performance, and that all remains essentially rosy, did seem delusional. The past week has been so chastening that another summer of prudence and youthful acquisitions geared at the long term will surely not be tolerated by those who were grumbling their way from the arena long before the end. Manchester United had arrived in north London last Tuesday with the Champions League semi-final apparently in the balance, only to breeze to comfortable success. Chelsea, a side still smarting from their own elimination from Europe, took time to find their feet but, once their hangovers had cleared, ran riot.

Arsenal had actually excelled against other members of the elite quartet this season until the run-in but this suggested the top three remain some way distant. They had not lost a league game this heavily at home since 1977, with defeat bringing a shuddering halt to a 21-game unbeaten run which had inflated ­optimism after a sloppy start to the campaign. That sequence, if admirable, has now been put into context. Wenger's team will finish fourth, and their opponents in August's qualifier for next season's Champions League could ­potentially be awkward.

Their defence has disintegrated in the last week, William Gallas's absence with a knee injury keenly felt and Manuel Almunia's ankle complaint ruling him out here. Mikaël Silvestre is a shadow of his former self, and the sight of Kolo Touré wearily running the ball out of play for a corner betrayed his lack of belief. This group is horribly fallible. Wenger attempted to deflect attention from their vulnerability by pointing to errors in midfield, though the blame could have been justifiably spread throughout his line-up.

Cesc Fabregas put Arsenal on the back foot by wasting possession, whereas Frank Lampard kept Chelsea ticking over .

Chelsea wavered only twice, first through a sluggish opening and then once the game was won. The home ­support clung to hope in each brief period, but their team lacked the teeth to tear a hole in the visitors' rearguard. Nicklas Bendtner was summoned from the bench to head in Bacary Sagna's cross, his 15th goal of the season, but that proved scant consolation. Theo Walcott, all excellent approach play but little bite, Silvestre, Abou Diaby and Robin van Persie all failed to convert from close-range. Emmanuel Adebayor, who entered to a smattering of boos, tumbled too easily over Jose Bosingwa and Petr Cech when offered sights at goal. His ­confidence has anchored and faith in his ability is waning. Bendtner suddenly seems the better option, though that is not necessarily reason for encouragement.

Guus Hiddink's side revelled in their hosts' deficiencies. Chelsea were ­excellent – rugged, ruthless, imposing – and some of the nightmarish memories of Andrés Iniesta, Tom Henning Ovrebo and ­Barcelona have been exorcised. Didier Drogba, who will be charged by Uefa this week for his post-match abuse of the Norwegian official, played with the sense of a man who knew his every move was being scrutinised. He was a colossus helping his defenders at set-pieces, and a nuisance at the other end. Cesc Fábregas caught him just before the half-hour and, even if the Ivorian tumbled too eagerly, the free-kick awarded was legitimate. Drogba's delivery saw Alex thump a header in off the ­crossbar and Arsenal were sunk.

It became a procession thereafter, with the home side befuddled and prone. Nicolas Anelka, swerving away from Samir Nasri, belted in from distance beyond a shellshocked Lukasz Fabianski. The former Arsenal striker refused to celebrate, but he might have added a third before the interval – the Pole making amends – before Touré, stretching to reach Ashley Cole's cross, inadvertently settled the contest four minutes into the second half. The home support had heckled their own from the field at the interval. The three-goal deficit sparked a steady stream up the aisles towards the exits, just as it had in midweek.

Briefly, as Hiddink's team sat back, it appeared Arsenal might eke out more unmerited reward though Chelsea only had to generate interest to re-establish their comfortable lead. Michael Essien and the excellent Frank Lampard combined to liberate Florent Malouda and, after ­Fabianski had saved and Anelka hit a post, the winger tapped in the fourth. This was their best league win across the capital since 1960, with Roman Abram­ovich joining his players in the dressing room post-match to revel in the victory.

Hiddink has achieved the objective set him upon his appointment back in February, a third-place finish assured and qualification for the Champions League secured. For Arsenal, the reality is less comfortable. United can claim the title against them at Old Trafford on Saturday. Another galling afternoon potentially lies ahead.

Man of the match Ashley Cole (Chelsea)

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Star:

SORRY GUNS ARE LEFT TO SING BLUES

By David Woods
Arsenal 1 Chelsea 4

IT WAS deja blue for Arsenal as they were humiliated by opponents wearing that colour for the second time in five days.

On Tuesday Arsene Wenger saw his young team put in their place in the Champions League semi-final against Manchester United.

Yesterday they were put in their place again – literally this time, as now they are sure to finish fourth – as Guus Hiddink’s Chelsea consigned them to a first defeat in 22 Premier League games.

A difficult play-off for Champ-ions League qualification, poss-ibly against another big-name club, now awaits the Gunners.
As for Chelsea, they are sure to play in Europe’s top competition again and this convincing victory also kept alive their tiny hopes of the title.
And, of course, there is the small matter of the FA Cup still to go for, having beaten Arsenal in the semi-finals.

There was no repetition of the bad behaviour following their controversial Champions League exit to Barcelona on Wednesday. Having said that, it is easy to let your football do the talking when you are 3-0 up after 47 minutes!
This had been billed as the battle of the Champions League bridesmaids.
On this evidence, the Gunners are never going to be the ones to catch the bouquet and go on to win the trophy.

They were outplayed in every department by the Blues, just as they had been when United were the visitors.
At least yesterday they were on top until the 28th minute when the Blues scored against the run of play.
Arsenal were bright from the very start. Theo Walcott’s burst from the kick-off saw him hook over the bar after just 19 seconds.
And they should have scored in the 13th minute when Nasri turned Michael Essien before playing in Walcott, whose low cross was side-footed wide by a stretching Abou Diaby.

Walcott had another great opportunity in the 19th minute when Ashley Cole missed Diaby’s cross from the left, but the right-winger’s instant sidefoot flashed wide.
In the 21st minute a superb run down the left by Cole, after a slick one-two with Didier Drogba, saw him charge into the box and square to Florent Malouda, whose weak left-foot shot from 10 yards was blocked by Kieron Gibbs.
Cesc Fabregas made diving actions in the 27th minute after a little tap on Drogba’s left ankle saw the Ivory Coast striker collapse to the deck.It led to Fabregas being booked, home fans chanting ‘cheat’ and the Blues scoring.

Drogba took the free-kick and Alex rose superbly above Mikael Silvestre 12 yards out to power a header in off the underside of the bar. It was the first league goal conceded at the Emirates in more than 13 hours. Two minutes later Kolo Toure had to lunge in to stop Drogba scoring from close range after another impressive Malouda charge.

Fabregas was lucky to escape a second yellow and a sending-off when Phil Dowd let him off with a lecture following a wild lunge on Malouda.

Another snappy Arsenal move ended with a driven Fabregas cross being flicked on by Robin van Persie near the line, but again there was no end product.
That wasn’t an accusation you could level at the Blues, who went further ahead in the 39th minute. Ex-Arsenal star Nicolas Anelka was allowed to power straight through the heart of the home defence, then avoid a flimsy challenge from Silvestre before bending a 20-yard drive past Lukasz Fabianski.

Walcott, who has just signed a new contract, had yet another first-half chance, but snatched at Van Persie’s pass. Anelka should have made it three in first-half stoppage-time but fired at Fabianski’s legs.
But it was only a temporary respite as in the 49th minute Cole – booed throughout by fans of his former club – dashed on to a flicked pass from John Obi Mikel and his cross was turned into his own net by Toure.
Walcott’s awful afternoon continued in the 58th minute when he controlled Alex Song’s pass then shot wide.

Arsenal claimed one back in the 70th minute when substitute Nicklas Bendtner climbed above Essien to head in Bacary Sagna’s cross.
But Arsenal’s horror day was complete in the 87th minute when Malouda’s shot was kept out by Fabianski’s feet, but Anelka drove the rebound against the post, allowing his fellow Frenchman to tap in.

At least one Arsenal man was happy. Arsenal Ladies coach Vic Akers saw his team wrap up the league title again yesterday and he has now won 10 trophies in the same time Wenger has managed just the FA Cup.

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Sun:
Arsenal 1 Chelsea 4
From MARK IRWIN at the Emirates

IT is so long since Arsenal printed a league table in their matchday programme that supporters as near-sighted as Arsene Wenger might not be aware of their team’s current position.
So for Gunners of a nervous disposition... look away now.

For the stark truth is that your team are currently 15 points behind leaders Manchester United — and have played a game more.

If, as expected, they lose at Old Trafford on Saturday, the likelihood is they will finish the season a frightening 21 points adrift of the Premier League champions.

When striker Emmanuel Adebayor dared to suggest the team have gone backwards this season, he was slapped down by manager Wenger and relegated to the bench.
But even the famously blinkered boss can no longer close his eyes to harsh reality as his young team were brutally dismantled in their back-yard for the second time in five days.

Just like United in last week’s Champions League semi, Chelsea took full advantage of Arsenal’s shortcomings to win at a stroll.

Guus Hiddink’s men might have been nursing a king-sized hangover from their own European KO but that did not stop them from inflicting Arsenal’s heaviest home league defeat since 1977.

Champions League third-place play-off, the battle for London pride, the right to avoid the Euro qualifiers — no matter how they dressed it up, this was very much a case of after the Lord Mayor’s Show.

For Chelsea, though, it was also the opportunity to restore their battered reputation following their controversial exit to Barcelona.
The visitors took such a mauling over their appalling midweek behaviour that you half expected them to turn up in a new sackcloth strip.
Hiddink hinted he was going to withdraw Didier Drogba from the firing line for his own safety.

But there was to be no rest for the wicked as football’s public enemy No 1 began his rehabilitation in style.
In fact, the whole Chelsea team were on their best behaviour as they seized the chance to rub Arsenal’s noses in their own inferiority.
They didn’t even protest when Cesc Fabregas escaped a second yellow for scything down Florent Malouda.

Mind you, they really didn’t need the added advantage of an extra man.
It was only a month ago that Chelsea had overpowered Wenger’s kids in the FA Cup semi-final.
This was more emphatic as Arsenal’s 21-match unbeaten league run went the way of all their other dreams.
Yet, for the first 25 minutes, there was no hint of what was to follow. Arsenal took the game to their rivals with their customary neat passing.
Theo Walcott’s early shot was beaten round the near post by Petr Cech and Abou Diaby sliced a glorious chance wide after pinching the ball off the toes of Fabregas.
Alex Song hooked another good chance wide and Walcott wastefully fired three more wide of the far post. It was only a matter of time before Chelsea made them pay so it came as no surprise when Alex headed in Drogba’s 28th-minute free-kick.
Now was the time for Arsenal’s kids to show their famous mental strength which Wenger is banging on about. Instead, they simply caved in at the first sign of adversity.

Nicolas Anelka doubled Chelsea’s lead seven minutes before the break when he ran unchallenged from the halfway line before smashing home a fierce right-footer from 25 yards.

True, the ball moved alarmingly in the air, but Arsenal were still entitled to expect keeper Lukasz Fabianski to have done more to keep the shot out.
Any thoughts of a second-half fightback were dismissed within three minutes of the restart.

Ashley Cole — mercilessly abused by the home fans — fired a low cross into the danger zone. Kolo Toure slid in to keep out Drogba but turned the ball into his own net.
Arsenal sub Nicklas Bendtner nodded in Bacary Sagna’s 70th-minute cross to pull one back but Malouda gained the reward he deserved by poking home after Anelka’s 86th-minute shot hit a post.
Hiddink, beaten in only one of his 19 league matches in charge of Chelsea, is going out in a blaze of glory.

He is in the FA Cup final and this win guarantees third place and automatic entry to next season’s Champions League. Arsenal will start the term early in the qualifiers.
Still, it wasn’t all bad news at the Emirates as the stadium announcer declared that Arsenal’s Ladies have won the Women’s Premier League.
Maybe Wenger can borrow a few of the girls to teach his boys how to win a trophy.