arsenal 3-0

Independent:

Drogba brushes past Arsenal's feeble challenge

Arsenal 0 Chelsea 3: Powerful striker continues fine record against Gunners Chelsea move 11 points ahead of their London rivals after ruthless performance

By Sam Wallace, Football Correspondent

Sitting on the bench at the end of the game, having wreaked havoc on Arsenal, Didier Drogba spent the last five minutes signing autographs for the home fans. And if you think that was humiliating for Arsenal, it was nothing compared to the game itself.
Carlo Ancelotti was the manager who wore the embarrassing pixie hat for most of the game but the little people were the ones wearing the red shirts. To say it was men against boys would be putting it mildly. Chelsea looked superior in every department, brushing aside their opponents with the kind of ease they might swat away a team from much lower in the league.
This dominance was embodied in Drogba more than anyone else and not just in the two goals he scored. There was a moment late in the second half when Armand Traoré tried to body-check Drogba off the ball as they came together on the left flank. The full-back simply bounced off and ended up on the turf: that was Arsenal's afternoon in one moment. They barely laid a finger on Chelsea.
When Arsène Wenger said on Friday that this game would give him a clear idea of his team's position in English football, he was entirely accurate, although he would have hoped the answer would not prove so painful. Wenger's team trail Chelsea by 11 points and in terms of yesterday's performance they are light years behind. They lost to Chelsea by the same margin in May – 4-1 at the Emirates – and nothing has changed since then.
It was not just Drogba who proved so outstanding for Chelsea, their back four was also dominant. Ashley Cole made both the first-half goals, the second turned into his own net by Thomas Vermaelen, and by the time Cole was substituted it had become an effort for the home fans to boo his every touch. Cole had been excellent and everyone at the Emirates knew it.
While Vermaelen scored an own goal and William Gallas lost Drogba at the crucial moments, at the other end John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho never looked as though Eduardo da Silva would get the better of them. Branislav Ivanovic fought a running battle with Andrei Arshavin and it was the Chelsea full-back who had the better of it. Was there one positive element for Arsenal? The free T-shirts given to the fans at half-time went down well.
It does Wenger no favours when he tries to wriggle out of what was painfully clear to everyone else at the Emirates, or at least the 20,000 or so Arsenal fans who hung around until the final whistle. He claimed that his team were denied a goal when referee Andre Marriner penalised Eduardo for kicking the ball out of Petr Cech's hands four minutes after half-time, just before Arshavin volleyed in the loose ball.
Wenger said that decision had changed the course of the match and that Drogba had done little of note. It was wild and whirling stuff from the Arsenal manager. He would find few among his own fans who would agree, especially not the bloke who kept asking Drogba to sign his programmes. The kindest thing we can say about such an intelligent football man is that Wenger was simply traumatised by what he had seen and was temporarily incapable of facing the truth.
A more reasoned approach would be to accept that Marriner had a good game but this was not about the referee. This match was about Arsenal's sorry inability to live with Chelsea. Cesc Fabregas was decent enough in the opening stages, in which his side competed, but he disappeared after that. Of course Arsenal missed Robin van Persie but the Emirates crowd yesterday was not interested in excuses.
In the way the trickle to the exits turned into a full-scale evacuation when Drogba's second goal hit the net five minutes from time, you could tell what the Arsenal support thought of this performance. Fabregas had been mugged by Joe Cole in midfield around the hour-mark and after that Wenger's side seemed to slump. They did not give up, but they no longer seemed to believe they could win this match.
Nicolas Anelka might even have had a penalty on 19 minutes when Bacary Sagna tried to tackle him from the wrong side and brought the striker down. By then Chelsea were well on top and the two killer goals came in the six minutes before half-time. First Terry played a perfect ball past Arshavin to release Ashley Cole on the left. His cross was guided beyond Almunia by Drogba.
When Cole put in an identical cross at the end of the half, Drogba did not even have to apply the finish because Vermaelen did it for him. Gallas, who was completely out of sorts, seemed to want nothing to do with the job of stopping Drogba.
The only time Chelsea looked under any danger was when someone among the Arsenal fans lobbed a camera at Frank Lampard when he went to take a corner. At this genteel stadium you normally expect the missiles to be of a decent certain Islington quality – an olive ciabatta perhaps, or a guidebook to Tuscany – and this one missed Lampard and struck the linesman.
Drogba's third was a beautifully-executed free-kick, struck with the instep inside Almunia's right post. It was Drogba's 10th goal in 11 games against Arsenal and you can see why. He is the kind of player they cannot contain in so much as he has the pace and skill of the prototype Arsenal player and then the aggression and strength on top of it. He has become Arsenal's nightmare. And also exactly the kind of player they need themselves.

Arsenal (4-3-3): Almunia; Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Traoré; Fabregas, Song (Walcott, h-t), Denilson; Nasri (Rosicky, 66), Eduardo (Vela, 57), Arshavin. Substitutes not used: Ramsey, Silvestre, Fabianski (gk), Eboué.

Chelsea (4-1-3-2): Cech; Ivanovic, Carvalho, Terry, A Cole (Ferreira, 72); Mikel; Lampard, J Cole (Deco, 67), Essien; Drogba (Malouda, 85), Anelka. Substitutes not used: Ballack, Zhirkov, Kalou, Hilario (gk).

Referee: A Marriner (West Midlands).
Booked: Arsenal Traoré, Fabregas Chelsea Drogba, Mikel.
Man of the match: Drogba.
Attendance: 60,067

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Times:

Arsene Wenger loses the argument as Arsenal crash at home to Chelsea

Arsenal 0 Chelsea 3

Oliver Kay

There are wins, there are conquests and then, perhaps once or twice over the course of a title-winning season, there are resounding statements that indicate that a team bear the hallmark of champions.
This was men against boys. Arsène Wenger, the Arsenal manager, took issue with that depiction afterwards, but he was kidding himself. Chelsea were in a different class — not technically, which seemed to be Wenger’s point of reference, but in terms of their tactical approach, their physical prowess and their controlled aggression, epitomised by the performances of John Terry, Ashley Cole and Didier Drogba, who scored twice against his favourite opponents.
Chelsea’s five-point advantage over Manchester United at the top of the table has been re-established, but this result seemed to be more relevant in exposing the weaknesses of Arsenal, who are 11 points adrift, albeit having played one game fewer.
Wenger called the scoreline a “very unfair reflection of the game”, which it was when viewed in isolation, but then again, who expected Chelsea to go to the Emirates Stadium and to play in any other way than they did, which is to say competitively, aggressively, maturely and efficiently — everything, in fact, that Arsenal cannot do.
Wenger had said beforehand that this was “the moment” for his team to come of age, to prove that they are “now better able to handle the big moments in key matches”. Injuries — above all to Robin van Persie — have played a part, but there was an unavoidable feeling of déjà vu yesterday as Arsenal’s defence creaked when put under pressure in the closing minutes of the first half, with crosses by Ashley Cole leading to a sumptuous goal for Drogba, side-footed in off the crossbar, and a desperate own goal for Thomas Vermaelen.
To any impartial observer the impression of men against boys was irresistible. Wenger said that we will be surprised when he produces his physical and technical analysis of the game, but for now consider the following statistics: the average age of the Arsenal starting line-up was 25 years, five months — three years younger than Chelsea; the average height of the Arsenal team was one metre 73 centimetres (5ft 8in), 5 centimetres shorter than Chelsea; the average weight of the Arsenal team was 73 kilograms, 10kg lighter than Chelsea.
None of this would be relevant if the statistics were not backed up by the evidence on the pitch, but Chelsea put their various advantages — most obviously in the physical aspect but also in terms of experience — to good use. If Wenger has any statistics on which way the 50-50 challenges went, they would make interesting reading. The overwhelming impression, as the action unfolded, was that when Denilson, Cesc Fàbregas or Andrey Arshavin challenged for the ball, they seemed to bounce off their more robust opponents.
Wenger did not cover himself in glory, really. When he claimed that Andre Marriner, the referee, was wrong to disallow an effort by Arshavin early in the second half, he seemed to be forgetting that raising your studs to chest height, as Eduardo da Silva did in challenging Petr Cech for the ball, is generally considered dangerous play. If Marriner got one big decision wrong, it was in failing to award Chelsea a penalty when Bacary Sagna tugged Nicolas Anelka as the forward bore down on goal in the eighteenth minute.
And then there was Wenger’s assertion that Drogba “didn’t do a lot in the game”, another claim that he said would be backed up by the statistics. He was right to say that the Chelsea forward was not at his barnstorming, marauding best, but how Arsenal could have done with a striker who did not do a lot except occupy defenders and score a couple of goals.
Chelsea defended resolutely throughout, but it was a mark of their performance that the penetration for the first goal, in the 41st minute, came from two of their back four. Terry stepped forward and threaded an incisive pass behind Arshavin and into the path of Ashley Cole, galloping forward from left back. Cole, impressive against his former club, delivered a perfect cross and Drogba, getting in front of William Gallas, found the net with a side-foot shot that, according to Wenger, he did not mean.
That was a blow to Arsenal, who had competed reasonably well to that point, but worse was to follow before the half-time whistle blew. Arsenal’s marking was too loose at a throw-in as Anelka passed to Cole, who hit another cross, this time into what defenders know as the corridor of uncertainty. As the ball sped across the six-yard box past Gallas, Vermaelen, behind him, swung it, but succeeded only in slicing past Manuel Almunia.
All bets were off after that. Wenger took a calculated risk in sending on Theo Walcott in place of Alexandre Song, a defensive midfield player, and followed that by introducing Carlos Vela and Tomas Rosicky. Arsenal had their moments, but almost every time they sent the ball into the Chelsea box, Terry got his head to it or Cech punched it away.
The third goal was certainly harsh on Arsenal as Drogba powered home a free kick, but when it comes down to matches such as this, a powerful, aggressive, experienced team are more likely to be flattered by the result than an inexperienced, lightweight team. It really is no coincidence.

Arsenal ratings
4-3-3 M Almunia 5; B Sagna 5, W Gallas 5, T Vermaelen 5, A Traoré 5; F Fàbregas 6, A Song 5, Denilson 6; S Nasri 4, Eduardo da Silva 4, A Arshavin 4. Substitutes: T Walcott 4 (for Song, 46min), C Vela 4 (for Eduardo, 57), T Rosicky 6 (for Nasri, 64). Not used: L Fabianski, M Silvestre, E Eboué, A Ramsey.Next: Stoke City (h).

Cheslea ratings
4-3-1-2 P Cech 7; B Ivanovic 7, R Carvalho 7, J Terry 8, A Cole 8; M Essien 7, J O Mikel 6, F Lampard 7; J Cole 6; D Drogba 8, N Anelka 7. Substitutes: Deco (for J Cole, 68min), P Ferreira (for A Cole, 72), F Malouda (for Drogba, 87). Not used: Hilário, M Ballack, Y Zhirkov, S Kalou.Next: Manchester City (a).
Referee: A Marriner Attendance: 60,067


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Guardian:

Arsène Wenger flies in face of reality as Arsenal's future is postponed again

Arsenal 0 Chelsea 3 Drogba 41, Vermaelen (og) 45, Drogba 86
Kevin McCarra at the Emirates Stadium

For Arsenal the future has been postponed once again. This defeat was all too familiar. It was reminiscent, for instance, of the 3-1 beating here by Manchester United in the second leg of last season's Champions League semi-final. There was a pointed resemblance, as well, to the 4-1 drubbing when Chelsea themselves last came to the Emirates in May.
There are some particularly regrettable casualties in all the carnage. It was, for instance, sad to hear Arsène Wenger trying to deny the inferiority of his men. He surely recognises the pattern. Didier Drogba, with his pair of goals, has now scored 10 times in 11 appearances, including the Community Shield, against Arsenal. The striker has never lost to these opponents.
If there is any comfort for Arsenal, it lies in the fact that they are far from being the only major side who cannot cope with a hardened and accomplished Chelsea. The full range of that side's capacities was flaunted here. For the home support it must have bordered on the unendurable that the catcalls for their former left-back Ashley Cole had to be stifled as he set up the first two goals.
There was a revival of sorts for Wenger's side following the interval. The manager removed Alex Song since there was no longer any sense in having a holding midfielder on the pitch when keeping Chelsea at bay was an irrelevance. Arsenal, with Theo Walcott introduced, had to chase the game. They seemed to do so with some élan but the Chelsea defence reacted with its habitual efficiency. When Andrey Arshavin did have the ball in the net, a foul was awarded against Eduardo da Silva by the referee, Andre Marriner, because the Croatia international had raised his foot when challenging the goalkeeper Petr Cech.
There should be no recriminations from Arsenal over the official. He had indulged them when he declined to give a penalty in the 17th minute despite Bacary Sagna's tug on Nicolas Anelka as he moved on to a Frank Lampard pass. The unusual aspect was the disinclination of the striker to keel over inside the area when he had grounds to do so against his former club.
Hope and potential look like handicaps for Arsenal when confronted by a side of Chelsea's expertise. After this defeat Arsenal are 11 points behind Carlo Ancelotti's Premier League leaders and their game in hand is scant consolation. This was a second consecutive domestic defeat, following that at Sunderland.
That was bad enough but the know-how of the visitors was all the more depressing for home fans who had to endure the key role of Cole at the first two goals. There was a final demonstration of Chelsea's authority in the 86th minute, when Drogba took his second goal with a crashing free-kick from 25 yards.
Much is made of the importance of Chelsea's full-backs to the success of Carlo Ancelotti's midfield diamond, with Ashley Cole in particular bursting down the flank in support of his attackers as much as possible. However against Arsenal both Cole and the right full-back, Branislav Ivanovic, played quite defensively. Cole's 19 successful passes comparing poorly to Arnand Traore's 52; however Cole claimed two assists, proving that it is about quality, not quantity. Chelsea had few moments of anxiety and, when pressure was applied as Arsenal sought a comeback, they looked wholly prepared for that stress. Ancelotti has a squad that, in some departments, seems grizzled. For the time being, though, it is not at risk of disintegration. The defence, if not actually enjoying its work in blocking Walcott and the others, was thoroughly prepared for that exercise.
There is so much talk of Chelsea'sdiscipline and professionalism that too little time is left to speak of their talent. With 36 goals in the league, they are now joint top scorers with Arsenal. Their thwarting of the opposition's attackers is, of course, decidedly superior to Wenger's side.
Arsenal were opened up slickly for the first goal here. John Terry, who spends much of his life stifling the opposition's creativity, played a lovely left-footed pass to release Cole in the 42nd minute. Drogba then jammed home the cross off the inside of the post. Four minutes later another expert cross from the left-back was turned into his own net by Thomas Vermaelen.
The centre-half will have felt unfortunate but it was the mood of general inadequacy that will truly pain Arsenal. The margin of defeat could have been greater, although it would have been unlucky if Manuel Almunia had not responded to turn a ricochet behind when Drogba's drive broke off the chest of Lampard in the 64th minute.
If some of these Chelsea players are in the later stages of their careers, then fans should treasure them all the more. Anelka, who may reportedly be offered a new contract worth £120,000 a week, looks a clever and incisive partner for Drogba. The Frenchman is apparently irked by the reputation he once had, with Arsenal, as a goal-snatcher who simply played on the shoulder of the last defender.
It was no insult to classify him as a predator but Anelka has always wanted more recognition of his full repertoire. He is an accomplice of imagination and cunning for Drogba nowadays. Chelsea have far to go yet before they check the domination of Manchester United, who have taken the last three league titles. Even so Ancelotti has made his club believe the best is yet to come.

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Mail:

Arsenal 0 Chelsea 3:

Real leader John Terry is so 'influencial' as Carlo Ancelotti's men romp home

Matt Lawton Chief Football Correspondent

To be fair to those chaps who have made such a mess of trying to maximise John Terry’s commercial potential, they got it half right. Their man is influential.
Not quite among ‘the world’s most influencial (sic) people’ but hugely influential within the boundaries of a football pitch.
Chelsea’s captain was immense here at the Emirates, and actually more deserving of the man-of-the-match champagne than the guy he later awarded it to.
Didier Drogba was terrific, scoring two quite brilliant goals that took his tally against Arsenal to 10 in nine matches. But he would have been the first to recognise where this encounter was won and lost.
It was won in the areas where Chelsea crushed the life out of Arsenal, in a manner that exposed the home side’s enduring frailties and demonstrated how difficult it will be for anyone to stop Carlo Ancelotti’s team running away with the title.
Enlarge It was Terry who set the tone. Terry who marshalled an impenetrable Chelsea back line that simply smothered every elaborate Arsenal attack; Terry who even made the surging run from deep that led to Drogba’s first goal.
Against Terry and a team who were faster, stronger and more effective in every department, Arsenal were reminded of where they still need to develop before they can consider themselves serious championship contenders. Even if they might yet point to the absence of Robin van Persie and Nicklas Bendtner.
This was a painful experience for Arsenal, and not just because Ashley Cole delivered the crosses for the first two goals. It was painful because, for all their possession, they made so little impression on a Chelsea team they now trail by 11 points.
According to the statisticians, indeed a deluded Arsene Wenger, they deserved more based on the fact that they successfully executed 479 passes to Chelsea’s 378. But Chelsea used the ball with ruthless efficiency and never let Arsenal pass the ball around when it was in their third of the pitch.
In truth, Arsenal were hugely disappointing.
They deserve credit for donating their wages for the day to Great Ormond Street Hospital but on a weekend when Cesc Fabregas said Arsenal fans were ‘proud’ to pay £40 to watch them, they might want to reimburse their disgruntled supporters too.
They were alarmingly ineffective up front, Eduardo and Andrey Arshavin delivering the kind of performance that suggested flair and finesse had never been part of their game.
It was bizarre, Eduardo seemingly possessing the touch of a semi-pro centre half and Arshavin strangely hesitant in front of goal. Before the diminutive Russian had a goal disallowed for Eduardo’s high challenge on Petr Cech, he squandered a brilliant opportunity to strike by taking two or three touches and so inviting Branislav Ivanovic to win the ball.
Wenger might have tried to rewrite history later but the four-letter expletives must have been flowing in response to the sight of his players making so insignificant an impact against such brilliantly organised opposition. After criticising FIFA for failing to punish Chelsea on Friday, the world governing body might want to respond.
For Wenger, the truth will hurt. While his side have now lost to Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City this season, not to mention Sunderland, Chelsea have claimed the scalps of Arsenal, United and Liverpool.
One team look like champions. The other most definitely do not. Chelsea ooze class and confidence.
In defence, where Terry, Ricardo Carvalho and Ashley Cole form such a formidable barrier; in midfield, where Ancelotti can afford to leave Michael Ballack on the bench; and in attack, where Joe Cole excelled and Nicolas Anelka shone almost as brightly as Drogba, so outstanding was he in terms of industry and invention. It was his super reverse ball that invited Ashley Cole to cross for the second goal.
Their first came just four minutes earlier, four minutes before the end of an absorbing opening half and largely as a result not only of an impressive Terry run but also a pass in to the feet of Cole that was exquisite.
And one of a number of Bobby Moore-style passes he delivered here in the pouring rain.
From Terry’s delivery, Cole also did well, creating enough space for himself to guide a cross past Bacary Sagna that Drogba then met with a quite brilliant volley that he guided cleverly beyond the reach of Manuel Almunia. The kind of finish that gets better the more times you watch it, not least because it is the deftest of touches that diverts the ball into the top corner of the Arsenal net.
The second goal was similar in that it again came as a result of a cross from Cole. But it differed in the fact that it was the mere presence of Drogba that created a sense of panic and so forced the error.
After William Gallas had failed to get a touch, it fell to Thomas Vermaelen to deal with the danger, but a defender who has been brilliant since he arrived in north London contrived to guide the ball past Almunia into his own net and extend Chelsea’s lead. Their disallowed goal aside, Arsenal offered little in response after the break, even after Wenger had sent on Theo Walcott and Tomas Rosicky from the bench.
Chelsea were comfortably in control, increasing their advantage when Drogba followed a foul from Fabregas on Michael Essien by scoring with a stunning free-kick.
Ancelotti was delighted and almost as excited by the victory as he was by the prospect of meeting his ‘favourite singer’, Elton John, when Chelsea face Watford in the third round of the FA Cup.

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Sun:

Arsenal 0 Chelsea 3

From SHAUN CUSTIS at The Emirates

AS Chelsea march on at the top, the case for the defence is proving as compelling as that of the strike-force.
While two goals from deadly Didier Drogba helped condemn Arsenal to a comprehensive stuffing, it was the outstanding double-act of Gunners old-boy Ashley Cole and skipper John Terry which laid the foundations.
Cole was booed from the moment the game started to when he limped off 20 minutes from time. But Cashley had the last laugh on his detractors playing a key part in the first two goals.
Terry led his men magnificently, displaying Beckenbauer-like skill going forward and putting his head and boot in the way whenever the occasion demanded.
His back-four has kept eight clean sheets in the last nine games allowing those in front to perform with freedom and confidence knowing that even if they lose the ball, those behind will bail them out.
No wonder Manchester City tried so hard to sign the England talisman in the summer.
What a difference he would have made to that dodgy defence
And how the Blues would have missed Terry had he gone.
He was getting stick last week for apparently trying to make more money on the side by exploiting his commercial value.
Chelsea fans could not care less as long as he continues doing the business and England followers won't give a monkey's either if he performs in similar fashion at the World Cup.
This was a very big win to go with the important successes over Manchester United and Liverpool.
Terry's display of emotion at the end said it all as he pumped his fists and embraced his team-mates
The looks of dejection on the face of Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger and his players also told their own story.
Without the cutting edge of the injured Robin van Persie they are impotent. Beaten at Sunderland and now this.
Van Persie was in the form of his life before his ankle injury playing for Holland which will keep him out for five months.
He was the focal point of the Gunners gameplan and without him they have lost direction.
Passes went astray, attacks broke down and there was no strength in the penalty area.
Terry just shrugged his challengers off like he was swatting a fly.
Chelsea were superior in every department and were probably more comfortable than when they beat Arsenal 4-1 at the Emirates back in May.
They lead the table by five points, are 11 points ahead of the Gunners, and show absolutely no signs of slipping up.
Manager Carlo Ancelotti has developed a well-oiled machine which just needs gentle tweaking now and again to keep it purring.
Wenger was grumbling afterwards about a goal from Andrey Arshavin which was disallowed by ref Andre Marriner because of a high-foot by Eduardo on Petr Cech with the score already 2-0 to the visitors.
But, even if it had been given, it is unlikely Arsenal would have got back into the match.
Wenger only sees what he wants to and Chelsea had gripes of their own.
They could point to the fact that Drogba was flagged when clearly onside after 15 minutes and may well have gone on to score the opener.
There was also a questionable challenge by Bacary Sagna on another ex-Gunner Nicolas Anelka in the penalty area which might have been worth a spot-kick.
Arsenal hardly created a chance while Terry was enjoying striding forward and spraying passes left and right.
It was his glorious ball which inspired Chelsea's first goal on 41 minutes as he fed the rampaging left-back Cole with the outside of his right foot.
Cole collected in his stride, teased Sagna, and whipped in a cross for Drogba who got between William Gallas and Thomas Vermaelen to divert the ball into the top corner.
Chelsea quickly got a second on the stroke of half-time with Cole again the creator as his cross eluded the sliding Gallas and went in off Vermaelen's shin.
Maybe Arsenal should have given Cole that extra £5,000- a-week he was always belly- aching on about after all.
You would have been hard-pressed to find a Gooner anywhere who thought his men would stage a recovery.
They introduced Theo Walcott at half-time but to no avail. And, when Arshavin's goal was ruled out, their pessimism was confirmed.
Lampard almost got a third as the ball hit him and Manuel Almunia flew to his right to save superbly.
Chelsea's strength was there for all to see as Armand Traore bounced off Drogba and Arshavin cannoned off Branislav Ivanovic in a cameo which starkly illustrated Blues' dominance.
Chelsea then wrapped it up as Drogba curled a 25-yard free-kick exquisitely round the wall with four minutes left.
It was Drogba's 10th goal in nine games against Arsenal - yet Wenger reckoned afterwards that the Ivory Coast striker does not do a lot.
Goodness knows how many he would get if he actually put his mind to it

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Telegraph:

Arsenal 0 Chelsea 3

By Jason Burt, Deputy Football Correspondent

Arsenal's title hopes took a significant, possibly fatal blow as they were brushed aside by the power and threat of Chelsea which was epitomised by a frightening performance by Didier Drogba.
Two first-half goals just before half-time, and a late free-kick, sent Arsenal reeling and means they are now 11 points behind the Premier League leaders who, with this victory, also stretched their advantage over Manchester United back to five points.
It will hurt Arsenal supporters all the more that both of the first-half goals were the result of crosses by their former player, Ashley Cole, who later departed with a suspected hamstring injury. The Chelsea left-back was booed throughout and, at the start of the contest, appeared to be affected but he rallied to tee up Drogba and also force an own goal by Thomas Vermaelen.
Drogba’s finish, a superbly guided, side-footed volley after he stole in between William Gallas and Vermeulen came after John Terry’s clever pass down the left wing. Minutes later and Ashley Cole again burst down the flank to centre, again towards Drogba, but as Gallas lunged in to try and cut it out he distracted Vermeuelen with the ball then deflecting into the goal off the defender’s thigh. It struck the same post as Drogba had hit before it nestled into the net.
It was just before the end that Drogba heaped embarrassment, making the scoreline even more emphatic as he struck a fierce free-kick, after Cesc Fabregas had tripped Frank Lampard. It was Drogba’s tenth goal in nine games and, so often the scourge of Arsenal, his 10th in 11 fixtures against them.
It was an awesome statement of intent from Chelsea and their main striker. Drogba could have had a hat-trick. He had wasted two headed opportunities while Nicolas Anelka could have had a penalty as he tangled with Bacary Sagna inside the area after he ran onto a perceptive pass from Lampard who, as expected, returned from injury it what was effectively a full strength Chelsea side.
Arsenal sorely missed the injured Robin Van Persie who, it was confirmed over the weekend, will be out for four to five months because of an ankle injury. Arsene Wenger’s side enjoyed plenty of possession in the sodden conditions but were unable to carve out clear-cut chances with Samir Nasri forcing a smart save from Petr Cech.
Andrei Arshavin had the ball in the net but the effort was rightly ruled out by referee Andre Marriner after Eduardo had kicked it out of Cech’s hands as he tried to collect a cross following Drogba’s woeful back-pass. Arsenal threw on more strikers, with Branislav Ivanovic surviving a penalty appeal for a tackle on substitute Carlos Vela, but Lampard went close when deflecting a cross, forcing a fine save from Almunia.
Arsenal kept trying to penetrate the Chelsea defence who were resolutely and impressively marshalled by John Terry and who comfortably withstood the pressure. Chelsea were just too strong and now appear to be too far ahead of Arsenal also.

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Mirror:

Arsenal 0-3 Chelsea

By Martin Lipton

And then there were two.
Empahtically, unambiguously, no doubt about it, down to the two, between Carlo Ancelotti’s remorseless Blues and United’s Red shadow.
The Arsenal fans who began draining out of the Emirates at the instant Didier Drogba sounded the Last Post of their title dream, knew it too, knew that for all the animosity, they had been beaten hollow.
If ever 90 minutes emphasised the gulf that divides Ancelotti’s men and Arsene Wenger’s boys, this was unquestionably that game, the 11-point gap surely unbridgeable even at this early stage.
It was not just Ashley Cole’s return to haunt the Arsenal fans who will never forgive his perceived treachery,which brought two in three minutes from first Drogba and then poor Thomas Vermaelen before the break.
Nor, although that sparked the final exodus, was it even Drogba’s 14th of what is already a stellar season for the hulking Ivorian, as good a free-kick as you will see all campaign.
This was a bigger demonstration than the score-line alone, no matter how stark that statistic stood.
Last night, what was graphically, abundantly and painfully clear was that in every area where Arsenal were remiss and callow, Chelsea were rampant and resolute, the embodiment of controlled, directed, unstoppable power.
A power Arsenal could not deal with or compete with, a physical force that blew them away and then ensured an eighth clean sheet in nine games.
There could be no quibbling, no complaining, no moaning about the injuries, even if Wenger will have to concede, at last, that he has to spend in January to replace Robin Van Persie and add bulk to his squad.
This was about endeavour and desire, determination and drive.
And where Arsenal’s back line could not cope with the pressure, wobbled under every ball into the box as Drogba lurked and Nicolas Anelka wove his patterns, at the other end the indomitable, peerless John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho were everything Vermaelen and William Gallas were not.
When Arsenal dominated possession in the opening period, seeking to prise out an opening, they were constantly blocked, stymied, baulked and blunted by the twin Chelsea towers, who made Eduardo look slovenly in his touch.
Yet once Ancelotti’s men release the handbrake and looked to hit, there was an inevitability about what would follow.
The surprise was that it took until three minutes before the interval, although the goal would have come sooner had Andre Marriner spotted Bacary Sagna hooking Anelka off the ball when Frank Lampard played him in just after the quarter-hour.
Anelka did not protest, perhaps aware that the balance had swung towards Ancelotti’s side, and while the had to wait, it was all over before the interval.
The first came when Terry strode forward to release Cole, jeered relentlessly even as he showed Sagna the inside before going the other way to cross.
Cole’s delivery was perfect, between Vermaelen and Gallas, with Drogba’s side-foot caressing home off first the bar and then the post, with Almunia helpless.
Three minutes later, and Cole repeated the centre, Gallas hesitated and Vermaelen looked on in anguish as his knee sent the ball against the same spot of upright and again over the line.
Wenger, seeking a response and salvation, sent on Theo Walcott but to scant effect as Chelsea’s defensive blanket snuffed out the half-chances, many of which fell to Eduardo.
The Brazilian-born Croatian had another chance at the start of the second period, played in by a careless back pass but when the loose ball fell to Andriy Arshavin, Branislav Ivanovic summed up the difference as he appeared to block the Russian.
Seconds later, Arshavin’s celebrations at forcing home were cut short for Eduardo’s adjudged high boot but while Wenger protested, the fight went out if his men.
Lampard, twice, might have got a third but four minutes from time, when Cesc Fabregas downed the surging Michael Essien, Drogba had the final word.
Drogba has destroyed Arsenal before, of course, but his 10th in 11 games against the Gunners was the best of the lot, a truly sensational free-kick that simply flew home.
The Arsenal fans started for home before Drogba’s celebrations began, the Emirates in mourning.
Chelsea, though, have never looked more formidable, not even under Jose Mourinho.
That fact will make Ancelotti even happier. Fergie knows what he must beat. So, too, does the rest of Europe.

Arsenal (4-3-2-1): Almunia 6; Sagna 5, Gallas 6, Vermaelen 5, Traore 6; Song 5 (Walcott, 46, 5), Fabregas 6, Denilson 4; Nasri 6 Rosicky, Arshavin 6; Eduardo 5 (Vela, 56, 5)
Chelsea (4-3-1-2): Cech 7; Ivanovic 6, Carvalho 8, Terry 9, A Cole 7 (Ferreira, 72, 6); Essien 7, Mikel 6, Lampard 7; J Cole 7 (Deco, 68, 5); Anelka 7, Drogba 9 (Malouda 87).
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porto 1-0

The Times

Nicolas Anelka swoops late as strolling Chelsea take care of business

Porto 0 Chelsea 1
Tom Dart Oporto

It was here at the Estádio do Dragão last season that Cristiano Ronaldo scored a sensational 40-yard goal for Manchester United.
The memory of that goal will endure for many years; last night’s match will be forgotten by tomorrow, save for the one abiding impression it generated: this Chelsea vintage have a savvy and solidity that recalls the title-winning sides under José Mourinho.
With seven clean sheets in their past eight games, having scored in all their matches this term, Chelsea head for the Emirates Stadium on Sunday in rude health. The same could not be said of Frank Lampard, who tore a thigh muscle two weeks ago and missed this match, but he could make a surprise return to the starting line-up against Arsenal.
The midfield player flew to Serbia last week to visit Marijana Kovacevic, the “miracle healer”, who uses fluids derived from horse placenta and has treated Premier League players such as Robin van Persie, the Arsenal forward.
Lampard would be back at least a week ahead of schedule if he plays this weekend, but it is understood that he met with Kovacevic for only an initial hour-long consultation that involved conventional treatment and decided, along with Bryan English, the club doctor, that the placenta option was not for him.
He trained yesterday at Chelsea’s base in Cobham, Surrey, and his team-mates in Oporto did not fret without him. While Liverpool implode if Fernando Torres or Steven Gerrard is absent, Carlo Ancelotti’s squad has the depth and resolve to shrug off the loss of key players. That, too, was another hallmark of the best Mourinho years: consistency of results, performance and attitude regardless of personnel.
The only variety was when Chelsea gradually eroded opponents rather than demolish them outright. Last Saturday’s 4-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers was crushing; this result came without fuss or drama.
Didier Drogba returned from his rib injury and lasted the whole game, suggesting that he will be fine to face Arsenal. This weekend’s is the second of four successive away fixtures for Chelsea, with Blackburn Rovers in the Carling Cup and Manchester City in the Barclays Premier League also looming large.
A monochrome match was settled by a second-half winner from Nicolas Anelka that confirmed first place in group D for Chelsea with a game to spare. “It was our objective to get first in this group and it is not easy to win here,” Ancelotti said. “The team did not play fantastic, but just good. We took some risks in the first half, but the second half was much better and we deserved to win.
“There was personality and courage in the team. If we want to win the Champions League, those are qualities we need. It is very important to keep momentum up and we have to keep this high moment. The players are in good condition and in good form and we know that Sunday will be a very difficult match, but we also know that we are in a very good moment to play Arsenal.”
With Porto and Chelsea already through to the knockout stages, it was not surprising that there was little urgency on show. Deco featured against the club with whom he lifted the European Cup in 2004, and was received warmly by the home fans, but the most interesting of Ancelotti’s selections was Yuri Zhirkov at left back in place of Ashley Cole. The Russia player had made only two appearances since joining from CSKA Moscow for £18 million in the summer because of persistent knee problems.
Porto were fitfully impressive during their 1-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge in the opening group game, but worse here even though they had been unbeaten at home this season. Playing in the same kind of fluorescent orange strip that was no help to Wigan Athletic at White Hart Lane last Sunday, Porto were pushed back in the opening stages and struggled to contain Anelka, who tested Beto, the goalkeeper, with a swerving shot from distance after 15 minutes.
It turned out to be Chelsea’s only shot on target in the first half. Porto grew into the game and shortly before the half-hour, Fernando Belluschi, given space on the left, cut inside and curled a shot from the edge of the box on to the crossbar.
Deco crashed an effort narrowly wide in the 52nd minute, but it did not herald an improvement. If anything, the game became more slapdash. The nadir came midway through the half when the Portugal playmaker mis-hit the ball so badly that from the edge of the Porto area he found Falcao, the opposition striker, on the halfway line.
A winner from nowhere was located in the 69th minute, though, when Florent Malouda found room on the left to cross for Anelka, who headed in from close range. Porto attacked with more focus after that, and Hulk, a substitute, went close — but Chelsea were fine, their fierce sense of purpose holding firm on a placid night.
Porto (4-3-3): Beto — C Sapunaru (sub: E Farías, 79min), Rolando, B Alves, Á Pereira — F Belluschi (sub: F Guarín, 71), Fernando, R Meireles — S Varela (sub: Hulk, 60), Falcao, C Rodríguez. Substitutes not used: Nuno, D Valeri, Maicon, T Costa. Booked: Fernando, Meireles.
Chelsea (4-1-3-2): P Cech — B Ivanovic, R Carvalho, J Terry, Y Zhirkov — J O Mikel — M Ballack (sub: M Essien, 68), Deco (sub: J Cole, 76), F Malouda — D Drogba, N Anelka. Substitutes not used: R Turnbull, A Cole, S Kalou, Alex, J Belletti. Booked: Ballack.
Referee: J Eriksson (Sweden).


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Telegraph:

Porto 0 Chelsea 1

By Jeremy Wilson at Estadio do Dragao

As Carlo Ancelotti paused to reflect on another ruthlessly efficient victory and the surprise boost of Frank Lampard’s return to full training, there was an almost ominous tone to his assessment of Sunday’s match against Arsenal.
"It is a very good moment for us and we have to keep this moment," he said. "The players are in good condition and good mentality. I think it is a good moment to play Arsenal."
Sport on television For a man hardly prone to hyperbole, it was a positively bullish statement. And with good reason. To the wider world, this might have been a match of limited importance. To a relatively meagre Porto crowd of 35,000, it was also an occasion of only occasional entertainment.
Yet for Chelsea, it was further evidence that John Terry was justified in suggesting the players are recapturing the aura of invincibility that was so evident under Jose Mourinho.
Indeed, if the hallmark of a successful team is an ability to accumulate victories with either swagger or efficiency, the trophy cabinet at Chelsea may again find itself under some strain by the end of the season.
After the flair that had accompanied the 4-0 drubbing of Wolves, this was Chelsea at their remorseless best. A second-half goal from Nicolas Anelka clinched what is a seventh win in eight matches, although equally impressive is the fact that those victories have all come without conceding a single goal.
Chelsea are now unassailable in Group D and should avoid the likes of Barcelona or Real Madrid when the draw for the last-16 is made next month. Attention now swings to the Premier League and just the presence in training of Lampard yesterday morning has further lifted the squad.
Amid initial fears that a small tear to his thigh would keep him out until Christmas, Lampard has taken just two weeks to heal and now expects to be fit to start against Arsenal. Lampard did undergo treatment in Serbia with Marijana Kovacevic - the so-called ‘placenta doctor’ - although he simply had around one hour of massage with conventional oils.
Chelsea were last night playing down talk of a "miracle cure" and it is understood that Lampard and club doctors actually concluded that the treatment in Serbia was not worth pursuing beyond the initial massage.
Ancelotti said that Lampard had looked "good" in training and the Italian was also delighted that his team showed the "courage and personality" he demanded when placing the utmost significance on gaining a positive result in Porto.
With his vast Champions League experience, Ancelotti will be well aware that Liverpool remain the only recent exception to the rule that the winners of this competition have almost always benefited from advantageous seeding in the knockout phase. "It’s important because now we have to think about the Premier League," he said.
Having suggested that Didier Drogba would not be risked last night, Ancelotti duly started the Ivorian alongside Anelka. Other selections, however, were clearly made with the looming match against Arsenal in mind and the presence of Ashley Cole, Joe Cole and Michael Essien among the substitutes underlined the likelihood of changes come Sunday.
Chelsea were the more adventurous in a generally tepid opening as Drogba and Anelka continued to expose the myth of their incompatibility. Anelka was regularly finding space in front of Porto’s defence and prompted the first test of Beto, the hosts’ stand-in goalkeeper, with a powerful effort.
Beto’s weak block was unimpressive, although Petr Cech was little more convincing from Porto’s first attack of note. Fernando Belluschi had shot from long range and, while Cech moved well to his right, he was forced to make a double save after directing his parry into the path of Falcao.
The opportunity galvanised Porto and they gradually began to demonstrate the slick passing which had persuaded Ancelotti to declare that they were a club of an equal stature to Chelsea.
Three consecutive league titles illustrate Porto’s strength even in their post-Mourinho era and they were unfortunate not to be ahead at half-time. Belluschi was pulling the strings and, after an incisive run, his curling effort hit the crossbar.
The Argentine midfielder’s threat as the roaming playmaker was in marked contrast to Deco. Last night represented another opportunity to answer those who regard his arrival at Chelsea as a costly mistake but there was precious little industry, invention or even urgency from him.
Michael Ballack was largely anonymous and, when he was replaced on 68 minutes by Essien, Chelsea were more incisive.
Yuri Zhirkov teed up Florent Malouda and his sweet cross was converted by Anelka’s header. It was the third time Anelka has made a decisive contribution in the past five Champions League matches. For Chelsea, it was mission accomplished.

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Independent:

Anelka pops up to pick Porto's pocket
Porto 0 Chelsea 1
By Mark Fleming at Estadio do Dragao

A pattern is starting to develop in Europe, one that gives credibility to the idea that Carlo Ancelotti is the man to deliver the coveted Champions League trophy to Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.
The game plan is pretty simple: keep it tight and then Nicolas Anelka poaches the winner. The blueprint worked last night here, as it has done in three out of five European matches this season, and it ensures Chelsea will finish top of Group D and will be one of the seeded clubs when the competition goes to a knockout format.
Anelka's goal, a close-range header after 69 minutes, was his first in eight games. The Frenchman has become Chelsea's pickpocket, the man who can steal a goal to win a close contest. It could be a priceless knack if Anelka can keep doing it all the way to the final in Madrid in May.
Ancelotti's Chelsea side are proving to be a very different proposition in Europe than the side that has taken the Premier League by storm. In the domestic game they have blossomed into a free-scoring team that play with a real flourish.
In the Champions League however they have become far more cautious, one that is content to keep its shape, bide its time and take whatever the chance when it comes, like Anelka's simple finish that decided this match. This is Continental Chelsea, when goal-mouth excitement is at a premium. The key is not to lose.
The goal was pretty much Chelsea's one and only real chance to score. Their only other opportunity was a long-range effort from Anelka, again, that reserve keeper Beto kept out with a flapping arm.
The Italian instincts of their manager, who led Milan to the Champions League title twice, come to the fore whenever Chelsea face European opposition. Ancelotti had asked for "courage and personality" from the team on the eve of the match and said: "I didn't see it for the whole game but there was personality and courage in the team. If we want to win the Champions League and to arrive in the final then those are qualities we need."
With Sunday's visit to Arsenal at the back of his mind, Ancelotti made six changes from the side that beat Wolves 4-0 last Saturday. He recalled Didier Drogba for the first time since the Ivorian bruised a rib during the 1-0 victory over Manchester United earlier this month.
Yuri Zhirkov, the man signed for £18m in the summer, was also given a rare outing, playing at left-back and had a part to play in the goal. His pass released the dashing Florent Malouda and the Frenchman crossed for compatriot Anelka to score with his head.
Not that Chelsea managed to keep Porto at arm's length for the whole game. In fact Chelsea looked horribly out of sorts in the first half. Petr Cech fumbled a long range effort from the inventive Fernando Belluschi but redeemed himself with a point-blank save to deny Falcao. The Argentine midfielder Belluschi, the best player on show last night, also rocked the Chelsea crossbar with a stinging drive from 25 yards.
Lampard saddles up to take on Arsenal after placenta healer trip
Frank Lampard is set to play for Chelsea against Arsenal on Sunday, after seeing the horse placenta healer Marijana Kovacevic for treatment on his torn thigh muscle.
Lampard remained at Chelsea's Cobham training ground while his team-mates were in Porto for their Champions League tie and the Chelsea manager, Carlo Ancelotti, said: "He will train with the team on Thursday. We hope he'll be fit for Sunday."
Lampard tore a thigh muscle two weeks ago before England's friendly against Brazil in Qatar. Last weekend he flew to Belgrade to visit Kovacevic who uses fluids derived from horse placenta in internal and external processes to speed up the healing process.
Chelsea claimed the player would be out of action for two weeks, although privately it was feared it would be six. The news that Lampard may face Arsenal gives them a huge lift before a game that could put Ancelotti's side 11 points ahead of their London rivals. Didier Drogba also returned after a rib injury last night. Ancelotti said: "The players are in good condition and form and we know that Sunday will be a very difficult match but we also know that we are in a very good moment to play Arsenal."

Mark Fleming

Porto (4-1-4-1): Beto; Sapunaru (Farias, 80), Rolando, Bruno Alves, Pereira; Fernando; Varela (Hulk, 59), Belluschi (Guarin, 71), Raul Meireles, Rodriguez; Falcao. Substitutes not used: Nuno (gk), Valeri, Maicon, Costa.
Chelsea (4-1-2-1-2): Cech; Ivanovic, Carvalho, Terry, Zhirkov; Mikel; Ballack (Essien, 68), Malouda; Deco (J Cole, 76); Anelka, Drogba. Substitutes not used:Turnbull (gk), A Cole, Kalou, Alex, Belletti.
Referee: J Eriksson (Sweden).
Group D
Results so far: Chelsea 1 Porto 0, Atletico Madrid 0 Apoel Nicosia 0; Porto 2 Atletico Madrid 0, Apoel Nicosia 0 Chelsea 1; Porto 2 Apoel Nicosia 1, Chelsea 4 Atletico Madrid 0; Apoel Nicosia 0 Porto 1, Atletico Madrid 2 Chelsea 2; Apoel Nicosia 1 Atletico Madrid 1, Porto 0 Chelsea 1.
Remaining fixtures: Tue 8 Dec: Atletico Madrd v Porto, Chelsea v Apoel Nicosia.

----------------------------------------------

Guardian:
Nicolas Anelka sinks Porto and secures top spot for Chelsea
FC Porto 0 Chelsea 1 Anelka 69
David Hytner at Estádio do Dragão

Nicolas Anelka seems to reserve his best for closely contested Champions League ties. This was the third time Chelsea had won by the only goal in Group D and on each occasion the France striker has been the scorer.
It was the same story against Porto at Stamford Bridge in the opening game. His predatory instincts here ensured Chelsea will advance as group winners and, moreover, it meant that they will travel to Arsenal on Sunday for the Premier League derby with momentum strong and confidence high.
Few teams emerge victorious at Porto's stadium but Carlo Ancelotti's men heeded his call to show "personality and courage". Having been second best for spells of the first half, Chelsea raised themselves to produce a performance that hinted at the grinding intensity of old. Ancelotti noted that "the team did not play fantastic, just good" but there is a certain satisfaction to spiriting away victory in such fashion.
The solidity of the Chelsea defence, particularly in the second half, gave cause for optimism. This was a seventh clean sheet in eight matches. "It is very important to keep the momentum up," said Ancelotti, who will have Frank Lampard back for Arsenal; the midfielder trained fully in Cobham today, having had massage therapy in Serbia for his thigh muscle complaint. "The players are in good condition and good form," Ancelotti said, "and although we know that Sunday will be difficult, we know that we are in a very good moment to play Arsenal."
This was a test of Chelsea's strength in depth. With an eye on the game at Emirates Stadium, Ancelotti had rested Alex, Michael Essien and the Coles, Ashley and Joe. Essien did come on as a substitute but he failed to get the booking that would have seen him suspended for the meaningless final group tie against Apoel and wiped the disciplinary slate clean for the knockout phase.
Ancelotti also welcomed back Michael Ballack and Didier Drogba from injury. Both players proved their fitness, Drogba growing in strength and menace as the 90 minutes wore on. This would appear to be ominous for Arsenal, whom he loves to torment.
Porto, as ever, were intuitive and technically accomplished. They might consistently sell their best players – the striker Lisandro López departed for Lyon over the summer – but they always seem to have talent coming through. They, too, had already qualified for the last 16, for the sixth time in seven seasons, and, despite a raft of empty seats and an atmosphere that was flat for spells, they were determined to exact revenge for their defeat in west London.
They advertised their intent in the 20th minute. The impressive Fernando Belluschi's shot ought to have been straightforward for Petr Cech but the Chelsea goalkeeper succeeded only in parrying the ball to the onrushing Falcao. The Czech, however, redeemed himself with a brave block at the striker's feet. Shortly afterwards Belluschi was denied only by the crossbar. Having checked inside, he curled a right-footed effort which evaded the clutches of Cech and deserved better.
Chelsea, who worked tirelessly to keep their defensive shape, merely flickered as an attacking threat in the first half. Anelka looked sharp but Chelsea's only efforts in the opening 45 minutes were from a distance. Ancelotti's tactics can appear stifling in European away ties. There are clear shades of the Italian catenaccio philosophy, in which defensive security is prized. Mikel John Obi's role in front of the defence was designed to keep the back door bolted while Anelka would drop deep to make the system 4-3-2-1 when his team did not have the ball.
Chelsea raised the tempo in the second half; gradually they tightened their grip. The somewhat erratic Deco, who received a generous ovation on his return to his former club together with Ricardo Carvalho, fired wide from the edge of the area. There was a territorial shift in Chelsea's favour after half-time. Anelka's performance merited a goal and his sixth of the season, and first in eight appearances, crowned slick Chelsea penetration.
Zhirkov supplied Florent Malouda and his driven centre found Anelka's forehead at point-blank range. The Porto goalkeeper Beto had no chance. Cristián Rodríguez and the substitute Hulk had half-chances for Porto but they came to nothing. There was a comfort and assurance about Chelsea as they closed out the victory.

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Mail:

FC Porto 0 Chelsea 1: Clinical Nicolas Anelka adds a gloss finish to a dull night in Portugal

By Matt Barlow

Nicolas Anelka is developing a talismanic quality for Chelsea in Europe after scoring the winning goal for the third time in five Champions League games.
Anelka dived to head home Florent Malouda’s left-wing cross, 21 minutes from the end of a mundane and largely uneventful game on northern Portugal’s wet and windy Atlantic coast.
With it, he secured Chelsea top spot in Group D but, perhaps more importantly, with a Barclays Premier League clash against Arsenal coming up on Sunday, ensured Carlo Ancelotti’s team did not lose their impressive momentum in a game which ultimately mattered little.
This was an economical performance for the Premier League leaders, the sort which used to make Jose Mourinho glow with pride. There was none of the stylish football which has lit up much of Ancelotti’s first few months at the club but it is a notable result against a Porto team unbeaten at home since Manchester United’s win in the Estadio Dragao last season.
Further evidence of Chelsea’s growing self-belief came in the shape of a seventh clean sheet in eight games and the fact that their unbeaten run away from home in Europe now stretches back more than a year.
Ancelotti said: ‘It is very important to keep momentum up, and we have to keep this high moment. The players are in good condition and in good form. We know Sunday will be a very difficult match but we also know that we are in a very good moment to play Arsenal.
‘It was our objective to finish first in this group. It is not easy to win here and the team did not play fantastic but just good. We took some risks in the first half, but the second half was much better and we deserved to win.’
Ancelotti rested players with Sunday’s trip to the Emirates in mind. Ashley and Joe Cole were among the substitutes, as were Michael Essien and Alex. There was a rare chance for Yuri Zhirkov at left back and returns from injury for Michael Ballack and Didier Drogba.
There was a dreadfully slow early tempo and absence of urgency throughout, with both teams already assured of a place in the last 16. It is debatable how beneficial top spot in the group actually is, but Chelsea have never failed to reach the quarter-finals after winning their qualifying section.
On the two occasions they have finished as runners-up in the last six campaigns, they have been drawn against Barcelona and Juventus, winning one and losing the other.
In such an atmosphere, it took 15 minutes before either goalkeeper was required to make a save. Anelka, scorer of the only goal when the teams met at Stamford Bridge in September, supplied the first test, cutting in from the left and having a go from 25 yards. Beto, deputising in goal for the injured Helton, made a meal of the shot and parried it unnecessarily.
Porto were playing for the first time in 17 days after the international break and a postponement last weekend caused by a waterlogged pitch, and they surrendered lots of early midfield possession to their visitors.
Deco, one of five former Porto players in the Chelsea squad and, along with Ricardo Carvalho, one of two in the starting line-up, was warmly applauded as he prepared to take a corner. He responded with a little wave and boosted his popularity further by over-hitting the set-piece. The Portuguese champions stirred midway through the first half. Fernando Belluschi was gifted the space to advance from midfield and unleash a shot which had Petr Cech stretching to his right. Cech blocked the effort and then reacted brilliantly to smother Falcao’s attempt on the rebound.
Five minutes later and Belluschi had Cech beaten. This time, the Argentine midfielder drifted in from the left and curled the ball beyond the Chelsea goalkeeper with his right foot, only for it to strike the bar and bounce to safety.Enlarge Porto finished the first half on top, moving with more fluency and passing the ball more crisply than Ancelotti’s team, who looked utterly disjointed in comparison to their slick performance against Wolves last weekend.
Chelsea possessed greater adventure after the break. Deco fizzed a 20-yarder narrowly wide and Malouda wriggled to the line on the left twice in quick succession before lashing low crosses into the goalmouth. On both occasions, Malouda’s good work was not matched by a finish.
Deco continued to misfire spectacularly. Lining up an inswinging free-kick from the Chelsea left, he sliced it horribly towards his own goal and sparked a Porto counter attack, which ended with Cech gathering a centre at his near post from Raul Meireles. Ancelotti threw up his arms in despair but soon the Chelsea manager was celebrating.
Anelka applied a finish to more excellent play from Malouda for his sixth goal of the season. His goals have won two games against Porto and one away to APOEL Nicosia.

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Sun:
FC Porto 0 Chelsea 1

From IAN McGARRY in Porto

NICOLAS ANELKA entered the Dragon's Den last night and fired Chelsea to a Champions League top spot.
Porto were stunned by his 69th minute strike which secured victory at the Estadio Dragao - and first place in Group D.
And if the Portuguese were feeling a sense of deja vu then that's because this is one nightmare they have lived already.
Anelka scored the only goal in the match between these teams at Stamford Bridge in September.
The France striker is proving to be something of a specialist in the art of putting teams to the sword in this competition.
This was his third winning goal in the five matches Chelsea have played in the Champions League this season. Apoel Nicosia also felt the cutting edge of Blues' D'Artagnan when they won there - also by a single Anelka strike.
The result means Carlo Ancelotti's side have guaranteed a top seeding for the knockout phase with a game to spare.
And that could prove significant as they return to the battleground of the Premier League and then the crucial Christmas period.
Now Ancelotti can - and most probably will - play a reserve team at home to Apoel Nicosia in two weeks' time, allowing his top players a valuable rest.
Just as important in the meantime is retaining the formidable momentum which has made them look so invincible of late.
Chelsea have dropped just eight points at home and abroad all season - two defeats in the Premier League and one draw in Europe.
Against Porto, they even managed to play sloppily in the first half before turning the contest on its head in the second.
Porto also had first place in the group to play for, as well as a lingering sense of injustice about their defeat in the match at Stamford Bridge.
Their determination was evident every time they looked to attack and after 20 minutes they brought out the best in Petr Cech.
Fernando Belluschi found some space and drove his shot high only to see the Chelsea keeper dive full length to stop it.
Striker Falcao was first to react to the loose ball but Cech recovered brilliantly to block him from opening the scoring. John Terry finally got the situation under control and the keeper collected to restore calm to the Chelsea penalty area.
It was only the start for Cech though as he discovered that Porto had decided to challenge his record of clean sheets.
Belluschi turned tormentor-in-chief and just before the half-hour he rattled the crossbar with another piledriver. Chelsea's big threat through all this was Anelka and one shot had Porto keeper Beto flapping.
At half-time Ancelotti instilled new impetus into his flagging players but the home side also had more to come.
Porto boss Jesualdo Ferreira reacted to the situation by bringing on fans' favourite and football monster, Hulk.
His omission from the starting line-up was a surprise but he quickly got in on the action. A cross swung in from the left and he threw himself to connect with a volley that flew too high.
Ancelotti responded by taking off Ballack and putting on Michael Essien. The effect was immediate.
Essien gathered the ball in space and looked for options. Deco took it on and fed Yuri Zhirkov who found Florent Malouda.
The France winger motored to the by-line and squared for Anelka to head into the net from all of two yards. It was his sixth of the season. And unlike a certain other France striker, there was no whiff of cheating or skulduggery in Anelka's effort.
Though the goal was reminiscent of William Gallas' controversial winner against the Republic of Ireland there were no hands involved. Well, unless you count the applause of the Chelsea travelling fans who celebrated the strike afterwards.
For the final 20 minutes Chelsea did what former boss of both these teams - Jose Mourinho - made them good at, closing the game out.
Now they can forget about Europe until the competition restarts next February and focus on more pressing issues.
Having sewn up the Champions League group, Chelsea go to the Emirates on Sunday to consolidate their status as Premier League champions-elect.
Victory over Arsenal would put Ancelotti and his team 11 points ahead of the Gunners and sitting pretty even before Christmas.

wolves 4-0

Sunday Times
Chelsea pass Wolves into submission

Chelsea 4 Wolves 0
Nick Townsend at Stamford Bridge

THE worrying thing for Chelsea’s rivals is not only did the established luminaries embark on a record-breaking afternoon against Wolves, but Carlo Ancelotti used the opportunity to usher in a propitious future.
Just before the hour, Gael Kakuta, the French teenager signed from Lens in 2007, whose manager has laden him with heady expectation, claiming “the best I’ve seen at his age”, made his entrance. It had been the accusation of inducement when he signed that led to the club’s transfer ban, suspended until an appeal hearing. By the end of this mis-match he had delivered two decent crosses and come close to opening his Chelsea account. “In 30 minutes today he showed he has a lot of talent,” said Ancelotti. “But we have to stay calm. He is young and he has to improve.”
Kakuta, 18, was followed into the fray by lanky 21-year-old Serbian, Nemanja Matic, followed by another 18-year-old, Fabio Borini, who admittedly already had the luxury of featuring for one minute as a Premier League substitute earlier in the season. Now all were relishing the experience of the Blues in imperious form — and that, despite the absence of Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Deco and Michael Ballack.
The match had been rendered a non-contest by midway through the first half, by which time an early opener from Florent Malouda, and a brace from Michael Essien, in inspirational form, had placed the game way beyond the visitors. “One of the most important midfield players in the world,” Ancelotti agreed, before enthusing about Essien’s strength and quality. Joe Cole added a fourth; his first in this injury-riven calendar year.
“We have had a lot of injuries before the match, but our play was the same,” insisted Ancelotti. “It was important that we could put young players into the team — in January we may not need to buy other players.”
In the Roman Abramovich era, Chelsea haven’t been traditional new year buyers. In only three of the past six years have they purchased players, notably in 2008 when Avram Grant persuaded the Russian to pay more than £27m for a trio including Nicolas Anelka. On that occasion, Chelsea lost players to the African Cup of Nations, and the same applies this January when Drogba, Essien, Salomon Kalou and John Obi Mikel are scheduled to depart.
However, fear of the longer-term unknown — and the likelihood that they may ultimately face a two-window transfer suspension — may persuade Chelsea to replenish stocks in January, with possible targets including Atletico Madrid’s Sergio Aguero, Brazilian teenager Alex Teixeira, Everton’s defensive midfielder Jack Rodwell and Bayern Munich’s Franck Ribery.
It would be tempting to contend that, on this evidence, Chelsea scarcely require reinforcements. However, they are unlikely to face too many sides as impoverished in defensive prowess as yesterday’s visitors, who obliged their hosts’ desire to record a 12th consecutive victory at home in all competitions, overcoming the previous best, recorded in 2006. What’s more, they haven’t conceded at Stamford Bridge since Hull City scored in the first fixture of the season; 10 games ago. It was in 1927 that Chelsea last achieved such a feat. Yet, no one can deem Ancelotti’s men defence-orientated this term. They are the Premier League team with the most shots on and off target, and yesterday only added further to that statistic, testing Wolves’ Wayne Hennessey from all ranges and angles. Four was meagre reward for Chelsea’s attempts.
A lugubrious Mick McCarthy was in concessionary mood beforehand — or was it gamesmanship? — as he acknowledged that his team were up against “the best team — maybe the best in Europe and best in the world — with the best players and best manager, up against a load of rookies . . . managed by someone who’s been in the PL for one season, and had the sack”. By the end, after a damage-limitation policy had ensured a thorough rout had been avoided, he conceded: “We weren’t expecting anything. We came here, tried to do our best, and have been slapped.”
His team could have scored first. Matthew Jarvis broke down the right, and David Edwards slid in but failed to convert. Then Jody Craddock’s wayward clearance allowed Malouda to stride forward and unleash a venomous left-footed drive from outside the area that gave Hennessey no chance. Then, from a Malouda corner, Essien nodded in at the near post. Chelsea were soon away and clear. Salomon Kalou set up Essien and he drove home, though Hennessey was culpable. His manager, who had joined the clamour regarding Thierry Henry’s part in the week’s big talking point, had jested his side might need a handball to win it. Stronger hands from his goalkeeper would have helped.
Wolves continued to threaten on occasional sorties, particularly with the excellent crossing of Jarvis. Richard Stearman just failed to head home one of his precise centres. Before the interval, Petr Cech performed with athleticism to turn aside a Sylvan Ebanks-Blake header. Any thoughts Wolves had of creating an impact were negated after the interval when Anelka’s cross found Kalou, who set up Joe Cole. Again Hennessey’s handling was at fault, but at least he did superbly later to frustrate Essien, turning his effort on to the bar. Essien twice went close after that, and Kakuta wasn’t far off target.
The end couldn’t come too soon for McCarthy. Someone asked him why his men had turned out in white, rather than gold. “Brilliant!” he boomed. “The shirt’s s*** — and we got beat.” It just about summed up his day.
Star man: Michael Essien (Chelsea)
Yellow cards: Wolves: Craddock, Keogh
Referee: L Mason
Attendance: 41,786

CHELSEA: Cech 7, Belletti 6, Alex 7, Terry 7, A Cole 6, Mikel 6, Essien 8, Malouda 7 (Matic 68min), J Cole 6, Anelka 6 (Kakuta 58min, 6), Kalou 7 (Borini 78min)
WOLVES: Hennessey 5, Stearman 6, Craddock 5, Berra 6, Halford 5, Edwards 5, Castillo 5 (Kightly 52min, 5), Henry 5, Surman 6, Jarvis 7, Ebanks-Blake 6 (Keogh 61min)

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Telegraph:

Chelsea 4 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0

By Gerry Cox at Stamford Bridge

For most teams, losing the spine of your side through injuries to four international superstars might cause a problem or two.
But Chelsea overcame the loss of Didier Drogba, Deco, Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack to rack up a comfortable win over Wolverhampton Wanderers, increasing their lead at the top of the Premiership and setting a new club record of 12 successive home victories.
They also equalled an 82-year-old record for the most successive clean sheets - 10 - at Stamford Bridge.
The game was effectively over as a contest with barely a quarter of the allotted time gone. Malouda opened the scoring in the fifth minute, although the move that led to his goal originated in a last-ditch clearance by the Chelsea defence.
Matt Jarvis, the Wolves forward, found plenty of space down the right and measured a low cross into the centre of goal where David Edwards was sliding in but unable to make contact.
Instead the ball was cleared upfield, Jody Craddock's poor clearance fell to Malouda, and the Frenchman advanced unchecked as the Wolves defenders stood off, allowing him to rifle in a shot with his left foot from 30 yards that flew past Wayne Hennessey.
Michael Essien made it 2-0 after 12 minutes, rising unmarked at the near post to head home Malouda's corner, and then scored again in the 21st minute.
The Ghanaian midfielder started a flowing move that involved Ashley Cole and Malouda before Essien drove a shot from the edge of the penalty area through a crowd of players.
Hennessey got a hand to the ball but could not do enough to stop it, and it was a similar story when Joe Cole increased Chelsea's lead 10 minutes into the second half.
Nicolas Anelka, taking the main striker's role in the absence of Drogba, sent in a low cross from the left, Salomon Kalou laid the ball back and Cole hit a low shot from the edge of the penalty area, with Hennessey again getting a hand to the ball but failing to prevent it crossing the line.
Minutes later Carlo Ancelotti chose to introduce the first - and most significant - of three young substitutes, Gael Kakuta, the French teenager whose transfer from Lens led to Fifa banning Chelsea from transfer activity, a punishment currently suspended.
Kakuta showed with his first few touches exactly why he was coveted by Chelsea, as the Blues rained more efforts on Hennessey's goal.
Essien, striving for his hat-trick, had a dipping volley from 30 yards tipped on to the bar by Hennessey and then hit the sidenetting from long distance, Kakuta shot just wide and Kalou wasted a good chance when he beat the offside trap but shot high over the bar.
In the end it was exhibition stuff from Chelsea, while Wolves were on a damage limitation exercise, and when the news came through that second-placed Arsenal were losing at Sunderland, there was a loud cheer from the home fans.
Heady days indeed.

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Independent:

Essien provides drive for rampant Chelsea

Chelsea 4 Wolverhamption Wanderers 0:

Ghanaian midfielder scores twice to make light of absentees as Wolves are consigned to role of relegation scrappers

By Conrad Leach at Stamford Bridge

There was a player named Henry on the pitch but Wolverhampton Wanderers would have needed 11 of them and maybe even a few more if they were ever going to extract anything from this game. Unfortunately the visitors' Henry – Karl – was peripheral, which applied to Mick McCarthy's men as a whole. Chelsea were rampant in what was their 12th consecutive home win in all competitions.
Wolves rarely had the chance to do anything as devious as Thierry Henry did for France in midweek, but if they had been inclined to cheat anywhere on the pitch, then stopping Michael Essien should have been top of their priorities. The Ghana midfielder scored twice in 10 minutes, after Florent Malouda had broken the deadlock and sent Chelsea on the way to their 1,000th League win at Stamford Bridge.
Combined with a defence that has not conceded a League goal at home since the first day of the season, they took another step towards a third title in six years.
Asked to comment on Essien, coach Carlo Ancelotti said: "Essien is one of the most important players in midfield in the world. He can play in the right and the centre with the same result. This season he maintains a good condition and is very strong with a lot of quality."
Chelsea were, in theory, a diminished force, after the international matches had ruled out Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Michael Ballack, Deco and Ricardo Carvalho. Yet Wolves never found any gaps.
Even if David Edwards had scored from Andrew Jarvis's cross after four minutes, rather than failing to make contact in front of the open net, that would have been nothing more than a minor irritation to Ancelotti's side.
One of those to profit from Chelsea's list of absentees was Malouda, present in Paris against Ireland when Thierry Henry intervened and therefore another Frenchman with a World Cup to look forward to.
Edwards's miss jolted Chelsea out of any complacency. A Wolves header fell to Malouda inside the centre circle and the winger moved forward 20 yards and, with no one inclined to close him down, he found the top corner of Wayne Hennessey's net from a similar distance. It was a fine strike but Wolves had time to challenge him.
Essien's first goal involved less effort than Malouda's strike but showed Wolves's defence up once more. From a corner taken by Malouda, Essien moved easily free of his marker to head home from eight yards. McCarthy criticised his players for the first two goals and said: "At 2-0 it was a done deal. We're in a relegation battle now."
Chelsea's next goal saw the visitors again undone from distance. Salomon Kalou slipped his pass to Essien and the Wolves centre-backs were more like rabbits in the headlights, freezing as the former Lyon player struck his shot from 20 yards under the goalkeeper. Hennessey denied him a hat-trick in the second half.
Wolves did see Sylvan Ebanks-Blake force a good save from Petr Cech before the interval but were against a Chelsea side who were as fluent here as they had been dogged in beating Manchester United a fortnight ago.
The last two games between these sides, five years ago, provided 10 goals for the London club and Chelsea are on the way to a possible repeat this season. The fourth strike was their best team move, as Nicolas Anelka glided down the left and passed to Kalou, who laid the ball back for Joe Cole. The England international sidefooted his first goal for 13 months, although Hennessey should have kept it out after getting a hand on the shot.
Chelsea gained more encouragement as Gaël Kakuta, the player around whom the club's recently-lifted transfer ban revolved, made a sprightly debut in attack. Ancelotti praised his contribution and claimed Chelsea would not dip into the transfer market in January.
They will lose four players to the African Nations Cup in the new year. Their title rivals, fast disappearing in the rear-view mirror, can only hope Ancelotti is true to his word. It is their only hope.
Attendance: 41,786
Referee: Lee Mason
Man of the match: Essien
Match rating: 6/10

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Observer:

Chelsea maintain their Premier League lead after giving Wolves a savaging

Chelsea 4 Malouda 5, Essien 12, Essien 22, Cole, J 56 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0
Sachin Nakrani at Stamford Bridge

The only consolation for Wolves in the teeming west London rain was that they did not emulate their predecessors. The last time the Midlands club were in the Premier League they conceded five goals on each of the two occasions they faced Chelsea. The final tally was one fewer this time around, but that should in no way disguise the utter domination of Carlo Ancelotti's side on a day they revelled as champions-elect.
A 12th consecutive home victory, a club record, was achieved with minimum fuss and remarkable class. The league leaders lacked key performers in Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack and Didier Drogba through injury, yet lost none of their commitment and, on numerous occasions, displayed eye-stretching movement. It was almost impossible, for example, to define Ashley Cole as a full-back, Michael Essien as a midfielder or Nicolas Anelka as a striker, such were the varied and numerous positions they took up on the pitch.
There was individual joy, too, for Joe Cole who scored his first goal for the club in 13 months following recovery from a knee injury. His was a roaming and penetrative display throughout the 90 minutes. "Every game he is improving," said Ancelotti of the midfielder. "That is good for us as he can do a good job for the team in the position he plays."
Freed to play his more natural attacking game, thanks to the absence of Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack, Michael Essien was an all-action, pitch-encompassing presence against Wolverhampton - capping his performance with two goals. Compare this Saturday's display with his more limited role against Manchester United, when Lampard played, at the start of the month. In truth, those words could have been expressed about every man in blue.
Returning from an international break and seeing only relegation-fodder in front of them, Chelsea could have allowed complacency to mark their approach to this fixture. Instead, though, they were ruthless from the start.
Florent Malouda opened the scoring after five minutes with a rasping left-footed drive following Jody Craddock's weak header before Essien secured two further goals in the space of 10 minutes, the first a free header from Malouda's inswinging corner and the second a low drive from the edge of the area following Salomon Kalou's sideways pass. "He is one of the most important midfielders in the world," Ancelotti said of Essien later. On the basis of this performance, it was hard to disagree.
The hosts created further chances, most notably though Malouda and Alex, before Cole sealed the rout. After that, the home supporters' loudest cheer was reserved for news of Arsenal's defeat at Sunderland. It had, for them, been a perfect afternoon.
Not so for the visitors who passed the ball well at times and could have taken the lead had David Edwards connected with a fourth-minute cross from the impressive Matthew Jarvis. But ultimately they remain 19th having conceded four times for the second successive game. Next up is the potentially crucial visit of local rivals Birmingham.
"I was happy to get nil in the end," said the Wolves manager Mick McCarthy, joking.
Indeed, such was the hosts' dominance that they could afford to bring on a trio of youngsters, none more notable than Gael Kakuta, the 18-year-old whose arrival at Stamford Bridge led to Fifa imposing a transfer ban on the club in September.
The French teenager impressed in the 30 minutes he was given by Ancelotti and the manager later made him the third player he singled out for praise.
"He has a lot of talent and he showed in this game what he can do," said the Italian. "For two or three weeks after the ban [was announced] he had some difficulties because he is young. But he is training and playing with the first-team now and we feel sure he will do better in the future."

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Mail:

Chelsea 4 Wolves 0: New wonder boy worth all the fuss as Blues canter to win

By Malcolm Folley

Gael Kakuta, a teenager entrapped in a controversy involving the mandarins from Fifa, delivered a 31-minute cameo on a rainswept afternoon that shone a bright light on the future havoc he can be expected to wreak in a Chelsea shirt.He was comfortable on the ball, fast, intelligent in his decision making and could easily have marked his debut with a goal, as Chelsea dealt with the absence of Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba and Michael Ballack with comfort at Stamford Bridge.Perhaps it is as well that Kakuta looked more than a shade decent; it would have been an awful embarrassment to report otherwise considering the trouble his arrival caused.
Frenchman Kakuta, 18, was allowed to play yesterday as the four-month ban imposed on him by Fifa in September - after Chelsea had been found guilty of inducing him to break his contract with Lens two years ago - has been lifted while the leaders of the Premier League present an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.Critically, under the appeal, Chelsea will also be permitted to undertake business in the transfer window in January, having been originally banned from registering new players for 12 months.Kakuta has been wisely managed and counselled, by Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti through circumstances that must be overwhelming for a young player in a foreign land.‘For two or three weeks, Kakuta had some difficulties with the ban,’ said Ancelotti. ‘But we took him with the first team and he trained with us. In 30 minutes today, he showed a very big talent.'But we have to stay calm with him; he’s very young and we hope and believe he will improve and be a big player.’His introduction showed a young man intuitively aware on a football field and he had been barely involved for three minutes when he swerved past Richard Stearman inside the penalty area only to sweep a left-footed shot into the side netting.Nine minutes from time, Kakuta unleashed a drive from 25 yards that flashed narrowly wide of an upright. He had shown us a glimpse of the outstanding promise Ancelotti has identified.
Yet the driving force at the heart of another comprehensive Chelsea victory was Michael Essien. He scored twice after Florent Malouda had put them ahead, in between running the game with his strength, power and inventive mind.Ancelotti recognised the enormity of Essien’s contribution through the season, not merely against a Wolves team staring at a long winter to survive in the Premier League, when he said: ‘Michael is one of the most important midfield players in the world.‘He can play on the right or in the centre, with the same results. He provides a lot of continuity for the team; he maintains a good physical condition, he’s strong, but he also has a lot of quality.’Ancelotti’s ability to allow two other young players, Nemanja Matic, a 21-year-old, 6ft 4in Serb and 18-year-old Italian Fabio Borini, to have some valuable game time, as well as Kakuta, brought him encouragement that Chelsea’s strident football need not be seriously compromised when Essien, Drogba, Salomon Kalou and John Mikel depart for the African Cup of Nations in January.‘We had a lot injuries before this game today, but our play was the same,’ he said. ‘In January, we may not even need to buy other players.’
At least the return to fitness of Joe Cole is akin to having a new, hugely skilled attacking player.He scored Chelsea’s fourth goal, his first in 2009. With guile, hard work and an ability to play the game at great pace, Chelsea have now established a club record with 12 consecutive victories at Stamford Bridge.And for good measure, this was the 10th game they have played at Stamford Bridge without conceding a goal, an effort comparable to the Chelsea team of 1927.Wolves manager Mick McCarthy said: ‘We are in a relegation fight, make no bones about it. I’ve just said to the lads, you might as well realise that now rather than a few weeks.‘We came here full of hope, tried our best, but got slapped. But this ain’t going to knock the spirit out of them; because it’s not right to judge us against a side like Chelsea.’

----------------------------------------------------

NOTW:

RAMPANT ESSIEN FEEDS WOLVES TO THE DOGS

Chelsea 4 Wolves 0

By Rob Shepherd

MICHAEL ESSIEN was dubbed The Train by Jose Mourinho and called The Bison by Guus Hiddink - but Carlo Ancelotti has yet to come up with a nickname for the Ghanaian.
"For me his is just Michael," said a deadpan Ancelotti.
Given that Chelsea's Italian boss is apparently enjoying picking up Cockney rhyming slang, he might think of dubbing Essien The Dogs.
As in the dogs b******s because that's what Essien was as he inspired this emphatic victory, which emphasised the strength of Chelsea's squad and their title credentials.
In the absence of the injured Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack and Didier Drogba, Essien took on the role of talisman in some style.
He scored twice - it might have been five - and was the constant energiser as the Blues chalked up another home win to set a new record.
This was 12 wins on the spin at the Bridge, beating the previous best in 2006.
And 10 consecutive clean sheets equals a record dating back to 1927 as Essien caned Mick McCarthy's struggling side.
The game was gone in 60 seconds
In the fourth minute, Wolves should have taken the lead.
Striker Matthew Jarvis wheeled out on to the right wing, surged past Ashley Cole and sent over the most inviting of low crosses, which cut out Chelsea keeper Petr Cech.
Midfielder David Edwards had raced into the box but his lack of anticipation meant he slid in a fraction too late when he should been there to meet the ball and toe poke home.
And within a minute Chelsea, or rather Florent Malouda, swept up the other end to opening the scoring - and effectively end the contest.
Jody Craddock made a complete hash of what should have been a routine clearance when he dollied an Alex hoof straight to Malouda's feet inside the centre circle.
Despite the error, there should have been plenty of time for Craddock and the rest of the Wanderers defence to recover - but their frailty was being brutally exposed.
Malouda did nothing other than make a bee line for goal, not believing his luck that Craddock and Richard Stearman. kept on back pedalling.
The France winger kept on going and going until he was 20 yards out when it suddenly dawned on the Wolves defender it might be an idea to put a challenge in.
Too late. Malouda let fly with a ferocious strike which fizzed past Wolves keeper Wayne Hennessey inside the right hand post.
It was one-way traffic after that. It seemed strange that Wolves boss McCarthy had opted for a 3-5-2 formation given a reshaped Blues had gone with just Nikolas Anelka up front.
Maybe the idea was to try and flood the midfield but it just didn't work. With their wing backs, Wolves were still effectively outnumbered through the middle because of the way the Chelsea engine room was set up.
Essien sat deep alongside Mikel but in the absence of Lampard and Ballack, he had greater licence to roam forward.
Wolves just couldn't handle Essien and were baffled how to handle the movement of Joe Cole, Malouda and also Salomon Kalou.
It meant it was all too easy for Chelsea.
Their second goal which confirmed the outcome came after just 12 minutes - and was as soft as they come.
No one picked up Essien as he raced to the front post and met Malouda's right-wing corner with a bullet header.
And in the 22nd minute Essien made it 3-0 when he let fly from the edge of the area for his second.
True, the shot took a little deflection but it was still poor goalkeeping as Hennessey allowed the ball to squirm under his body.
There was an obvious gulf in class across the pitch and six minutes before half-time Cech emphasised the chasm between himself and his Welsh international opposite number. Czech stopper Cech got down to his left to superbly turn a Sylvan Ebanks-Blake header around the post. After that, the Stamford Bridge No 1 was not troubled but Hennessey was. Constantly.
In the 56th minute he had another 'mare when he allowed Joe Cole's effort from the edge of the area beat him far too easily.
Just back from long injury absence, it was Cole's first goal in a year.
Essien then went on a mission to score a hat-trick. Three long-distance strikes flew just wide while Hennessey managed to tip another on to the bar.
Chelsea were so in control that Ancelotti was then able to have a glimpse into the future.
In the 59th minute, 18-year-old Gael Kakuta - whose controversial signing from Lens first saw the player banned for four month and the club suffer a transfer ban - come on and offer some a few flashes of real class.
Young Serb forward Nemanja Matic, 21, and Italian striker Fabio Borini, 18, arrived soon after and did enough to suggest this squad has more quality in depth than most outsiders think.
And it also showed that the loss of four stars to the African Nations Cup in January may not be as devastating as some observers are predicting.
Certainly Chelsea will go into next Sunday's clash against Arsenal believing they can really set down a marker and prove that their only real title rivals this season are Manchester United.
Sensibly, McCarthy has already stressed to his players they are in for the long haul at the bottom.
It might just help their cause if they actually look like a Wolves side whenever possible.
There was no need to swap their famous old gold shirts for an insipid white change strip yesterday.
McCarthy didn't seem to know why when asked and sighed: "What you trying to say, s*** kit and we get beat?"
In a way. Wolves performed just how they looked: a right old Two and Eight.

-----------------------------------------

Mirror:
Chelsea 4-0 Wolves

By Anthony Clavane

Who needs Guus Hiddink?
That might be a heretical thought at Stamford Bridge, where the ex-Blues boss is as popular with Chelsea fans as Jedward are with the great British public.
And following Russia’s failure to qualify for the World Cup, Hiddink is strongly rumoured to be returning as technical director.
But Carlo Ancelotti doesn’t seem to be doing too bad a job on his own.
The Blues are the runaway Premier League leaders and have already qualified from the group stage of the Champions League.
Before this routine thrashing of Mick McCarthy’s strugglers, Ancelotti praised his defence as the best back-line in the world.
Indeed, John Terry and co have now gone an incredible 16 hours and two minutes without conceding a goal.
And the midfielders and strikers aren’t doing too badly either. They have scored 30 unanswered goals at Stamford Bridge in all competitions since the opening day of the season.
Despite being without the injured Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Deco and Michael Ballack, the barnstorming Blues put Wolves to the sword to make it seven league wins out of seven at the Bridge. Since drawing with Barcelona in May they have won every home match.
It is an astonishing record – but there’s even more bad news for Chelsea’s rivals. Joe Cole, who was out for eight months after being injured in January, scored his first goal of 2009 – and looked like he was back to match fitness.
And 18-year-old Gael Kakuta, whose name has been synonymous with controversy, showed just what all the fuss has been about.
Remember Kakuta? Chelsea were handed a two-window transfer ban by FIFA after being found guilty of inducing him to break his contract with Lens.
The ultra-gifted youngster, shrugged off the pressure with a fine cameo display which more than hinted at his jaw-dropping potential.
With his first touch, he glided past Richard Stearman and hit the side-netting.
Then, for half an hour, he teased and tormented a Wolves defence, who had been well softened up by his team-mates.
Ancelotti, who has described Kakuta as the best teenage footballer he has ever seen, warned fans not to get too carried away.
“We need to stay calm with him,” said the Italian coach. “He is very young.”
Poor Wolves, who have now gone seven games without a win, were shown no mercy in the west London rain. Jody Craddock gifted the home side an early goal, passing straight to Florent Malouda – who smashed the ball past Wayne Hennessey with his left foot.
Michael Essien then netted a brace – the first a header from Malouda’s corner, the second a shot which slid under the hapless Hennessey’s body – before Cole completed the rout following some great link-up play between Nicolas Anelka and Salomon Kalou.
Essien was desperate to take home the match ball and three times came close to recording his first Chelsea hat-trick.
“He is one of the most important midfield players in the world,” said Ancelotti. “He’s very strong and has a lot of quality.”
“We were happy to get nil,” admitted McCarthy. “We made mistakes. We didn’t clear the ball for the first goal. Then at 2-0 down it was a done deal.
“We weren’t expecting to get anything. They are as good a team as I’ve seen. Arguably, they will be champions. We are in a relegation fight. We should understand that now.”
With a bit more luck and accuracy, Ancelotti’s boys would have racked up double figures.
In January, the Italian will be deprived of a raft of first-team stars when the Africa Cup of Nations begins. At this rate, Chelsea will be so far ahead by then it won’t matter.

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