arsenal 2-1

Independent:

Leaders turn on the style as Arsenal rue missed chances
Arsenal 1 Chelsea 2:
Goals from Fernando Torres and Juan Mata see unbeaten Chelsea capitalise on Arsenal's defensive frailties from set-pieces to inflict a first defeat of the season for Arsène Wenger's side

Steve Tongue

A fixture invariably flush with goals and incident provided both, plus a significant result: by inflicting a first defeat of the season on Arsenal, Chelsea preserved their unbeaten record and League leadership. The outcome of an exciting derby may have been determined by two set-piece goals – both following free-kicks taken by Juan Mata – but it was essentially a just one, rich reward for the way the west London side matched the north Londoners' football and proved more solid defensively to move seven points above them in the table.

For the second Saturday running they left out Frank Lampard, who did not qualify for even a few minutes' appearance money, and this time the use of three creative players strung across midfield just behind Fernando Torres worked far better than in the fortunate victory at home to Stoke City. Eden Hazard was more disciplined on the left than a week earlier and, when he did move across, linked up cleverly with Mata and the mercurial young Brazilian Oscar.

Thus far, then, Roberto Di Matteo is bringing off the enviable trick demanded by Chelsea's owner Roman Abramovich of not only winning but doing so in style. "I'm very pleased with the performance," he said. "We came here to take the initiative and I think we won deservedly. It gives the players confidence and belief that we can play differently. We've had a good start and hopefully we can build on that, but we know how much work there still is to do in integrating the new players."
They are currently achieving that a little better than Arsenal, who have a gem in Santi Cazorla as their own playmaker, but cannot be entirely sure of the best way to build around him. Neither Olivier Giroud, who again missed a late chance, or Lukas Podolski have been convincing; Arsène Wenger, a little stubbornly, continues to pick Aaron Ramsey on the right instead of Theo Walcott, although he is not a natural wide player.
Now he has lost Abou Diaby for another three weeks with a thigh strain. The Frenchman hobbled off after fewer than 20 minutes, which did at least allow Ramsey to revert to his proper position; Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, rather than Walcott, came on, the latter having to wait until the last quarter of the game to appear along with Giroud.
Wenger's two complaints were that Chelsea had few real chances and that his defence dealt badly with those that did materialise. He might also have blamed the concession of unnecessary free-kicks in the final third, a fault that his returning captain, Thomas Vermaelen, was prone to. That was how the first goal came about in the 20th minute. Mata swung the free-kick into a dangerous area where David Luiz had been left unmarked and although the ball passed beyond him, Torres won his penalty-area wrestling match with Laurent Koscielny, leaving the Arsenal defender facing the wrong way as he hooked in a clever shot for his fifth goal of the season.
Torres should have added another two minutes later but was left vainly claiming a penalty instead. He brushed Koscielny aside, outpaced him and veered round the goalkeeper, Vito Mannone, before producing an air-shot. His claims to have been fouled by a retreating Koscielny had no substance. Gervinho's goal just before the interval ought, therefore, to have merely been offering Arsenal a little hope, but turned out to be an equaliser.

Oxlade-Chamberlain made it, staying calm on the right to pick out Gervinho, whose fine turn and finish brought his fourth goal of the campaign; as many as in the whole of last season. So Arsenal and their supporters finished the half on a high, only to be cast down again within 10 minutes of the restart. Once more Vermaelen gave away a free-kick, earning one of the afternoon's five yellow cards in the process. Mata lined it up some 30 yards out and this time kept the ball lower, tempting Koscielny into a lunge and a slight touch that left his goalkeeper on the wrong foot.
From then on Arsenal pressed and Chelsea countered swiftly and dangerously. "To come back in every game is difficult," Wenger lamented. "It's impossible because you have all the risk and they can hit you on the counter-attack." They did just that, although only in between some fine goalkeeping.
Petr Cech made two excellent saves, firstly as Podolski headed a cross by Kieran Gibbs, and then as Giroud's shot took a slight deflection. The expensive French striker, who has yet to find his feet in London, could have made himself a local hero in added time; sent through by Oxlade-Chamberlain, he seemed to have eluded Cech but could only hit the side-netting rather than the jackpot.

Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Mannone; Jenkinson, Koscielny, Vermaelen,Gibbs; Arteta, Diaby (Oxlade-Chamberlain, 17); Ramsey (Walcott, 66), Cazorla, Podolski (Giroud, 66); Gervinho.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech; Ivanovic, Terry, Luiz (Cahill, 81), Cole; Ramires, Mikel; Mata (Bertrand, 84), Oscar (Moses, 73), Hazard; Torres.

Referee: Martin Atkinson
Man of the match: Hazard (Chelsea)
Match rating: 8/10


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Observer:

Juan Mata makes the difference as Chelsea edge out Arsenal

Amy Lawrence at the Emirates Stadium

In the blue corner, Chelsea's band of supporters needed no invitation to offer a reminder of who is London's top dog in terms of the European Cup. On the pitch, their players made the point that they are serious about reasserting themselves in the Premier League. They are certainly well placed to make a big improvement on last season's sixth place.

In inflicting Arsenal's first defeat of the season, Chelsea consolidated their position as Premier League pacesetters. They were helped along the way by some slack defending by the home team, for whom Laurent Koscielny started at the expense of the previously ever-present, and consistently calm, Per Mertesacker. Two set-pieces from the assured boot of Juan Mata did the damage. Fernando Torres dispatched the first with cunning. Koscielny helped the second on its way. It was enough. Chelsea looked like they had a gear in reserve.
Arsenal did not pose enough threat to claw their way back from two crucially loose moments. Indeed, they were flat enough to ensure the home support did not even rouse much sustained hostility for John Terry, who had an untroubled 90 minutes. The pantomime booing petered out once Chelsea took the lead.
Arsenal had been frustrated by their weakness at a set piece to give Manchester City the lead last Sunday. There was not much tangible improvement here. "We gave away two soft set pieces and we were punished," said Arsène Wenger, who was very agitated as his team were outmanoeuvred at both ends of the pitch. "The difference between us and Chelsea in the air was obvious." There may have been improvements this season, but a familiar problem came back to haunt them at an untimely moment.
Chelsea's first decisive free-kick exposed how Arsenal still have issues to iron out concerning their organisation when facing dead balls. Mata's delivery arced towards the far post, over a leap from an unmarked David Luiz, and Torres got the better of Koscielny to supply a clever, instinctive finish. He wrapped his leg around the defender to clip a volley past Vito Mannone.
Torres ought to have given Chelsea an even more emphatic advantage moments later when he ghosted behind the dawdling Koscielny and bore down on Mannone's goal. A 2-0 scoreline felt inevitable, only for the Spaniard to kick thin air instead of the ball. There were other scares before half-time as the inventive Oscar and Eden Hazard crafted chances, while Torres grazed the side-netting.
Chelsea were relaxed, barely stretched as Arsenal strained to build momentum in their passing. They were not helped by an injury to Abou Diaby, who limped off in the 16th minute, which disrupted the pattern Arsenal have established in midfield this season. The Frenchman damaged a muscle in his thigh, which Wenger assessed will keep him out for three weeks. Home frustrations were evident when Thomas Vermaelen lumped in a hopeful shot from 40 yards out. Roberto Di Matteo noted how his newly styled midfield worked well to snuff Arsenal out. "We didn't allow Arsenal to get into any rhythm," he said.

They did keep plugging away, though, and were rewarded when Gervinho – hitherto giving a fairly ineffective impression of a false nine – took a deft touch to swivel on to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's pass and drill the equaliser high into the net. Chelsea's determination was palpable. They emerged after half-time keen to make the most of the combination of their three tricksters – Mata, Oscar and Hazard – floating behind the runs of Torres. It was not so pleasing on the eye, though, to see David Luiz trying to win a penalty with an act of blatant simulation, for which he was booked. "He went down, but I don't think he appealed for anything," said Di Matteo. "I'm against diving. It's not something I encourage."
Lukas Podolski needed to get more involved and his driving run opened up Chelsea, only for Santi Cazorla to slice his effort wide. Chelsea eased back in front with another set piece that left Arsenal cursing. Mata's delivery was again excellent, but Koscielny's miserable afternoon worsened when the ball skimmed his shin and past Mannone at the far post.

Di Matteo was enthused to see Mata back at his influential best. "The break we gave him did him good," he explained. "He played at the Euros and went straight to the Olympic Games. If we didn't give him a break, it could have had an effect."
Wenger sent on Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott, and although Giroud had three moments to seize the day, his Premier League pressures persisted. The Frenchman tested Cech with his first attempt, struck the crossbar (although the linesman had raised a flag) and, in stoppage time, he dinked past Cech only to angle his shot against the side-netting. "It was a top chance," said Wenger.
Chelsea may be changing, but Cech again proved his worth. "We have had a great start to the Premier League," Di Matteo said. "Hopefully we can be there at the end."



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Telegraph:

Arsenal 1 Chelsea 2

This was a match settled by Arsenal’s lame-duck inability to deal with set-pieces. Chelsea were worthy winners as they highlighted their Premier League title credentials by showing that, post-Didier Drogba, they can triumph at Arsenal.
Inevitably, the television cameras tracked the slow walk of Laurent Koscielny, who will be haunted by his torrid afternoon. At fault for both Chelsea’s goals, the defender failed utterly to vindicate Arsène Wenger’s decision to include him ahead of Per Mertesacker.
Wenger was a picture of frustration at the end. Having faced Manchester City last week, gaining a fine draw, and Chelsea this week he knew his players had failed the two-match “test” he had set them.
“Completely, yes,” Wenger acknowledged. “I feel we played against a good team but we gave the game away. They had three shots on target and scored two goals from set-pieces. Defensively we were not at the level we needed to be.
“When you play at home you do not expect to concede from two set-pieces. It puts us on the back-foot. It’s impossible because you then have to take all the risks against good players who can hit you on the counter-attack.”
Wenger went on to accuse his team of lacking “personality” while, to cap it all, he revealed that Abou Diaby, who pulled up injured in the first half, would be out for “at least three weeks” with a thigh injury.
So, the sound around the Emirates yesterday was the slow hiss of growing expectation being punctured.

For all of Arsenal’s early-season promise they defended wretchedly, they lacked bite in midfield and a cutting edge in attack. Olivier Giroud looked an awkward £12 million liability.
As resolute as Chelsea were, as much control as they clearly exerted, as magnificently creative as that tiny triumvirate of Eden Hazard, Oscar and, in particular, Juan Mata were, as brilliant as Ramires was, Arsenal still manufactured and wasted clear opportunities to claim a draw that they did not deserve.
For Fernando Torres this was, quite possibly, his best performance in a Chelsea shirt. He scored a superb goal, almost added a second and led the line cleverly, linking play and showing aggression.
He now has three Premier League goals – and it took him until March to achieve that mark last season.
“I’m enjoying more this season,” Torres said. “The kind of players I have behind me are giving me more support... we have shown with this different style of football that we can dream of having a great season again.”
This evolving Chelsea — new, young, hungry, counter-attacking, tricky — is succeeding without Frank Lampard. Once more the 33-year-old midfielder was relegated to the bench and cannot, any more, regard himself as first choice in what is surely his last season with the club.
John Terry was here and Ashley Cole also and neither were faultless. Chelsea are changing; the old guard is, bit by bit, being ushered out.

Chelsea’s first goal was a collective disaster for Arsenal with Thomas Vermaelen punished for a rash challenge. Mata took the free-kick, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain dozed, as he often does defensively, to allow David Luiz to break away and, in the confusion, Torres was simply too strong for Koscielny, hooking in a volley at the far post.
Soon after, Koscielny slipped, Torres ran free, delayed, took an air shot — claiming he was fouled by the backtracking defender — but rightly no penalty was given.
It was a let-off for Arsenal who suddenly, unexpectedly, drew level when Oxlade-Chamberlain scampered down the right and looked up to pick out Gervinho. This time Terry erred, allowing the striker space and Gervinho swivelled sharply to fire his shot into the roof of the net.
It was not exactly deserved and, on the stroke of half-time, Oscar drove wide before Torres slammed an effort into the side-netting.
And soon after Arsenal’s Santi Cazorla sliced a shot, Chelsea restored their lead.
Torres was fouled by Vermaelen and Mata curled in one of those dangerous cross-cum-shot free-kicks. Koscielny tried to intervene but only succeeded in distracting goalkeeper Vito Mannone as the ball skimmed off his knee and into net. Utterly hapless.
Arsenal tried to claw their way back but were open to Chelsea’s counter-attacks. Still, Petr Cech did superbly to push away Lukas Podolski’s header and, then, did even better to adjust and palm out a Giroud shot that spun up off Luiz’s heels towards goal. Cazorla side-footed over before, at the death, Oxlade-Chamberlain teed up Giroud who shot into the side-netting.
At the end, Chelsea milked the moment with, dare it be said, the swagger of a team who know they are going places.



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Mail:

Arsenal 1 Chelsea 2: Terry the rock as Gunners lose unbeaten record

By Rob Draper

He pumped his fist in that familiar, aggressive fashion as he ran towards the Chelsea fans before applauding them as he received their unmitigated praise.
But the show didn't end there. Off came the boots, as the captain made his way into the crowd, climbing over the hoardings and handing his footwear to two ecstatic boys in the front row.

John Terry was among friends, perhaps a rare feeling this week having been fined and banned by an FA disciplinary hearing for using racist language.

Eventually he had to turn back to reality, making his way to the tunnel, passing through hostile territory to the by now familiar chants of 'scum, scum,' although only from a handful of fans.
And Terry could endure that easily enough. As is so often the case, he had won his own victory.
His team had scored an important win and he had played well. For when his career comes to an end, he will not measure it in friendly testimonials from commentators: league titles, FA Cup wins, will dominate.
Possibly that Champions League medal will merit a mention, though the fact he did not play might be glossed over.
But Terry, for now, marches on, unapologetic, leading his Chelsea team with him. Chelsea remain unbeaten, top of the table and already seven points clear of Arsenal.
They are by no means flawless but there is a growing sense of cohesion about the club.
Again they did without Frank Lampard, fielding Juan Mata, Oscar and Eden Hazard.

Perhaps unsurprisingly against a higher quality team they fared better than they did against Stoke a week before, none more so than Mata, the instigator of this victory.
Ramires, too, was excellent. But Saturday's win was a mix of the old Chelsea and the new. There were neat dummies and the trademark reverse flick from behind the legs from Hazard and there were Mata and Fernando Torres, combining with Oscar in a more Latin link.
But there was also Terry's old Chelsea, the ugly, defiant one that refuses to let teams pass.
For when Arsene Wenger spoke of a lack of 'personality and authority' in his Arsenal team, you could not but think of Terry.
His human deficiencies are manifest, just as his footballing qualities are obvious. No Chelsea team under his direction would have conceded as Arsenal did on Saturday.
Roberto Di Matteo said he had considered resting Terry amid the controversy, but common sense prevailed. 'It was the right choice to pick him,' said the Chelsea boss. 'He showed his leadership qualities.'

As for Wenger, he was clearly infuriated. Had his team failed a test of their title credentials? 'Completely, yes,' he said. 'We gave the game away. They had three shots on target, scored two goals from two soft set-pieces.

'Defensively we were just not at the level you have to be in a big game like that. That's where we were punished.
'For the rest we showed quality, spirit, but we have to show more personality and authority on the goals we conceded.

'We didn't attack the ball, not on the first or the second goal. The difference between Chelsea and us on set-pieces in the air was obvious.

'When you play at home you do not expect to concede two set-pieces. It puts us every time on the back foot. We played two big games in one week and had to come back. It's difficult.

'Every time you are one goal down in a big game you have a 65 per cent chance of losing. We came back last week. We came back today - but straightaway give another goal away.
'It's impossible because you have to take all the risks and open yourself up.'

It was a frank assessment but undeniably true, with Laurent Koscielny, brought in for Per Mertesacker - who had started the season well - primarily, though not exclusively, at fault.

For Chelsea's first goal on 21 minutes, a free kick from the edge of the area was delightfully lofted by Mata towards the far post.
No one from Arsenal attacked the ball and as Torres and Koscielny wrestled – literally – for the ball, the Spaniard found an innovative way of winning the battle: simply hooking his leg round the Frenchman to direct the ball home.
Arsenal kept passing the ball persistently and on 43 minutes, Mikel Arteta set Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain free. He found Gervinho in space after Terry and David Luiz dropped deep.
Still, on last weekend's evidence, the Ivorian seemed an unlikely scorer, but he turned smartly and drove the ball in.

For Chelsea's first goal on 21 minutes, a free kick from the edge of the area was delightfully lofted by Mata towards the far post.
No one from Arsenal attacked the ball and as Torres and Koscielny wrestled – literally – for the ball, the Spaniard found an innovative way of winning the battle: simply hooking his leg round the Frenchman to direct the ball home.
Arsenal kept passing the ball persistently and on 43 minutes, Mikel Arteta set Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain free.

Yet you could sense the nervousness in Arsenal's defensive ranks when Chelsea were awarded a free kick on 54 minutes in an almost identical position to the one that had enabled them to open the scoring.
Mata curled it around the wall into the six-yard box and Koscielny, caught in a moment of indecision, ended up deflecting it in.
For Arsenal, Abou Diaby had limped off after 17 minutes, a thigh strain ruling him out for three weeks. Olivier Giroud's afternoon ended dismally when he sidestepped Petr Cech only to slice into the sidenetting.
No doubt Torres would sympathise.


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Mirror:

Arsenal 1-2 Chelsea: Gunners defence not so strong after all

Laurent Koscielny gifts the table topping Blues all three points with two terrible mistakes
By Matt Law

Given the events of the past few days, it was perhaps no surprise this was not a game for the defence.
John Terry captained ­Chelsea to victory two days after his defence against an FA charge of racism towards Anton Ferdinand had failed.
Read Andy Dunn's Big Match Verdict: Defiant John Terry refuses to keep a low profile
Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo claims he has been proved right to stand by captain Terry.
It was Terry and David Luiz who were caught out for ­Gervinho’s goal, but it did not prove costly as Arsenal ­defender Laurent Koscielny gifted Chelsea all three points with two terrible errors.
The victory maintained Chelsea’s unbeaten start to the season and meant Arsenal slipped to their first defeat.
It is far too early to declare this result proves Arsenal ­cannot challenge for the title, but Arsene Wenger knows his team cannot slip into the bad habit of conceding goals from set-pieces.
Terry was able to play while he waits for the written ­reasons for his four-game ban and £220,000 fine before ­deciding whether to appeal.
Wenger may go in search of some answers himself and would do well to ditch his policy of rotating his defence for specific games.
Wenger declared at the start of the season he would choose between Koscielny, Per ­Mertesacker and Thomas ­Vermaelen, depending on who Arsenal are facing.
Fine in theory, but ­yesterday’s evidence ­suggested Wenger may be ­better to settle on his best partnership and stick to it.
Mertesacker was dropped to the subs’ bench as Wenger believed Koscielny and ­Vermaelen would be better equipped to deal with Chelsea’s Fernando Torres, Juan Mata, Oscar and Eden Hazard.
But Wenger’s decision ­backfired as Koscielny had a day to forget and the change appeared to upset Arsenal’s ability to defend set-pieces.
An early injury to Abou Diaby did not help, either.
Koscielny was outmuscled by Torres to a Mata free-kick in the 20th minute and the Spaniard managed to wrap his foot around the defender to open the scoring for Chelsea.
Arsenal breathed a sigh of relief three minutes later, as Koscielny misjudged a long ball upfield by the visitors.
But Torres delayed and ­delayed before taking an air shot and falling over with just keeper Vito Mannone to beat.
Koscielny then undid ­Arsenal’s good work to get back into the match by ­turning another Mata free-kick past his own keeper eight minutes into the second half.
Arsenal had looked the more likely side to take the lead – before Koscielny’s second howler – after Gervinho had fired them level.
Diaby’s replacement Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain crossed from the right and Gervinho lost Terry and Luiz to swivel and shoot past Petr Cech.
And three minutes before Chelsea’s second goal, Santi Cazorla squandered a good opportunity, firing wastefully wide when Lukas Podolski’s cross was played straight into the midfielder’s path by ­Ashley Cole.
Once ahead, Chelsea were grateful to Cech on two ­occasions for maintaining the visitors’ lead.
First, he produced a ­wonderful save to keep out Podolski’s header and then Cech stretched out a hand to divert sub Olivier Giroud’s ­deflected effort wide.
Giroud then squandered a wonderful opportunity to grab a ­deserved draw. But it was Arsenal’s defending that proved their undoing.
Terry gave his boots to a grateful Chelsea fan at the final whistle.
Koscielny and Giroud may have been tempted to chuck theirs into the bin.


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Sun:

Arsenal 1 Chelsea 2

By SHAUN CUSTIS

SAY what you like about John Terry — and everybody has — had he been playing for Arsenal they surely would not have lost.

Another week of turmoil for the Chelsea skipper saw Terry quit England and land a four-game ban and £220,000 fine for racially abusing Anton Ferdinand.

But he ended it conducting the celebrations in front of Chelsea’s fans, milking the acclaim from those who will forever view him as captain, leader, legend.

And he earned extra kudos for taking off his boots and handing them to a couple of grateful young supporters.

No matter what goes wrong in Terry’s life, he has an uncanny ability to produce on the pitch.

The Gunners supporters booed him and ex-Arsenal full-back Ashley Cole during the first half but gave up after the break, realising it was actually spurring the pair on.

And, as the home supporters streamed out of the Emirates fearing another season without silverware, there were those who grudgingly admitted they would love Terry in their defence.

Why? Because he brings order, organisation and confidence.
By contrast, whatever the hard work being done on the Gunners back four by new assistant Steve Bould, they remain an accident waiting to happen.

Two shocking errors cost them dear with French centre-back Laurent Koscielny the chief culprit. Last Sunday Koscielny was the hero with his late equaliser at Manchester City.

But here he was bullied by Fernando Torres — yes, honestly — for the opener. And after Gervinho equalised he deflected in Juan Mata’s whipped free-kick.

Manager Arsene Wenger picked Koscielny instead of big German Per Mertesacker, who had started all the previous five Premier League matches.

The boss reasoned that Koscielny would be more mobile against Torres but it was a decision he was to regret.

It seems rumours of Arsenal being potential title challengers have been greatly exaggerated.

But it is time to start taking Chelsea seriously. The Blues have been a distant third in the Premier League betting behind both Manchester clubs.

Yet this victory ensured they maintained their position at the top with five wins and a draw from their opening six games.

They have only conceded three goals in the process and Torres is, at last, finding the net on a regular basis.

Koscielny, though, should never have allowed the Spaniard to score on 20 minutes.

The Gunners used to get roughed up by Didier Drogba but you would not expect Torres to be capable of doing the same.

However, as Mata’s free-kick was floated towards the far post, Torres wrestled his way in front of his French marker, stuck out his right leg and volleyed into the corner. Torres was proving a right handful and hit the net again only to be ruled offside.

Arsenal were not helped by losing Abou Diaby to injury early on and the fact they cannot keep the midfielder fit is a real concern.

Having said that, his replacement, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, did fashion the 42nd-minute equaliser.

The Ox managed to get the ball in the box through Cole’s legs and Gervinho had time and space to turn and rifle it into the roof of the net.

Thomas Vermaelen fouled Torres and Mata’s curling free-kick caused more panic.

Koscielny came across to try and cut it out but only succeeded in helping it on its way past the dive of Vito Mannone.
Chelsea could thank Petr Cech for ensuring they stayed ahead as he saved well to keep out Lukas Podolski’s header.

And Cech also re-adjusted to claw away sub Olivier Giroud’s strike which deflected off the inside of David Luiz’s leg.

Even then Giroud could have rescued a point for Arsenal at the death when he ran on to a lovely ball from Oxlade- Chamberlain.

It would be fair to say the home crowd were not banking on the Frenchman.

He tried to go round Cech but, with the angle narrowing, his shot was turned into the side-netting by the keeper.

Robin van Persie has gone and we cannot keep harping on about it.

But it is impossible to ignore the fact that there are some chances you just know the Dutchman would have scored.

Arsenal: Mannone,Jenkinson,Koscielny,Vermaelen,Gibbs, Diaby (Oxlade-Chamberlain 17),Arteta,Ramsey (Walcott 66), Cazorla,Podolski (Giroud 66),Gervinho. Subs Not Used: Martinez,Mertesacker,Andre Santos,Djourou. Booked: Ramsey,Vermaelen. Goals: Gervinho 42.

Chelsea: Cech,Ivanovic,Luiz (Cahill 81),Terry,Cole,Mikel, Ramires,Oscar (Moses 73),Hazard,Mata (Bertrand 84),Torres. Subs Not Used: Turnbull,Romeu,Lampard,Azpilicueta. Booked: Oscar,Luiz,Ramires. Goals: Torres 20,Mata 53.

Att: 60,101
Ref: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).


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Express:

ARSENAL 1 - CHELSEA 2: LAURENT KOSCIELNY IS VILLAIN OF THE PIECE

By John Richardson

JOHN TERRY was predictably booed like a villain but it was his Arsenal counterpart Laurent Koscielny who ended up as the pantomime dame.
Twice the Frenchman ignored cries of, ‘He’s behind you’ as Chelsea were gifted both their goals at The Emirates.
No one was surprised that Terry once again fronted up, pushing any decision whether to appeal against his four-match ban to one side to go about his business as Chelsea’s unflinching captain.
Place Terry in the stocks and he would still be smiling. He’s football’s Mr Teflon.
‘John Terry, you know what you are,’ goaded the Gooners. In Chelsea’s eyes he is someone who refuses to be knocked down, a human punch bag who will never be counted out.
A bit like Chelsea who, following their unexpected Champions League triumph, are now determined to have a big say in the outcome of this season’s Premier League title chase.

There’s a lot of negativity surrounding John Terry but he does a lot of good work as well. He gives a lot of things away to kids
On this showing they represent London’s best chance of challenging the Manchester duopoly.
At the final whistle Terry hugged and kissed every Chelsea player in sight before moving towards the travelling army of away fans, calmly taking off his boots before presenting them to a disbelieving youngster, whose eyes popped in bewilderment.
At least he is still a hero in some people’s eyes, the Chelsea fans exploding into a chorus of, ‘There’s only one England captain’.
His act of charming benevolence was no surprise to his manager Roberto Di Matteo, who said: “There’s a lot of negativity surrounding John Terry but he does a lot of good work as well. He gives a lot of things away to kids.

“I think it was the right choice to pick him. He looked such a good defender out there. I was very pleased with the performance. We came here with the intention of gaining the initiative and that’s what we did.”
Sadly it was a game to forget for his Gunners counterpart Koscielny, who was exposed by Fernando Torres for Chelsea’s opener and couldn’t defend another deadly Juan Mata free-kick, his slightest of touches beating his own keeper Vito Mannone.
 The two slack pieces of defending left Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal paying the ultimate price and punctured the confidence secured from last weekend’s deserved draw with Manchester City.
 Wenger said: “We have failed our test, completely. We played against a good team but gave the game away with two soft goals. Defensively we are not at the level we should be at.
“My players showed no personality and authority with the goals we conceded. You don’t expect to concede two set-pieces at home.”
Chelsea’s higher tempo and sharper passing earned them the lead with a goal plucked from Torres’ dim and distant past.
 The Arsenal defending supposedly given an upgrade by Wenger’s new right-hand man and former member of the Gunners’ famous back five, Steve Bould, went to pieces allowing the struggling Spaniard to pounce.
 Mata, again integral in Chelsea’s creative play, lofted in a free-kick which completely bamboozled Koscielny, and Torres instinctively hooked in at the far post in the style which made him such a goal hero at Atletico Madrid and Liverpool.
 Any ideas that his third Premier League goal of the season was going to open the floodgates disappeared two minutes later, when the striker fluffed a golden opportunity to leave the Gunners well and truly on the canvass.
 Koscielny was again the Arsenal villain, being caught in possession by Torres who then had a clear path to goal. In taking the long route he allowed Koscielny to snap at his heels as he confronted keeper Mannone and compounded his error by failing to connect with the ball before falling in an embarrassed heap, predictably claiming a penalty.
 Arsenal needed a spark before the break to pierce the gloom descending over most of The Emirates. It arrived from an unlikely source.
 Gervinho, whose erratic finishing six days earlier against Manchester City had cost his side victory, struck with a vengeance this time around.
 Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who had replaced the injury-cursed Abou Diaby, crossed low and Gervinho, peeling away from Terry and David Luiz, turned sharply to bury his shot despite a flailing hand from Petr Cech.
 It was the first goal Chelsea had conceded on their Premier League travels this season and one which no doubt would have sparked a half-time inquest within their dressing room.
 But Chelsea, not content to settle for a point, set up to be offensive and pleasing on the eye, as decreed by their demanding owner Roman Abramovich, and they were soon back in front.
 Again it was a Mata free-kick which did the damage, this time Koscielny applying the slightest of touches from the dangerous in-swinger, enough to divert it beyond Mannone.
Arsenal looked deflated but it still needed a fine save from Cech to palm away a looping header from Lukas Podolski.
 While the German promises goals, Frenchman Olivier Giroud doesn’t.
 He came off the substitutes’ bench and had a golden opportunity to grab a point in added-on time. But from Oxlade-Chamberlain’s inviting ball inside the box, he could only find the side netting.
“It was a top chance,” Wenger admitted.
 It was left to Chelsea’s fans to mock, ‘Robin van Persie, he’s left you in the ****’.
Food for thought for disgruntled Gooners this morning.


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Star:

ARSENAL 1 - CHELSEA 2: NOT-SO-SWEET 16 FOR ARSENE WENGER

By Harry Pratt

ARSENE WENGER celebrates his 16th anniversary as Arsenal manager tomorrow.

Well, ‘celebrate’ might be stretching it a bit, after this first defeat of the season for Wenger’s men, against their deadly rivals.
 And while the Frenchman clearly remains head over heels with his beloved north Londoners, there is also a nasty seven-year itch threatening to destroy the marital bliss.
 That, of course, is how long it is since the great Wenger, a two-time Double winner, delivered a trophy of any sort to the Gunners’ success-starved fans.
 On the evidence of yesterday, the Premier League title – last lifted here in 2004 – is not coming back any time soon.
 Shocking defending led to both Chelsea goals, tucked away by Spanish pair Fernando Torres and Juan Mata.
 And a furious Wenger blasted: “We completely failed the test today. Chelsea had three shots and scored two. Defensively, we were not where we should be. We didn’t attack the ball for either goal.”
As for his own spell in N5, Wenger refused to say if this was his toughest period, saying: “I don’t know because I never look back.”
If Wenger has all the time in the world to get things right – the club already want him to sign a new deal – it is the complete opposite for Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo.
 He may have won the Champions League after only a few months in charge – but that barely secured him a permanent job.
 Chelsea’s owner RomanAbramovich does not deal in honeymoons, or long-term partnerships with coaches – Di Matteo is his sixth full-time boss in eight years.
 But it’s so far so good for the Italian, in his first full season as manager.
 This was Chelsea’s’ fifth league win from six but, according to Di Matteo, it is still a work in progress.
 The Blues’ boss said: “We’ve had a good start and hopefully we can build on it.
“We have a lot of new players to settle in and that will take time. But I was pleased with this performance against a very good team.”
Chelsea went ahead against the run of play, when Mata’s 21st-minute free-kick escaped everyone except Torres, who calmly struck a right-foot volley past keeper Vito Mannone, for his third goal of the season.
 The visitors then felt they should have had a penalty, after Torres went tumbling under a clumsy challenge by Laurent Koscielny.
 Arsenal hit back three minutes before the break, as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain crossed to Gervinho and with his back to goal the Ivory Coast hitman took one touch and swivelled, before crashing an unstoppable rocket into the roof of the net.
 But the optimism around The Emirates evaporated nine minutes into the second half as Mata’s in-swinging free-kick caused mayhem and Koscielny’s attempted clearance could only help the ball past Mannone.
 Arsenal tried to respond and Lukas Podolski’s header was turned over by Petr Cech, Koscielny crashed an effort against the bar and Olivier Giroud sliced wide.
 The sight of Wenger beating the ground in anger said everything about his miserable day.
 Di Matteo last night defended disgraced skipper John Terry.
 After the win at The Emirates, Terry – found guilty by the FA on Thursday of racially abusing QPR’s Anton Ferdinand – handed his boots to a young travelling fan.
 And Di Matteo said: “There is a lot of talk about John’s negative side but he does a lot of good work too. He gives a lot of boots away and other positive stuff like that.”
Ex-England man Terry, who retired from international football last Monday, has another ten days to appeal against the four-match ban and £220,000 fine dished out by the FA, over last season’s infamous bust-up with Ferdinand.
 Di Matteo said: “I had to think about whether to play him and I had a conversation with John about it. But it proved to be the right choice. John showed his leadership qualities out there.”