Arsenal 0-0

Guardian:
Arsenal and Chelsea in goalless stalemate crammed with controversy
Arsenal 0 Chelsea 0
Dominic Fifield at the Emirates Stadium

Instinct suggests this snarl of a contest merely benefited those mustering a charge in the distant north-west but Chelsea will have gained conviction from a show of strength. Clean sheets away from home have been rare this term but, by reverting to a game plan more in keeping with his previous brushes with this derby, José Mourinho will have inflicted damage on Arsenal's own belief. The result looked to be more satisfying to the visitors.
Only in the frantic final moments, when Chelsea had retreated entirely into their shells and even hauled Fernando Torres from the fray for David Luiz, did Arsenal hint at pilfering a win. Twice Olivier Giroud might have prospered, first when liberated by Tomas Rosicky and Aaron Ramsey, then when finding space to meet Kieran Gibbs's low cross. But, where his first attempt had been sliced wastefully wide, the second was deflected high over the bar by Petr Cech, darting in to stifle at the forward's feet. The Frenchman's early season bite may well have been blunted by overuse.
Giroud departed the pitch shaking his head in disbelief as if he had been denied his just rewards, yet those were the clearest opportunities they chiselled out from the huff and puff and their nervy performance hardly warranted victory. Arsène Wenger acknowledged the edginess to their display born, he said, of that 6-3 mauling at Manchester City, a result which followed so swiftly on from the damaging defeat at Napoli in the Champions League.
His team are joint top of the table but have now gone four games without a win in all competitions. "We're going through a patch where it's a bit more difficult but it's how you deal with that," said the Frenchman. "It's a bit difficult but we'll come through it."
The sense is that momentum has been checked and this was an opportunity passed up, given Chelsea's recent and regular traumas on their travels. Yet Mourinho had drilled his players on defensive duties remorselessly since last week's Capital One Cup defeat at Sunderland, asking Mikel John Obi to suppress the "phenomenal" talent that is Mesut Özil and supplementing his midfield with Ramires's energy and Frank Lampard's threat.
The derby brought the spiky best from them; their defence, so porous in recent weeks, was strong-arm and aggressive. "It's their home game," said John Terry. "It's up to them to bring it to us." That summed them up.
Arsenal would bemoan the manner in which the visitors imposed their game plan on the contest at times. César Azpilicueta's unpunished clip of Ramsey's right heel set an early tone while also appearing to send the Welshman's radar off kilter. Mikel's lunge on Mikel Arteta, the Nigeria international planting his right foot into the inside of the Spaniard's right calf, was uglier – yet Mike Dean allowed play to continue.
Within seconds Theo Walcott was toppling over Willian's leg in the penalty area, the referee deeming the contact minimal and the reaction excessive. The managers, predictably enough, agreed to disagree.
Yet if that suggested the impetus was all one way, it was not. Chelsea had actually been the more composed through the first hour at least, tapping in to Ramires's energy and springing regularly on the break to stretch a home back line denied the presence of the injured Laurent Koscielny. When Eden Hazard dropped into space and clipped a glorious diagonal pass beyond the Arsenal rearguard, there was Frank Lampard, rolling back the years, to burst beyond Arteta and belt a volley on to the underside of the crossbar. The ball bounced down and not over the line but the threat was clear.
Of the half-chances to which Mourinho referred after the match, Ramires and Willian might have done better when granted sights of goal. This team continues to create but not always convert. Therein lies the real frustration of the manager's second coming. No Chelsea forward managed an away goal in the Premier League in 2013.
"If we score goals in direct relation to the chances we produce, we'd be in a fantastic situation," he acknowledged.
"But it's not just a problem with the strikers – it's also a problem of the other people not transforming half-chances into goals and we had half a dozen of those today, where we were not aggressive, sharp or attacking people to score …"
Solve that weakness and Chelsea will be persuasive challengers at the top, though they will have relished this reminder that they can still be pragmatic and workaholic in key contests.
Arsenal, for their part, must rediscover their fizz. Perhaps Jack Wilshere might have made a difference, relishing an occasion as scrappy as this to illuminate the scene, but he was absent serving the first game of a two-match suspension.
Instead they yearned for a dash of quality from Özil or Ramsey to inspire them and, when their frustration was prolonged, tempers flared. In the end, and much to the delight of Liverpool, Manchester City and Everton, the capital's contenders simply cancelled each other out.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/gallery/2013/dec/23/arsenal-chelsea-premier-league-gallery

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Telegraph:

Arsenal 0 Chelsea 0

By  Henry Winter, Football Correspondent, at Emirates Stadium
This was mission accomplished by Chelsea, and a not particularly pretty mission. Judging by their players’ celebrations at the final whistle, Chelsea departed with what they came for, a point, from a Premier League match that was a five-star advertisement for late-night, last-minute Christmas shopping.
There was more entertainment to be had watching Arsène Wenger taking three attempts to zip up his long sleeping-bag coat at the start of the second half. In keeping with football guaranteed to trigger drowsiness, “Snorefest” was the succinct tweeted verdict from Rio Ferdinand.
It was a stalemate that will have been most enjoyed by Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool, who remain top of the Premier League tree at Christmas, on goal difference from Arsenal as the title race becomes even harder to call. Liverpool are inspired by Rodgers and Luis Suárez. Chelsea certainly cannot be discounted, not with Jose Mourinho’s ability to dictate a game from the sidelines. Manchester City have the best squad. Everton play with exuberance. Arsenal need to shake off their slight lethargy; they certainly failed to shake off the cloying, close attentions of Chelsea’s players.
It was a poor game, not helped by the inclement conditions, some of Chelsea’s robust ending of Arsenal moves, some inexplicable decisions from the referee, Mike Dean, Olivier Giroud’s loss of sharpness and also Wenger’s perplexing preference for not bringing on any of his substitutes.
Arsenal were crying out for Santi Cazorla, especially after Tomas Rosicky was cautioned. Lukas Podolski, although short of match sharpness, might have enlivened Arsenal’s attack late on. Wenger did nothing. Maybe he couldn’t get his hands out of the sleeping-bag coat.
He could legitimately complain about how Dean let John Obi Mikel stay on for a dangerous challenge on Mikel Arteta, his foot following through, snapping the Spaniard’s shin-pad and leaving him writhing on the soaked pitch. Wenger could genuinely voice his disbelief that Dean had not awarded Arsenal a penalty when Theo Walcott was caught by Willian. But Arsenal were hardly angelic, and Rosicky clattered César Azpilicueta and Branislav Ivanovic.
But the fact remains that Arsenal failed to break down Chelsea’s defensive midfield and a thick blue back-line in which John Terry and Gary Cahill were outstanding. Arguably Arsenal’s best attacking option came from the overlapping Kieran Gibbs on the left. No wonder Wenger observed afterwards that he was unlikely to consider bringing back Ashley Cole, who is in Mourinho’s bad books. Not with Gibbs in this sort of vibrant form at left-back.
Despite Gibbs’ energy, Arsenal needed a more central creative force, but Mesut Özil was disappointing, the German international fading in the face of Chelsea’s physicality and sharp interceptions. Aaron Ramsey was subdued and Giroud easily controlled by Terry and Cahill, barring one attempt.
Bizarrely, Giroud appeared to be apologising to Terry for one accidental aerial challenge in the first half which the Chelsea captain had laughed off anyway as a mere pinprick. It is hard to imagine the likes of Ian Wright going around saying sorry to their markers. Giroud could be a very fine centre-forward but he needs to impose himself more.
This stalemate highlighted that opposing teams believe they can outmuscle Wenger’s team of aesthetes. This was the type of test of character that Arsenal knew they would have to face to answer questions about their fortitude. It was still surprising to see Mathieu Flamini start on the bench. The combative Frenchman was made for this sort of intense duel of a game.
There were few highlights. Some of the football really was as wretched as the weather. Mistakes littered the game. Arsenal struggled to find their stride, hustled relentlessly by the visitors. Mikel, Frank Lampard, Ramires and company intercepted and tackled, occasionally fouling.
Azpilicueta caught Ramsey. Lampard dived in on Bacary Sagna, leaving the right-back floored, as Mourinho mimicked playing the ball.
Mourinho had clearly ordered his men to close Arsenal players down rapidly and robustly, particularly his old Real Madrid schemer, Özil. One move by Arsenal took the ball unerringly from Özil to Giroud to Ramsey and back out to Özil, who was promptly fouled by Lampard.
Chelsea were defending well. When Sagna crossed from the right, Cahill slid in to clear. Terry, reading the situation well, then calmly intervened to cut out Ramsey’s attempted pass to Theo Walcott. This was a disciplined tactical performance from Chelsea, with occasional fast forays upfield. Fernando Torres was feisty, running at Per Mertesacker and Thomas Vermaelen. A few opportunities fell Chelsea’s way. Ramires headed wide.
Chelsea then had the best chance of the half, Lampard volleying against the bar after Eden Hazard’s fine through ball. Torres then turned sharply and brought a low save from Wojciech Szczesny.
The game then passed through a fractious period, catcalls being directed at Dean after Mikel poleaxed Arteta and then Walcott was brought down by Willian. Dean again caused consternation amongst Arsenal supporters, players and management by flamboyantly signalling no penalty.
This was a derby, a game played for high stakes in the Premier League race, and a match slightly compromised by the swirling rain, but it still made poor fare for the viewing hundreds of millions. Still the tackles went in. Ramires on Arteta. Walcott on Azpilicueta.
Football broke out occasionally. Ivanovic hooked a shot goalwards but Szczesny saved comfortably. The Pole then dropped down to smother a powerful drive from Lampard, following Torres’ perfect nod-down.
The fouls continued. Ivanovic’s boot was dangerously high on Özil.
Mourinho began making his changes, controlling the game. The hard-running Andre Schürrle came on for the disappointing Hazard. Oscar replaced Willian. Inbetween the arguments continued. Azpilicueta disputed the game’s finer points with Sagna. Giroud remonstrated with Mikel. Some of the players queried events with Dean. The Premier League debating society was out in full force.
Giroud then sliced a shot wide and was denied at close range by Petr Cech following a slick move involving Gibbs and Rosicky. The sight of David Luiz coming on for Torres indicated that Mourinho was happy with a point. Wenger’s side still attacked. Vermaelen met a corner with a downward header but Azpilicueta cleared off the line. By the end, Arsenal fans were chanting “boring, boring Chelsea” but it was the visitors singing more happily in the rain.

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Mail:
Arsenal 0 Chelsea 0:
Dave rides to rescue... Azpilicueta the hero as Jose’s jinx keeps Arsenal off top spot
By Martin Samuel

It was rather fitting that on the night when the late John Sullivan’s family were in attendance, Chelsea should be rescued by the man they call Dave.
Sullivan was the genius behind Only Fools And Horses, the creator of Del Boy, Rodney, Boycie and Trigger, and a lifelong Arsenal fan. He would have been 67 on Monday.
One of his running jokes was that Trigger, no matter how many times he was corrected, mistakenly referred to Rodney as Dave.
Discussing Del Boy’s impending fatherhood, Trigger tells his pub audience: ‘If it’s a boy they’re going to call it Rodney.’ Pause. ‘After Dave.’
And so it was that when Cesar Azpilicueta arrived at Stamford Bridge, the players took one look at that name, with its many syllables, that p straight after the z and the tricky cuet sound near the end and decided: Dave.
So Dave it is, and Dave it was who, at the moment when Chelsea could have surrendered three points in the final minute, came to the rescue. Bacary Sagna’s header was not the most powerful, but it was downwards and goalbound, and there would have been precious little time for Chelsea to get back into the game had there not been a protector at the far post.
And that protector was: Dave. He launched the ball upfield and Chelsea survived. He certainly won’t be invited to Arsenal’s Christmas party next year — unlike the man he replaced at full-back, Ashley Cole.
You’ve got to hand it to Jose Mourinho. He knows his way around matches like this. It is 10 games and counting without defeat against Arsene Wenger and despite that late escape, had Chelsea not got a point here justice would not have been done.
Arsenal had a smattering of chances late on, but Chelsea had the best of the first half and looked more dangerous on the break. As they settled for a draw, the Arsenal fans taunted them with cries of ‘Boring, boring Chelsea.’
The arch riposte would have been that Arsenal were meant to be at home. It didn’t look like it for long periods.
A search party would not have turned up Mesut Ozil — at a cost of £42.5million, the man the club should be looking to for the decisive influence on nights such as this — and first had to locate Olivier Giroud. The striker was anonymous until late in the day, when he missed one good chance, and was thwarted with another.
So rare were Arsenal’s opportunities that when Giroud was played in after 78 minutes by Aaron Ramsey, the whole place stiffened in expectation.
Here, against the odds, was the goal that would separate the teams. Not only did Giroud miss the net, he missed the side-netting, too. His shot was sliced horribly wide, much to the derisive jeers of the away end. 
Soon after, Tomas Rosicky found Kieran Gibbs on the overlap, picking out Giroud again, only for a combination of Petr Cech and the outstanding John Terry to divert his shot over the bar.
Terry, along with Gary Cahill, Dave and Branislav Ivanovic, were the success story of the night. The only mistake Ivanovic made against Ozil was a high boot that nearly provoked a fight, but the rest of the time he was entirely under the Serb’s control.
In front of the back four sat a protective bank of as many as five, with John Mikel Obi particularly effective. Some thought he should have been sent off for a challenge on Mikel Arteta that caught the Arsenal midfielder high, but it appeared both men were reckless in their approach and the culpability could easily have been reversed. 
One genuine Arsenal grievance occurred in the 37th minute, when Willian clumsily brought Theo Walcott to the floor in the penalty area, only for his transgression to be ignored by referee Mike Dean.
Meanwhile, the architect of Wenger’s frustration stood imperious on the perimeter of the technical area throughout this, the latest rain-blasted edition of their rivalry. It was Mourinho’s night, in more ways than one. He will have felt most pleased with the result, his team turned in the better overall performance, and the inhospitable conditions reflected his gameplan.
Chelsea were not negative, but they were constant, cussed, spoiling, much like the rain that drenched the Emirates Stadium and many within. Chelsea’s organisation won the day, as did the weather. It was a night on which it was impossible to play the beautiful game, and Chelsea settle more happily into the ugly side of things.
They resisted Arsenal defiantly, broke more threateningly on the counter attack and Arsenal were limp and ineffectual for long periods. Wenger had sought a reaction to the 6-3 defeat at Manchester City, but this wasn’t it. A defeat would have been worse, but a strong performance would have been better. Wenger sat doubled over, arms tightly folded across his stomach on the bench. He looked like a man in pain. He wouldn’t have been alone, watching this.
All that could be said in defence of the teams is that these really were the filthiest conditions imaginable. Swirling wind, heavy rain - from the opening minutes when Gibbs overhit a simple back pass it was obvious the weather would be the star performer here. Arsenal’s technical game would be blown off course and even Chelsea’s more robust approach was no match for the conditions.
Once the game got going, however, it was Chelsea who set the early pace. They had several opportunities but the pick of it - the pick of the night, in fact - came in the 32nd minute when a Willian chip, exquisitely delivered and perfectly timed, fell for Frank Lampard ghosting into space on the far side of the penalty area. He met the ball on the volley, blasting it against the crossbar and down, but out.
A minute later, Eden Hazard’s fine run ended with a feed to Fernando Torres but Wojciech Szczesny was equal to his rather underpowered shot. Chelsea’s best spell finished with a dangerous break from Hazard, knocking the ball in to Willian whose shot was snatched and disappointing.
It was, in this way, typical Mourinho. Chelsea’s 0-0 draw at Manchester United earlier in the season had put the padlock on the champions, and here he contrived to do the same to the early front-runners.
The fact that in throwing a big blue blanket over the proceedings he also managed to have as many chances, underlined his clarity of thought. Mourinho replaced Torres with David Luiz late on, prowled some more and called it a night.

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Independent:

Arsenal 0 Chelsea 0
Dean’s mistakes deny top spot to Arsenal
 
Sam Wallace 
All of the aggression and needle of the great rivalry that characterised Arsene Wenger v Jose Mourinho Part I in the last decade, but so little of the quality tonight that once made these two clubs the pre-eminent sides in English football.
 
There was plenty of pain in the December rain, largely inflicted, it should be said by Mourinho’s foot soldiers or, as they were at times, the foot-up soldiers. Ten games and counting and Wenger’s Arsenal have still not defeated a Mourinho side and whatever they might say at the Emirates, it is a record that rankles with the locals.
Mourinho was booed off at the end, along with referee Mike Dean, and regaled with “boring, boring Chelsea” from those left in the home seats around the tunnel. It was a criticism he leapt upon later, “I agree,” Mourinho said. “I played against them 10 times and I never lost.” Then, for reasons that were not entirely clear, he started singing a chant of his own “Funny, funny Jose”, before adding, “ten times they don't win once.”
Mind you, that was mild compared to the criticism of Arsenal for their appeal for what was a blatant red card when John Obi Mikel caught Mikel Arteta studs-up above the ankle in the first half. “They like to cry,” Mourinho opined, “that’s tradition”. On the tackles itself he said that “Football is for men,” and then sensing he may have strayed into dangerous territory added, “or for women with fantastic attitude.”
If he was looking for a fight, Wenger did not rise to the bait, at least not tonight but as of now it feels like the old bad feeling is creeping back in. It is most definitely on again after the summer rapprochement. As for the Premier League title race, it feels as enthralling as ever.
It was not pretty but it was effective, Arsenal barely finding their rhythm in the first half.
It is Liverpool who lead at Christmas for the first time since 2008, second are Arsenal on goal difference with Manchester City one point behind on 35 and Chelsea on 34. With two points dividing the top five teams, the season is set perfectly - even if this game did not allow for any definitive judgements.
It was a bad night for referee Dean who should have sent off Mikel for his challenge on Arteta on 36 minutes, which met the excessive force criteria. Just seconds later there was a penalty appeal against Willian for a trip on Theo Walcott that looked plum, which was not given. Frank Lampard had rattled the crossbar minutes earlier, which was as close as Chelsea got to scoring.
And then in the second half it got that little bit more aggressive when Branislav Ivanovic caught Mesut Ozil with a high foot and the shoving and finger-pointing becoming ever more intense. But what is worth remembering is that not until Olivier Giroud forced a save from close range out of Petr Cech with six minutes of the game to play was there finally an effort on target from either side.
This was raw and attritional throughout. There were Arsenal trying desperately not to bow to the recent trend of history and succumb to Chelsea. And then there was Chelsea being, well, Chelsea.
It was a classic Mourinho performance: his team refusing to budge despite the pressure and, along the way, very little leeway given to his creative talents. Eden Hazard shimmered with promise in the first half but his manager gradually grew tired of him conceding possession and he was withdrawn for the more orthodox Andre Schurrle instead. When David Luiz came on for Fernando Torres with minutes remaining it was clear what direction Mourinho was taking.
Faced with risking defeat against a direct title rival, Mourinho settled for a draw. He had done so at Old Trafford earlier in the season, preferring to take his chances getting three points at Stamford Bridge.
The first half passed without incident until Lampard hit the bar following a nice diagonal ball from Hazard. Then came Mikel’s lunge. Following that the ball was worked forward to Walcott in the penalty area and, quite frankly, things got worse for Dean. Willian stabbed his foot to get the ball away from Walcott in the penalty area and the Arsenal man went straight over the challenge with the ball untouched.
There was the old physical approach from Chelsea at the start of the game when Cesar Azpilicueta went through Aaron Ramsey. Lampard caught Bacary Sagna. Tomas Rosicky tried to level it up with fouls on Ramires, Hazard and Lampard. The concern for the home team was the anonymity of Mesut Ozil in that first half and Ramsey seemed a long way from his best this season.
It got no more refined after the break with another bad challenge on Arteta, this time from Ramires who was booked. Dean finally started reaching for the cards with Walcott going into the book for a trip on Azpilicueta. Rosicky’s fouling earned him a place in the book. Remarkably, Mikel managed not to get his name taken.
It was a challenge by Ivanovic on Ozil, not a strong influence on the game against his former coach Mourinho, that really stoked things up and began the recriminations and pushing that suggest a game is reaching boiling point. Yet Arsenal were never able quite to convert the late pressure into a goal to decide the match.
There was a good chance for Giroud but he sliced the ball wide on 78 minutes running onto Ramsey’s ball in behind the defence. Six minutes he finally got the first shot of the game on target and Cech proved equal to it. Later, Azpilicueta kicked a shot from Sagna off the line. While Chelsea lived dangerously they were never likely to be overwhelmed. John Terry and Gary Cahill were outstanding.
So it proved that Mourinho’s men ended the game attacking and with a series of corners that, in the end, Arsenal defended well given the circumstances. There was something impressive too in the way that Arsenal, with Thomas Vermaelen partnering Per Mertesacker in the centre of defence, did not give in to the onslaught.
The goalless draw means that Chelsea end the calendar year without a goal away from home in the Premier League from one of their strikers. There was not a single shot on target from the away side and that told its own story. So far the indications have been that Mourinho will not sign a new striker in January although that is a problem that surely needs fixing.
Yet for all that, the obstinate old qualities in Mourinho’s Chelsea remain. They may not be pretty to watch on nights like these but they served a cold reminder to Arsenal, and their resurgent new team, that these are the kind of obstacles that they will have to overcome if they have their eye on that first title since Mourinho first pitched up in England.

Match facts
Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Szczesny; Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs; Arteta, Ramsey; Walcott, Ozil, Rosicky; Giroud.
Substitutes not used: Fabianski (gk), Monreal, Jenkinson, Flamini, Cazorla, Bendtner, Podolski
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Mikel, Lampard; Ramires, Willian, Hazard; Torres.
Substitutes not used: Schwarzer (gk), Cole, Luiz, Schurrle, Mata, Oscar, Eto'o.

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Express:
Arsenal 0 - Chelsea 0: All square at the Emirates
ARSENE WENGER has outlasted 11 Chelsea managers, but the one he cannot get the better of is Jose Mourinho. Ten times he has faced him and is yet to taste victory.
By: Simon Yeend
Wenger knew a win for Arsenal last night at the Emirates would take his side back to the top of the table.
He was left frustrated as his team were choked by Chelsea, failed to force a save out of Petr Cech until the 85th minute and got involved in a physical battle that generally they came out of second best.
Referee Mike Dean was the pantomime villain for the Arsenal fans, failing to send off John Obi Mikel for a challenge on Mikel Arteta.
A point is not a disaster for either team and takes Arsenal level with Liverpool at the top, but will taste sweeter for Mourinho.
But there is a feeling that the capital’s title challenge is losing momentum as Liverpool and Manchester City pick up speed.
Worryingly for Arsenal, they have had three games against Napoli, Manchester City and Chelsea and have not won any of them.
Chelsea stay two points behind in fourth but impressed with their disciplined display.
Wenger wrote in his programme notes: “It’s a time when we can give people some presents, in the form of football that they enjoy.”
What Arsenal fans enjoy is attractive, quickfire, attacking football. And winning.
The Gunners played that free-flowing stuff in their last game and got battered 6-3 by Manchester City as they tried to chase the game.
Last night the result was more important than turning on the style.
Arsenal were without Jack Wilshere, suspended for his middle-finger gesture to the City fans, and Laurent Koscielny, who had not recovered from a gashed knee.
In came Thomas Vermaelen, while Mathieu Flamini dropped to the bench, with Aaron Ramsey playing in a deeper role and Tomas Rosicky on the left.
Mourinho picked his team with containment on his mind – Mikel selected to try to tame Mesut Ozil while Juan Mata was left on the bench along with Oscar. Chelsea strung five across midfield, played deep and closed the space to prevent Arsenal playing between the lines.
This blue blanket ensured a tame start, but matters got spicy when Cesar Azpilicueta went through the back of Ramsey’s legs and Frank Lampard followed moments later sliding in on Bacary Sagna right on the touchline in front of Mourinho.
The Chelsea manager tried to lift Sagna back to his feet, but the Arsenal man was having none of it.
It took Arsenal nearly 25 minutes to create their first opening, with Sagna breaking free on the right and delivering a skidding cross into the area. Fortunately for Chelsea, Gary Cahill was alert at the near post and slid in to clear.
Chelsea went up the other end and fashioned a chance of their own, Ramires heading Willian’s cross over.
In their next attack Chelsea went agonisingly close. Lampard laid it off to Hazard, continued his run and then volleyed the Belgian’s chip on to the underside of the bar.
The game went up a further notch as Cahill caught Rosicky late. And Mikel’s tackle on Arteta drew a furious response from the home fans as he left the Arsenal man writhing.
Arteta went in for the challenge, too, with his studs raised and referee Mike Dean waved play on.
The anguish was doubled for the Arsenal fans as Dean then turned down a penalty appeal when Willian slid into Walcott.
Dean was the centre of attention again midway through the second half with Arteta again the victim of a physical challenge. Ramires was the man in the firing line but after a long pause, Dean produced only a yellow card.
The next confrontation saw Ozil and Branislav Ivanovic going head to head after the Chelsea man cleared the ball with his boot rather too close to Ozil’s chin for his liking. It was catching – Ivanovic going down like an anvil into a mineshaft after being clipped by Rosicky.
Mourinho upped the ante with a theatrical arms raised in mock outrage. Rosicky booked. And a game that could very much be placed in the category – spicy.
Cech did not have a save to make until the 85th minute, but when his moment came he was immense.
Kieran Gibbs and Rosicky linked up well to set up Giroud with a low cross six yards out.
The Frenchman connected but Cech was there to smother and send the ball over the bar.

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Star:

Arsenal 0 - Chelsea 0: Big guns firing blanks

JOSE MOURINHO made it 10 out of 10 as he stretched his unbeaten run against Arsene Wenger last night.
By David Woods

His Chelsea side came away from the Emirates with a goalless draw that stopped Arsenal going back to the top of the Premier League for Christmas.
Mourinho's men could have won it if Frank Lampard's first-half effort had gone in after bouncing down off the bar.
And Olivier Giroud twice could have snatched an Arsenal win.
He miscued horribly 12 minutes from time when put through by Aaron Ramsey, then was blocked out in front of goal by John Terry seven minutes later.
Chelsea had two lucky first-half escapes in the space of a minute as they fought for a foothold.
John Obi Mikel could have been shown red for a high challenge on Mikel Arteta in the 36th minute.
Seconds later Theo Walcott tumbled in the box under a challenge from Willian.
On both occasions referee Mike Dean waved play-on, much to the disgust of Arsenal and Wenger.
But the Blues had the best chance of a tight first-half, when Lampard hit the underside of the bar with a cleanly-hit shot.
Yet on a wet, windy night, this match was often a damp squib with the sides cancelling each other out.
Blues boss Mourinho went for a surprise 4-3-3 formation, which was quickly shifted to 4-5-1 when defending.
After their 6-3 hammering at Manchester City 10 days ago, Wenger's men were never going to be gung-ho, even at home.
Chelsea had a decent opportunity in the sixth minute after Cesar Azpilicueta tackled Walcott and exchanged passes with Eden Hazard.
The Spaniard then picked out Lampard, but he made a mess of his attempted shot.
A minute later Per Mertesacker was sharp enough to dispossess Fernando Torres after he pinched the ball off Ramsey and tried to burst through on goal.
Azpilicueta was lucky to escape a booking for a blatant tap on the right heel of Ramsey in the 12th minute, then Lampard slid in with feet up on Bacary Sagna, who tumbled theatrically, leaving Mourinho unimpressed.
Gary Cahill came to Chelsea's rescue in the 25th minute when an inviting cross from Sagna, who was played in by Ramsey, looked like picking out Giroud but Cahill stretched to intercept for a corner.
Soon after a sharp Chelsea move led to Willian crossing for Ramires to head over, with the midfielder needing to have been a couple of inches taller to capitalise.
Lampard came close to scoring in the 32nd minute after a wonderful flicked-up pass from Hazard bounced invitingly in front of him 20 yards out.
He took his time to shoot on the half-volley.
When he did the connection was a good one, but it struck the underside of the bar then bounced down two feet in front of the goal-line.
Torres then turned neatly and shot straight at Wojciech Szczesny with his left foot and Mertesacker rushed in to block when he tried again from the opposite side of goal.
Mikel was fortunate to escape censure after his sliding tackle saw him go in studs up on Arteta and catch the Spaniard high on the shin.
Then a clumsy challenge by Willian on Walcott saw the Brazilian catch the off-balance winger and trip him.
The contact was light but it was there, but referee Dean waved play on.
A Chelsea breakaway ended with a disappointing attempted curler from the left by Willian which was easily taken by Szczesny.
Cahill then blocked a shot from Mesut Ozil and Tomas Rosicky volleyed well wide from the follow-up.
The Blues should have done better in the 66th minute when Willian had Ramires and Hazard free in the box to his left.
But his ball was behind Ramires and Hazard looked surprised when it came to him and miscontrolled it for a goal-kick.

ARSENAL: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Ramsey, Arteta, Walcott, Ozil, Rosicky, Giroud. Subs: Podolski, Monreal, Cazorla, Flamini, Fabianski, Bendtner, Jenkinson.

CHELSEA: Cech, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta, Mikel, Lampard, Ramires, Willian, Hazard, Torres. Subs: Cole, Luiz, Mata, Oscar, Schurrle, Schwarzer, Eto'o.
Referee: Mike Dean.

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