Published 12/27/2010 4:54:16 PM by Shane Barrow from soccermogul

Arsenal sent a message to the English Premier League Monday at the Emirates.  They are for real and should be considered contenders.  Chelsea, on the other hand, continued their run of poor play and the defending champions are in real real trouble.

It was a cagey and cautious opening thirty minutes as neither side wanted to make the mistake to let the other one off on a good footing.  There was not even a shot on frame as the play mostly stayed in the midfield.  As the half wound down Arsenal began to turn the screws.  More possession and probing led to the breakthrough as Arsenal pushed through the middle of the Chelsea defense to take the lead in the 45th minute.

On the goal, Cesc Fabregas looked to have gotten free just inside the Chelsea penalty area.  He was tripped up, but Alex Song was on the spot and he fired it home past a diving Petr Cech.  The game went to halftime with Arsenal on their toes and Chelsea clearly dejected.

My oh my how the game would open up in the second half.  Chelsea looked like had stayed in the locker room as Arsenal ran wild.  The Emirates crowd were in the clouds as Arsenal snatched two goals in the opening 8 minutes after the break and were suddenly ahead 3-0.  Theo Walcott was in on both as he assisted the second and scored the third.

Chelsea were clearly in a bad way now.  Malouda was replaced and Ivanovic grabbed one back for the visitors in the 56th.  Could Chelsea claw their way back?  The Emirates crowd was on edge.

Chelsea nearly made it 3-2 in the 90th, but Kalou was well offside and the goal was called back.  In the end, the fightback was not to be and Arsenal were desreved 3-1 victors.  Chelsea dip further falling six points behind Manchester United while Arsenal put themselves solidly in the top 3 of the EPL.

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