Published 2/7/2010 9:56:24 AM by Shane Barrow from soccermogul

It was London derby day as Arsenal visited Chelsea.  Arsenal had been bloodied by Manchester United the week before and were needing a win. Chelsea were after three points to get back over Manchester United and the top spot in the EPL.

Chelsea could not have asked for a better start as John Terry flicked a corner kick to the back post where Didier Drogba volleyed home in the opening minutes of play.  Arsenal would not back down as they pushed the play the next 20 minutes earning several corner kicks and asking questions of Petr Cech.  Ashavin had the best chance getting on the end of a long ball and volleying from close range.  Cech was up to the task though as he made a quick kick save to preserve the lead.

Arsenal looked destined to score, but then it was a lightning Chelsea counter that would change the game.  Arsenal were dispossed at the Chelsea 18 and off they went.  Lampard released Drogba down the right where he raced into the Arsenal penalty area.  A swift cut inside and a wicked left footed blast later and Chelsea doubled their lead.

The wind was clearly out of Arsenal's sails at that point and the match drifted to halftime 2-0 to Chelsea.  The second half was much quieter as Chelsea were content to not push the pace as much.  Instead they pulled back several attacks in favor of holding possession.  Arsenal continued to attack as best they could but never really seemed to have the answer to unlock the tight Chelsea backline. 

An Arsenal freekick forced Cech into a wonderful save in the 64th that could have put the game back on.  Instead Chelsea gathered themselves and absorbed the Arsenal attacks with little trouble.  Didier Drogba almost grabbed his hattrick only to see his effort clang off the crossbar. 

Chelsea moves back over Manchester United to the top of the EPL in what had become a fascinating battle between the two giants.  Meanwhile, Arsenal drift out of the title race with only a draw to show from games against Aston Villa, Manchester United and Chelsea.

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