Stalemate at the Emirates as Wenger rues late misses

ARSENAL 0 CHELSEA 0
By Ricky Butler at the Emirates



Olivier Giroud missed late chances to give Arsenal victory last night

IT WAS a case of Bah Humbug for Arsene Wenger last night as he was once again unable to get one over on old foe Jose Mourinho.

In a game of precious few chances, Frank Lampard hit the bar for Chelsea in the first half while Olivier Giroud missed two late chances for the Gunners which would have seen them top the table at Christmas.

But Wenger was left frustrated after his side were denied a first half penalty when Theo Walcott was clipped in the area by Willian.

He said: "It was a penalty, 100%. I have regrets because I felt on points we should have won this game. The game was locked tactically by Chelsea.

"We were a bit edgy at the start because of our last result and it took us a while to get going. We were maybe less fluent than we can be. We played maybe with the handbrake because we knew we had not to lose this game."

But in truth neither side really did enough to earn three points where fear of losing became more important than winning.

In wet and windy conditions it took over half an hour for an opportunity to be created. Eden Hazard's lovely ball over the top of the Arsenal defence was met with a sweet volley from Lampard but the ball crashed out from the underside of the crossbar.

Then came the controversy. Jon Obi Mikel was late and over the top on Mikel Arteta on half way but referee Mike Dean allowed play to go on, and after Mesut Ozil had fed Theo Walcot inside the area, Willian clipped the England winger.

Dean again angered the home crowd by waving away their appeals for a penalty and a disappointing half drew to a close with a poor effort from Willian on the counter attack.

The second half promised better but failed to deliver. The game become a war of attrition with Ozil and Branislav Ivanovic squaring up at one point and that summed up the evening.

But Wenger's side could have nicked all three points in the closing stages. Tomas Rosicky, in for the suspended Jack Wilshere, fed Aaron Ramsey who's lovely ball fell perfectly to the left foot of Giroud. But with only Petr Cech to beat the Frenchman lashed his shot wide of the near post.

Then with less than five minutes remaining, Rosicky combined with Kieran Gibbs down the left and this time Giroud was denied by the knee of the Chelsea goalkeeper from inside the six-yard box.

Mourinho made his intentions clear by replacing Fernando Torres with defender David Luis in the closing stages and what they had they held.

"It was a game where both want to win," said the Chelsea boss. "But it was a game where both teams don't want to lose.

"For us it was more important not to lose. If we lose we go to five points behind the leader and with this result we keep two points distance.

"We controlled the game with a very good defensive concentration and stability. OK, we don't go to Christmas as leaders, but we go with evolution because last season the championship was already lost by this point. Now, we are there."

In terms of the title race, this draw means that just two points now separate the top five.

Mourinho said: "It is a unique situation, an unbelievable championship because we are all there. Manchester United and Tottenham are not in this top four but they should be."

Wenger, meanwhile, said: "It is very interesting. It will be very tight. It will come down to the team who is most consistent. For everyone who follows the Premier League it is interesting."

Unlike this game.

Arsenal are next in action on Boxing Day away at West Ham while Chelsea face Swansea City at Stamford Bridge.

ARSENAL - Szczesny, Sagna, Mertersacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Arteta, Ramsey, Walcott, Rosicky, Ozil, Giroud.

CHELSEA - Cech, Ivanovic, Terry, Cahill, Azpiliquerta, Mikel, Ramires, Lampard, Willian (Oscar, 77), Hazard (Schurrle, 73), Torres (David Luiz 87).

REFEREE - M. Dean

ATTENDANCE: 60,039