OF STEAM! STAT ATTACK
CHELSEA: there are 42 points at stake,” he said. Conte believes there are enough experienced players in the squad to help keep a balanced attitude and focus.
“I don’t want my players to slip,” he said. “They know we haven’t won the title yet.
“It’s important to know this because in my career I won a lot but I also lost a lot.”
Conte actually went into this London derby calling – surprisingly – for more tension.
The Chelsea boss wants that around the club to avoid complacency.
And there could have been too much for Conte’s liking if Arsenal had taken a second-minute lead after a careless clearance by Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois.
That led to Alex Iwobi striking the ball towards the far corner of the net from a good position but David Luiz’s vital deflection took the ball inches wide. Arsenal were fired up from the ARSENAL: start illustrated by a heavy challenge from behind by skipper Koscielny on Diego Costa. But they suffered a body blow in the 13th minute as Chelsea took the lead. Costa’s header crashed against the bar and Alonso followed up t o climb high above Hector Bellerin and head home the rebound. Chelsea, watched by Hollywood star Will Ferrell ( l eft) had a great chance to stretch their lead a few minutes later. Pedro was unmarked but Costa hung on to the ball, greedily trying to create a shooting chance for himself. The Spain target man should have been made to pay in the 38th minute when the Gunners had a clear chance to equalise. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain delicately found substitute Gabriel in the clear in the penalty area but his header was turned over the bar by Courtois. And Mesut Ozil wasted another chance for Arsenal when he took too long to get the ball on to his preferred left foot before shooting weakly.
But if Arsenal still had hope, then it disappeared with Hazard’s wonder goal in the 53rd minute.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger sent on Olivier Giroud and Danny Welbeck, who was denied a headed goal by Courtois’ save.
But Arsenal were fortunate to finish the match with 11 men as Gabriel escaped unpunished when he smacked Hazard in the face.
And five minutes from time, Fabregas lobbed home and pointedly did not celebrate against his former club after ex-Chelsea keeper Petr Cech had made a hash of a clearance.
Chelsea were denied their 14th league clean sheet this season – which would have given them the best defensive record in Europe’s top five leagues – when Giroud headed home Nacho Monreal’s cross in in added time.