Conte warns players against complacency as Wenger concedes title is ‘Chelsea’s to lose’

Antonio Conte warned his triumphant Chelsea players that he would not permit them to “sleep” on the job, as they remained nine points clear in the Premier League with a dominant 3-1 victory over Arsenal.

A brilliant solo goal from Eden Hazard for Chelsea’s second of the afternoon underscored the superiority of Conte’s team, who are now 12 points clear of third-placed Arsenal.

Their manager said that his experience of disappointment during his playing career, including three Champions League final defeats, meant that he was well-placed to guard against complacency as Tottenham, who beat Middlesbrough 1-0, emerged as their closest competitors.

“I won’t sleep and I don’t want my players to sleep,” said Conte. “This is important. In my squad I have a lot of players with good experience because they have won a lot in their careers. They know that until now we haven’t won a title. It is important to recognise this and keep the antennae very high.

“In my career in football I won a lot but I lost a lot. I lost three Champions League finals [1997, 1998, 2003] and I won only one [1996]. I still have that hunger. I won a title with four games left to play. Another time I lost one in the same way. I have a lot of experience to manage this season and to keep the antennae high.” He praised Hazard’s brilliant second-half goal, but also his defensive discipline, and his “concentration and determination”. Arsène Wenger, the Arsenal manager, conceded his team had not performed to their best but argued that Marcos Alonso’s first goal for Chelsea should not have been allowed to stand because of an elbow on Héctor Bellerín that left the right-back concussed and unable to play on. Wenger said: “One of the peculiarities of the game today is that referees are much more severe with tackles on the ground and let much more go with elbows in the face. It’s not only today, but in many, many games I see that. But it’s more dangerous to hit the head than the legs.”

Wenger, whose side remain a point ahead of fourth-placed Liverpool after Jürgen Klopp’s men lost 2-0 at Hull City, said that Bellerín had to come off on the advice of the medical team. He was struck a second before Chelsea’s goal and was unable to give the correct scoreline during treatment on the pitch. Conte said that the goal was typical of many challenges in England and was rightly allowed to stand. “In this league it is always a goal. Excuse me, I cannot be told that in England it is a foul. Alonso jumped more than Bellerín and scored a goal. To hear this [that it was a foul] in England – I’m surprised. In Italy? Maybe [it would be disallowed].” Substitute Cesc Fabregas added a third before Olivier Giroud scored a consolation goal in injury time.

“Certainly, individually, we were not at our best in some positions,” Wenger said. “It’s very difficult to speak about that straight after the game.”

On Chelsea he said: “They look at the moment in full confidence, powerful, strong. They don’t concede goals. It’s for them to lose it. They are in the best position, they don’t play in Europe. They can wait every week for the next game, prepare properly. They are in a very, very strong position. Where does that leave us? To focus and prepare to win the next game. That’s what football is about.”