CHELSEA EDGE CLOSER TO TITLE WITH ARSENAL DRAW

The man selling ‘Chelsea Champions 2015’scarves outsideThe Emirates was a little premature but he is unlikely to be asked for refunds after they ground out a 0-0 Premier League draw atArsenal on Sunday.

Apart from three penalty appeals, the strongest of which saw Arsenal’s goalkeeper clatter into Chelsea’s Oscar in the first half and put the Brazilian in hospital, there was precious little to raise the pulse on a dreary afternoon in north London.

But while Arsenal’s frustrated fans chanted “Boring Boring Chelsea” near the end, Blues boss Jose Mourinho will not care.

He extended his unbeaten record overArsenal managerArseneWenger to 13 matches as Chelsea, with five games left, protected their 10-point advantage over the north Londoners whose eightmatch winning league run came to an end.

“I think boring is 10 years without the title,” Mourinho, whose side are the second-highest scorers in the Premier League this season, told reporters, referring to the last time Arsenal won the Premier League crown. “That’s very boring.”

Chelsea have 77 points from 33 games with thirdplaced Arsenal on 67. Last season’s champions Manchester City also have 67 but have played a game more, while Manchester United have 65.

If Chelsea beat Leicester City on Wednesday they can clinch the title against Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge next Sunday.

While Chelsea look unshakeable at the top, United are suffering some jitters as they bid to secure a top four spot and a return to the Champions League after a season absent.

Louis van Gaal’s side were picked off ruthlessly by a clinical Everton outfit, losing 3-0 at Goodison Park a week after a 1-0 defeat at Chelsea.

First-half goals from James McCarthy and John Stones put Everton in control and substitute Kevin Mirallas sealed victory late on to push Everton into the top half of the table.

Fourth-placed United are seven points above Liverpool, who are fifth, although that gap could be sliced to four if the latter win their game in hand at Hull City on Tuesday.

(REUTERS)