Chelsea took a step closer to the Premier League title on Sunday with a hard-fought 0-0 draw away to Arsenal.
The Gunners enjoyed more of the possession and had the better chances during the game, but a robust defensive display from the visitors secured them a share of the spoils.
While Chelsea remain on course to be crowned champions of England, the stalemate has all but ended Arsenal's hopes of lifting the trophy.
Read Sports Mole's minute-by-minute report below to find out how all of the action unfolded at the Emirates Stadium.
Welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League meeting between Arsenal and Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium.
Jose Mourinho has had a firm grip on the title since the turn of the year, and he travels to North London this afternoon in the knowledge that his side can shake off the last remaining challengers for the crown that they last lifted back in 2010.
It will be no easy challenge, though, as they come up against an Arsenal side buoyed by a run of eight-successive wins in the top flight. The 10-point gap that the Gunners must make up on the current leaders can be cut a little further with another three-point haul on their home turf, but the Blues have shown in recent weeks that they are experts at getting the job done.
They might not be playing at quite the same level as witnessed earlier this season, but Chelsea are the most efficient side in the league at picking up points on a consistent basis. It all comes down to a perfect blend between defence and attack, with the Blues boasting the second best records in both of those departments throughout the division.
Mourinho's men have avoided defeat in the league since January, which goes a long way to highlighting just how superior they have been this term. A 5-3 defeat just up the road at White Hart Lane at the turn of the year looked as though it would spark a blip of some sort, but Chelsea have shown little signs of weakness to continue ticking along in a ruthless manner.
They also boast the best away for in the Premier League, too, having lost just two games on their travels. Yet that is not to say that there has not been any negatives in recent times, with their recent Champions League exit certainly leaving a sour taste in the mouth. Mourinho's charges were strong favourites to overcome Paris Saint-Germain over two legs, but they wilted away in dramatic circumstances to crash out before the quarter-final stage.
Of course, a Premier League and League Cup double will go a long way to softening the blow of a disappointing campaign on the European stage. Victory over Spurs at Wembley last month got the ball rolling in terms of silverware for the season, and now that top-flight crown is well within reach. A defeat here this afternoon will destabilise things somewhat, but it would take a real disaster to step the West London outfit from finishing top of the pile.
Make no mistake about it, this is one of the best sides put together in the Premier League era, combining a steady defence and impressive attacking lineup to help brush away all before them. Mourinho started assembling the missing pieces to the title-winning jigsaw this time last year following a defeat at Crystal Palace, which left him highly critical of his players.
A group of players who "lacked balls", in the written words of the Portuguese at least, succumbed to defeat at Selhurst Park on an afternoon which saw Chelsea largely dominate the chances. In came Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas, among others, to help turn last season's side that fell so short, into a title-winning machine.
The all-round attacking ability of this player has also helped Chelsea on their way, of course, with 13 goals and eight assists in the league likely to see Eden Hazard crowned the PFA Player of the Year this evening:
He has so often proved to be the player with the ability to break down even the most stubborn of defences, scoring the crucial goals - including last week's strike against Manchester United - to help Chelsea on their way. Throw in the goal's of another Player of the Year contender in Costa, the assists from Fabregas and the defensive stability provided by John Terry, and you have the perfect spine to push on and taste success.
Speaking of Fabregas, this is set to be a special occasion for the Spaniard on his first return to the Emirates Stadium since leaving the club in 2011. During his time in North London, the Spaniard featured 212 times for Arsenal in the Prem, scoring 35 goals and adding a further 70 assists to his tally.
A return to his Catalonia home was understandable, although the manner in which he apparently went on strike to orchestrate the move did not go down all that well with supporters of his form side. It was hardly surprising to see that anger grow, then when it was confirmed he would join Chelsea last year. Three goals and a further 16 assists to his name so far, Fabregas has proved to be another shrewd piece of business by Mourinho.
He will come up against an Arsenal this afternoon who are very much in form following a run of eight league wins on the bounce. That has, understandably so, made them the division's hot team right now in the form table, with today's opponents sitting second having taken a total of 16 points from their last six outing.
Going further back, it is 11 wins from 12 for the Gunners in league competition; 11 victories in succession if you only include domestic games. Of course, there was a catastrophic Champions League collapse in the middle of this impressive run, which has soured the mood just a little as we enter the final throes of the campaign.
It means that, despite racking up eight wins from eight, there is still pressure lingering on Arsene Wenger at this moment in time. The Wenger-out brigade were certainly out in full force earlier this season following a terrible start to things, but he has more than steadied the ship in recent weeks by taking Arsenal temporarily up to second place and into another FA Cup final.
The big question being asked this week is whether Arsenal have truly actually improved since last season. A second-placed finish would certainly suggest so, but the facts and figures show that there is still a long way to go before they are truly challenging for European honours alongside the domestic title.
Perhaps today will help us to answer that question with a little more clarity. Arsenal's record against the so called fellow big boys in the league has been nothing short of abysmal in recent years, but that has certainly improved of late. Victories away at Manchester United and Manchester City this year have seemingly ended the Gunners' hoodoo, yet they still struggle to get the better of their London rivals.
More specifically, Arsene Wenger struggles to get the better of Jose Mourinho. This is the Frenchman's 13th head-to-head battle against his opposite number, but not once has he come out on top.
Some of those defeats will have seriously hurt the Arsenal boss, too, including the 6-0 thrashing at Stamford Bridge last season. That was Wenger's 1,000th game in charge of the club; a day to remember turning into one of the most humiliating of his career. Throw a couple of cup final defeats and more than a few league losses into the mix, and you start to understand why the Frenchman has so often taken swipes at the self-proclaimed 'Special One'
Kickoff in North London is now around 80 minutes away, meaning that there is still plenty of time to catch up on some pre-match reading to whet the appetite a little further.
- Arsenal vs. Chelsea: Big-game preview
- Mourinho vs. Wenger: Five of the best
- PFA Player of the Year award: The contenders
I've already picked out some of Chelsea's attacking talent, but Arsenal also boast some impressive names of their own. Not least Alexis Sanchez, who is expected to push Hazard all the way in this evening's PFA awards. Some players require time to adapt to their new surroundings, but the Chilean has instantly won over Gunners supporters with his tireless workrate and incredible appetite for the game.
Of course, that is only half the story - showing commitment is one thing, but actually turning ability into success is another. Alexis has certainly done that, claiming a combined 22 goals and assists so far this season from his 29 Premier League appearances. The former Barcelona man was always expected to hit the ground running following his high-profile switch from the Camp Nou, but it is fair to say that he has exceeded most peoples' expectations in his first campaign on these shores.
One man who often goes under the radar somewhat when it comes to picking out key players is Olivier Giroud. The Frenchman is often criticised for failing to score goals against the fellow top sides, but surely his goalscoring record at this level speaks for itself. He also has the ability to score all types of different goals, making him a useful option for the likes of Alexis, Mesut Ozil, Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey to link-up with.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS: As already touched on, Arsenal have not had a great deal of joy against Chelsea in recent times. Just two wins from the last 12 against their London rivals, the Gunners so often struggle to get the better of the Blues. Wenger's men have also failed to taste success at home in this fixture since 2010, while they did not even have a shot on target in the reverse meeting.
What does work in Arsenal's favour this afternoon, other than their incredible run of form in the league, is their imperious home record over the past few months. The Gunners have lost just one home game all season, while they have not dropped a single point at the Emirates since back in November. That improved rate of success against the likes of Man United and Man City also stands them in good stead heading into this crucial clash.
On the flip side, and continuing with this theme of Arsenal struggling against their old foes, the Premier League's third-placed side have failed to find the net in any of their last four meetings against Chelsea. Across the same time-frame, the Blues have bagged 10 goals of their own to highlight their dominance a little more.
DID YOU KNOW? Sunderland are the only side to stop Chelsea scoring in all competitions this season. That surprise goalless draw was very much a one off, though, with the goals flowing in large throughout the campaign. That said, Mourinho's men have not won by more than a single goal in the Prem since mid-January.
Right, the team news is about to start filtering through, so let's take a look at how these two sides line up for this one...
TEAM NEWS!
ARSENAL STARTING XI: Ospina, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Cazorla, Ramsey, Ozil, Alexis, Giroud
CHELSEA STARTING XI: Courtois, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta, Matic, Fabregas, Ramires, Oscar, Willian, Hazard
Let's start by taking a look at the home side, then, and there is some good news at the back with experienced centre-back Per Mertesacker overcoming an ankle knock in time to feature. He will line up in a back four including Hector Bellerin, Laurent Koscielny and Nacho Monreal, while David Ospina returns between the sticks.
In all, Wenger has made four changes to his starting lineup for the visit of Chelsea. As well as Ospina, Bellerin and Monreal returning to the side, Giroud is also handed a central attacking role at the expense of Danny Welbeck.
That means an untouched midfield combination of Francis Coquelin, Aaron Ramsey, Santi Cazorla, Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez, who have each thrived in their individual roles over the past few weeks. Coquelin and Cazorla will sit deep, the latter building attacks from his position in front of the back four, while Ramsey is likely to be station out on the flank. That gives room for Alexis and Ozil to create behind Giroud, who has scored 10 goals in his last 12 goals.
Interestingly, it appears as though Eden Hazard is going to be fielded as Chelsea's most advanced player this afternoon due to injury problems elsewhere. Costa has not shaken off his troublesome hamstring problem in time, while Didier Drogba, so often a menace against Arsenal, is only fit enough for a place on the bench.
Elsewhere, Ramires and Willian have both been brought back into the fold for the trip to North London, with Kurt Zouma making way. The Blues' defence remains unchanged for the fourth game in succession, meanwhile, with PFA Team of the Year members John Terry, Gary Cahill and Branislav Ivanovic - three of six Chelsea players to make the cut - all lining up at the back.
Kickoff at the Emirates Stadium is now around 45 minutes away:
Okay, so we have had an in-depth look at how both teams will line up from the start, so let's now check the substitutes available to the London rivals...
BENCH WATCH!
ARSENAL SUBS: Szczesny, Debuchy, Gibbs, Flamini, Wilshere, Walcott, Welbeck
CHELSEA SUBS: Cech, Filipe Luis, Zouma, Mikel, Loftus-Cheek, Cuadrado, Drogba
So as expected, Wojciech Szczesny will have to make do with a spot on the substitutes' bench for this game following his Wembley cup exploits last time out. He is joined by full-backs Kieran Gibbs and Mathieu Debuchy, while Jack Wilshere and Mathieu Flamini provide some cover in midfield. Theo Walcott and Danny Welbeck are also among the matchday 18, with both capable of filling in out wide or up top should they be required.
As far as Chelsea are concerned, well they have a player who Arsenal fans just love to hate in shape of Didier Drogba. He tends to score against the Gunners every time he runs out against them, and with no striking option in the starting XI this afternoon, it would not be at all surprising to see him given a run-out at some stage. Juan Cuadrado is still settling into life in English football, but this might also be an occasion to unleash him should the contest remain tight.
UPDATE: Manchester United have fallen to a heavy defeat at Goodison Park in the day's earlier kickoff. Goals from James McCarthy, John Stones and Kevin Mirallas helped a rejuvenated Everton side on their way, while condemning Louis Van Gaal's top-four chasers to a 3-0 reverse.
That does not change a great deal in terms of the outlook of this afternoon's big clash at the Emirates Stadium, as Arsenal are realistically the only side capable of halting Chelsea in their tracks anyway. Arsenal have been pushed down to third place in the table this weekend, one point below Man City, but victory will take them back up to second by 6pm this evening.
Right, I'm now going to pass the baton over to Jack Prescott, who will guide you through the rest of the day's action in the Premier League.
Hello there! Anticipation is certainly buidling for this afternoon's match between these rivals, so let's get a few words from the managers...
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger: "Sunday's match is not about the relationship between managers - it is about watching a good game. Chelsea are the most consistent team. [They are] defensively strong. We will adapt to whatever they do and find a solution to every problem we face.
"We have been close to beating them a few times. The result on Sunday will just be down to the performance on the day. We're on a good run, we're at home and we have the opportunity to beat them, so we want to take it. We have passed many tests recently. We have another test on Sunday against Chelsea that we want to pass."
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho: "For me, he is not my rival, he is the manager of a big club in the same city where I work and live. It is a big club with the same objectives we have. Because of that always comes a bit of rivalry, but for me it is not different from when I was at Inter with the Milan manager or at Real with the Atletico manager."
REFEREE WATCH: One man who will have a key role to play in this afternoon's match is referee Michael Oliver. These games tend to have one or two flashpoints and we're expecting no different today. A calm head will certainly be needed at the Emirates Stadium over the course of the next 90 minutes. For the record, Oliver has dished out 85 yellow cards and five red cards in 24 games this season.
It's certainly difficult to predict how today's clash is going to play out. Arsenal will be expected to take the game to their opponents, but it's unclear just how Chelsea will approach the encounter. A starting lineup with no recognised striker suggests that Jose Mourinho will adopt a defensive style.
While it is always risky to consult the form book, Arsenal's imperious record over the past few weeks would point to a victory for the home side. Chelsea have stuttered in their bid for the title in recent weeks, and they could well end up leaving the Emirates empty-handed this afternoon. If push came to shove, Sports Mole reckons that the Gunners will edge this one.
There's not really such a thing as a neutral in football these days, but an Arsenal win this afternoon would certainly spice up the Premier League title race. Chelsea would still remain favourites to be crowned champions were that to happen, but it could set up a very interesting finale to the campaign.
The players from both sides are starting to emerge in the tunnel at the Emirates Stadium as we edge closer to kickoff. There are plenty of intense faces among them, you can be sure of that. Not long to go now.
And here they come!
KICKOFF! The teams are out, the pre-match handshakes have been done, and it will be Chelsea to get us underway. Here we go!
It's been a positive start from Chelsea, who have seen plenty of the ball during the opening stages. Fabregas has received a few boos from the Arsenal fans when he's gained possession, though that's unlikely to affect the Spaniard.
Arsenal come fighting back as Sanchez's shot is deflected behind for a corner, but the visitors do just about enough to clear the danger from the resulting set piece. The Gunners have been lively when they've got forward, with Sanchez in particular looking up for it.
PENALTY APPEAL! Chelsea want a penalty as Oscar goes down under a challenge from Bellerin, but Michael Oliver isn't interested. That could have gone either way because it looked as if the Chelsea midfielder had his heels clipped.
There's been a great flow to this game so far, with both teams showing lots of attacking intent. Arsenal are probably looking a bit more incisive at the moment though. Meanwhile, Coquelin lets Hazard know that he's there by clattering into the Belgian.
A bit of a half-chance for the hosts as Giroud manages to head the ball towards goal inside a crowded penalty area, only for Courtois to save the effort comfortably.
As you might expect, Chelsea have been very disciplined at the back so far. The Blues have been ruthless in defence for most of the season, truth be told. Arsenal are having some joy down the flanks, but their crosses are being cleared time and again by the visitors.
CHANCE! Chelsea come close to opening the scoring as Oscar latches onto a long ball before heading past the onrushing Ospina, but Bellerin is there to clear the effort off the line. Could that have been a penalty? Ospina clattered into Oscar as the Brazilian headed the ball beyond him. It would have been right to have let play continue had the ball gone in, but Michael Oliver could well have pulled play back because Chelsea didn't gain any advantage there. Mourinho isn't happy.
It remains a fascinating encounter because no-one is dominating play at the moment. It's end-to-end football being played at a frantic pace.
Arsenal try to force the issue as Monreal's floated cross from the left is attacked by Giroud, but Terry gets there first to nod clear. The Chelsea skipper has been impressive so far. Heading and blocking everything that's come his way. For all of their zippy build-up play, Arsenal haven't done a great deal inside the opposition box.
YELLOW CARD! A huge cheer goes up inside the Emirates as Fabregas is booked for diving. The Arsenal fans like that decision. The midfielder went down on the edge of the box following an attempted challenge from Cazorla, but Michael Oliver took the decision to book the Chelsea man instead. Was it a fair decision? It looked like there may have been minimal contact, though Fabregas threw himself to the ground a bit too easily.
An unusually bad touch from Sanchez sees the ball run out of play for a goal kick following a slick move from Arsenal. The hosts have shown no fear in getting forward whenever they can, but that final touch is still missing.
The hosts are starting to control possession as we head into the final 15 minutes of the half. Sanchez remains an integral part to the Gunners attack, but Monreal has also impressed with his running down the left. The Spanish full-back has offered his side a good outlet on the left side and has put some decent crosses into the box.
PENALTY APPEAL! Arsenal are screaming for a penalty as Cahill blocks Cazorla's shot, only for the referee to wave play on. Replay show that the ball did his the centre-back's hand, but he knew very little about it. The ball came at him from a short distance.
YELLOW CARD! Arsenal midfielder Coquelin gets his name in the book for pulling back Hazard with Chelsea looking to break.
CHANCE! Out of nowhere, Chelsea almost get their noses in front. Willian does well to run at the Arsenal defence before playing a one-two with Ramires. Willian gets the ball back in the area, but his poked effort is easily saved by Ospina. It would have been a lovely goal had it gone in.
Arsenal threaten again as Cazorla picks out Sanchez on the edge of the box. However, the Chilean scuffs his effort the wrong side of the post. The home side are really cranking up the pressure now, though Chelsea are still posing a threat on the counter-attack.
Sanchez is in the thick of the action again, holding the ball up on the edge of the box before trying to find Giroud with a clever backheel. It's a cute idea from the forward, but his pass fools everyone and goes out of play for a goal kick.
CHANCE! Arsenal as questions of the Chelsea defence once more, this time through Ozil, who gets a shot away inside a crowded penalty area. It's a decent strike, but Courtois gets his body behind it.
There will be TWO MINUTES of added time...
HALF TIME: ARSENAL 0-0 CHELSEA
Michael Oliver blows the half-time whistle, bringing the curtain down on a fast-paced opening 45 minutes of football at the Emirates Stadium. The game remains goalless, but it's been full of incident.
Arsenal have been the better side so far, that's for sure. The hosts have looked lively in attack, forcing Chelsea back for prolonged periods of time. Jose Mourinho's team have been dangerous when counter-attacking, though these moments have been few and far between. That said, the visitors have been superb in defence.
We've seen a few penalty shouts so far, but the one that was most interesting was when Oscar was wiped out by Ospina when he headed the ball towards goal. Michael Oliver could well have pointed to the spot because the ball was cleared off the line instead of going in, but he instead decided to allow play to continue. Jose Mourinho may well have something to say about that come the end of the match.
UPDATE! Today's early kickoff in the Premier League saw Everton earn a convincing 3-0 victory over Manchester United at Goodison Park. The Toffees dominated the game and ran out deserved winners in the end. You can read our match report here. Just make sure you come back.
SECOND HALF UNDERWAY! The teams are back out for the second half and it will be Arsenal to kick us off. Chelsea have made a change during the interval, with Didier Drogba replacing Oscar. The Ivorian striker has 13 goals in 14 appearances against the Gunners.
It's been a positive start to the second half for Chelsea as they control the majority of possession. There's no sign that the visitors are adopting a more attacking approach, but they're doing a good job of keeping the ball in Arsenal territory.
A bit of a worry for Arsenal now as Ospina stays down following a collision with Koscielny and Fabregas. However, the goalkeeper looks like he's going to be fine to continue.
Arsenal haven't quite got going in this half so far, but they're keeping pace with their opponents. The hosts win a free kick out on the left that Cazorla floats into the box, though it's an easy one for the Chelsea defence to clear in the end.
WHOOSH! Ozil is caught in possession before Hazard gets on the ball. The Belgian takes a touch, but his effort after that is a poor one that sails high over the crossbar.
This is better from Arsenal. The hosts put some pressure on Chelsea as Giroud tries to pick out Bellerin down the right, only for the ball to go out of play following some steady defensive play from Ivanovic. As was the case in the first half, that final piece of quality just isn't happening for Arsenal at the moment.
Close for Arsenal as Ozil receives the ball down the left before trying to find Ramsey on the edge of the box. The pass takes a nick on the way through, so it takes a while to get to the Welshman. That gives Cahill the time to race out and intercept.
The hosts turn the screw once more as Monreal's cross from the left is cleared by Terry with Sanchez lurking behind him. The resulting corner is whipped into the box by Cazorla, but Courtois does well to come off his line and claim.
CHANCE! Ramsey and Ozil link on the edge of the area, with the former threading a perfectly-weighted pass through to the German. However, Ozil's first touch is poor and Chelsea are able to see out the danger. Arsenal win a corner moments later, but again the set piece is cleared.
CHANCE! Arsenal continue to knock on the Chelsea draw as Courtois punches Cazorla's inswinging free kick straight to Mertesacker, but the German's low drive is dragged the wrong side of the post.
YELLOW CARD! Ivanovic has been treading on thin ice for much of the afternoon and he now goes into the book for hacking down Sanchez from behind.
Arsene Wenger may well be tempted to look to his bench for the final 20 minutes if he wants to win this game. The Frenchman has the likes of Walcott, Wilshere and Welbeck to call upon if he so wishes. Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho could look to Cuadrado for an injection of pace in the final third. More spaces are appearing across the pitch as both sides continue to attack.
ARSENAL SUB: The hosts do indeed make a change as Welbeck replaces Coquelin. That's an attacking switch from Wenger, if ever there was one. Just before the stop in play Cazorla flashed a shot wide of goal following good work by the marauding Koscielny.
You get the feeling that Chelsea would be more than happy to take a point from this game now. They've not shown a great deal of ambition going forward in the last 10 minutes or so. Arsenal have done most of the attacking, but make no bones about it - the visitors have defended magnificently this afternoon.
The Arsenal fans are signing 'boring, boring Chelsea', which gives you some indication as to how the visitors are approaching the game at the moment. Meanwhile, Arsenal surge forward through Welbeck down the right as the substitute's cross is clawed behind by Courtois. Michael Oliver then blows up for an infringement as the resulting corner in pumped into the box.
ARSENAL SUB: The home side shake things up again as Olivier Giroud is replaced by Theo Walcott. Can the England international provide the Gunners with that spark up front?
Arsenal's struggles in attack are summed up Sanchez's clipped ball over the top to Ozil has too much on it and runs through to Courtois. Ramires is then gifted possession deep in Arsenal territory, but the home side recover quickly to nullify the threat.
YELLOW CARD! Ramsey gets a deserved caution from Michael Oliver for pulling back Hazard. Two minutes plus stoppage time remaining at the Emirates Stadium.
CHELSEA SUB: Another swap for Chelsea now as Fabregas is replaced by Kurt Zouma. There are a few boos for the Spaniard as he goes off, but the majority of the Emirates crowd are cheering their former skipper.
There will be FOUR MINUTES of added time...
It's Arsenal who are showing more ambition as we head into the final two minutes of injury time. The Gunners are pushing hard for what would surely be a winning goal. Chelsea try to break up the other end, but their progress is halted when Cazorla is booked for a foul on Hazard.
CHELSEA SUB: The away side's final change sees Juan Cuadrado enter the action in place of Willian.
FULL TIME: ARSENAL 0-0 CHELSEA
The full-time whistle goes and the Chelsea players are celebrating as if they've won the match! They know that they're a step closer to the Premier League title. It was a battling performance from the Blues, who made it so hard for Arsenal to break them down. The Gunners showed more attacking intent throughout the contest, but they just couldn't find the key to unlock the Chelsea defence.
That's all from our live text coverage, but don't forget that you can catch all of the reaction from both teams here on Sports Mole. Thanks for your company, we hope to see you again soon. Goodbye!
