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Hello, and welcome to our second Premier League liveblog of the day. You can read the first one here.
We’ll have the team news for you shortly.
Here are today’s teams…
If you thought Chelsea’s performance against United last week was negative, today they are playing without a recognised striker today.
Expect a similarly cagey affair as a result.
(Scarves and facemasks on sale outside the ground before the game)
In case anyone needed a reminder…
We’re underway…
Perhaps unsurprisingly, it’s been a fairly uneventful start.
Chelsea have began with the expected element of caution in their play.
Arsenal win a free kick in a dangerous area.
However, Courtois comfortably collects Cazorla’s ensuing free kick, which lacks the power or accuracy to trouble him.
Cazorla’s corner narrowly misses the head of an onrushing Arsenal player.
Arsenal are just beginning to establish a bit of dominance now.
As I type however, Bellerin tugs Oscar slightly, and the Brazilian goes down theatrically in the box.
It would have been a soft penalty, but the Arsenal defender took a risk there.
It’s been a feisty enough start to this match.
Coquelin has just been penalised for a fairly rough tackle on Fabregas.
Meanwhile, down the other end, Giroud juggles the ball with his feet in the box, but can’t quite work an opening to get a clean shot on target.
It’s been an exciting, high-octane opening to this game.
Great goal-line clearanace from Bellerin.
Oscar beats the offside trap and is taken out by the goalkeeper Ospina as he helps the ball towards goal, only for the full-back to save the day.
Arsenal were probably fortunate not to concede a penalty there.
(Chelsea and Arsenal players observe a minute’s silence prior to kick off to commemorate the Bradford City fire anniversary)
Chelsea have had 45% possession so far, so they haven’t been as low compared with last week as of yet.
The referee has risked enraging Jose Mourinho once again.
Fabregas goes down under Cazorla’s challenge inside the box and is book for an alleged dive.
Cazorla stuck his foot out, but Fabregas appeared to be playing for the penalty, so it could have gone either way.
Ozil crosses to Giroud, but the striker’s subsequent volley goes well over.
The Frenchman is not happy when the ref gives a goal kick, as he feels John Terry got a touch on his strike.
Arsenal continue to probe, but are struggling to break down Chelsea’s defence, which is looking rock solid as usual.
The Blues have had considerably less possession as expected, but look far more dangerous on the counter-attack.
Here’s one of those Chelsea penalty claims…
https://vine.co/v/eWraJID7g03
This time it’s Arsenal’s turn to feel hard done by.
Cazorla’s shot hits Cahill’s arm in the box, though it’s from very close range, so there’s a case to say it’s accidental.
Great through ball from Willian to Ramires, but the Brazilian midfielder’s finish is tame.
Chelsea will be disappointed not to be ahead at this stage — they’ve been the sharper team in attack.
(A Chelsea fan shows her support with a team flag in the stands)
Arsenal have enjoyed a good spell in recent minutes, but Chelsea continue to remain resolute.
Most recently, a goalmouth scramble ends with the ball falling to Ozil, but the German international’s shot is straight at Courtois.
HALF-TIME: ARSENAL 0-0 CHELSEA
Half-time and it’s been a fascinating game to watch.
Chelsea surely should have had at least one penalty, when Oscar was taken out by the keeper, while Arsenal also had a decent claim for one with Cahill’s handball.
The Blues have probably edged the half in terms of chances, but their rivals have had the better possession and territory.
His team selection suggests Mourinho would be happy enough with a draw, while Arsene Wenger will surely be privately eager to end his terrible record against the Portuguese manager.
Consequently, the Gunners may well put an increased emphasis on attack in the second period, whereas Chelsea may become even more cautious as they look to preserve their considerable lead over their opponents in the table.
Referee Michael Oliver has been the centre of attention owing to some controversial decisions in the first half.
The second half is underway…
Didier Drogba is on in place of Oscar, who reportedly suffered from concussion after his collision with Ospina earlier.
Now Ospina is down receiving treatment, after claiming the ball and subsequently colliding with both Koscielny and Fabregas.
He looks okay to continue though.
Amazing!
Fabregas trips Alexis Sanchez on the edge of the box and gives away a free kick.
The Spanish international needs to be careful, as he’s already on a booking.
Roman Abramovich is in the building.
It’s been a slightly less frenetic opening to the second half compared with the first.
The match is still as delicately poised as ever, however.
The ball falls to Ramsey after good work from Sanchez to dispossess a Chelsea defender, but Azpilicueta makes a timely interception before the Welsh international can shoot.
That’s just one example of the tremendous pressure the Chelsea backline have been putting on their opponents throughout the match.
Chelsea are increasingly dropping deep.
It seems as if they’re definitely happy to settle for a point with just over 20 minutes remaining.
Willian is booked for kicking Koscielny in the face. It’s careless but looks accidental, so probably the correct decision.
From the subsequent free kick, Courtois can only parry the ball to Metrtesacker on the edge of the area, but the German defender drags his shot wide.
(A pic of that unfortunate collision between Koscielny and Ospina)
Ivanovic is finally booked for a nasty clip of Sanchez’s ankles.
The defender is lucky to still be on the pitch, given the amount of bad fouls he has racked up.
Down the other end, a Drogba snapshot is deflected wide.
The ball is played in to Cazorla, but the Spaniard fails to hit the target, dragging his shot from just outside the box well wide.
In response, Wenger makes a decidedly attack-minded substitution, with Welbeck replacing Coquelin.
Arsenal are putting more and more pressure on Chelsea, and are controlling the game.
The Blues won’t be overly concerned however, as they’ve been in a similar position so many times this season.
The crowd are growing increasingly frustrated as a result of the home side’s failure to break down a defensive wall that looks impenetrable at times.
Courtois is down receiving treatment after an awkward fall while catching the ball from a corner.
Meanwhile, Arsenal introduce Walcott in place of Giroud.
Bellerin plays it into the area, but Chelsea manage to clear nervously.
It’s properly backs-to-the-wall defending for the visitors at this stage, but they have roughly five more minutes to hold on.
Ramsey has been booked for a blatant tug back, amid howls of disappointment from the crowd.
As we enter into stoppage time, there is now a feeling of resignation around the Emirates.
Meanwhile, Fabregas is roundly booed as he comes off, with Zouma taking his place.
Good chance for Arsenal.
Monreal gets behind the Chelsea backline, and his cross somehow eludes both Ozil and Welbeck.
Cuadrado replaces Willian, as Chelsea look to kill more time.
Monreal is booked for a cynical challenge on Ramires.
This game is petering out now, presumably much to Mourinho’s delight.
FULL-TIME: ARSENAL 0-0 CHELSEA
Chelsea players look delighted amid the final whistle.
It was clear from the Blues’ starting lineup that the visitors were not exactly going out of their way to win this game, and so it’s hardly a surprise that they’re happy with the outcome.
It could have been even better for Mourinho’s men, as they were denied at least one clear penalty, but the hosts were also the subject of some contentious decisons — they too could have had a penalty when Cahill appeared to handball Cazorla’s shot, while Ivanovic was lucky to stay on the field following a couple of bad fouls.
Overall, 0-0 is probably a fair result. Arsenal dominated possession and territory, but didn’t create enough chances to win the game, while Chelsea threatened sporadically, but their conspicuously negative approach meant they were searching for a goal in hope rather than expectation.
Right, that’s all for now. Thanks for reading and commenting.
We’ll have more reaction to come.
