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Chelsea overcame Arsenal 2-0 at Stamford Bridge courtesy of a first half Didier Drogba brace to regain top spot in the Barclays Premier League at the expense of Manchester United. The Gunners had a great chance to draw level in between the Drogba goals, but Petr Cech's legs came to Chelsea's rescue as he denied Andrey Arshavin from close range. Arsenal to their credit huffed and puffed all game, and dominated all the stats as they usually do, except the one that is most important.

Chelsea made two changes from their midweek draw against Hull, with Ashley Cole replacing Yuri Zhirkov at left back and John Obi Mikel coming in place of Deco to counter Arsenal's movement. The West London club opted to play a 4-3-3 that has been so successful for them off late with Nicolas Anelka drifting wide on the right and Florent Malouda providing the width on the left wing. Didier Drogba led the attack through the middle, having found the back of the net 10 times against Arsenal in his last nine games against what is fast becoming "the other London club". John Terry was given a tremendous by the Chelsea faithful, with the fans singing "there's only one England captain", after Terry was stripped of the captaincy earlier this week for his alleged affair with the girlfriend of former team mate Wayne Bridge.

Arsene Wenger stuck to his guns with a 4-3-3 of his own, surprisingly picking a very much out-of-form Theo Walcott on the right side of midfield. Samir Nasri was the other winger with Andrey Arshavin playing as the lone striker. Abou Diaby also made a return to the Arsenal line up in place of Denilson in central midfield, after the young Brazilian had a woeful outing against Manchester United last week. Arsenal for once came into this game with a very strong bench, with Sol Campbell, Nicklas Bendtner and Tomas Rosicky available if necessary.

Chelsea took the lead very early on in game, scoring in just the 8th minute from a corner. John Terry's glancing header was met by Drogba, who had a tap in at the far post to put Ancelotti's side ahead. Gael Clichy, who almost always is the man on the far post on corners was nowhere to be seen as Arsenal were caught cold from the set piece.

Arshavin had a great chance to put Arsenal level in the 17th minute. But his shot from a pin point Cesc Fabregas ball was straight at Petr Cech, allowing the Chelsea stopper a chance to block the shot.

Arsenal were dominating possession but it was Chelsea who scored the 2nd goal on the break in the 23rd minute. Nicolas Anelka made a fantastic run from the middle dragging three Arsenal defenders with him, allowing Drogba time and space to take on Gael Clichy, who he left for dead, and a quick shot with his weaker left foot was into the goal before Thomas Vermaelen and Manuel Almunia could react..

The marauding Ashley Cole was the next to test the Arsenal back four, and only a last ditch tackle from Theo Walcott denied the former Gunner more vengeance. Arsenal went into the break looking absolutely gutted, and it appeared that it was Manchester United all over again.

The Gunners, however, came out for the second half full of passion and drove forward in search of something...anything. For all their fancy dribbling and one touch play, most of the action took place in front of a packed Chelsea midfield, with little or no room to operate. Even when they got into wide positions, the Gunners had no one to really aim at in the box to try and create anything.

Their endeavour was rewarded with some half chances, with Samir Nasri being played through on goal in the 60th minute, but the young Frenchman showed his lack of match sharpness as he failed to take his shot on time, instead dwindling on the ball allowing Chelsea to come back and block what should have been a lifeline for Arsenal.

Arsenal brought on Nicklas Bendtner for Theo Walcott in the 65th minute and Ricardo Carvalho brough down the big Dane on the edge of the box as Arsenal continued to pile on the pressure. Fabregas did finally test Cech for the first time in the second half in the 68th minute from the resulting free kick, but the Czech international got down well, making a good save to his left. Bendtner almost got on the end of a Fabregas knock down, but Cech once again came to Chelsea's rescue, racing off his line to fingertip the ball to safety.

In what was perhaps their only meaningful thrust forward in the second half, Drogba almost completed his hat trick in the 84th minute when he struck one of his trademark free kicks straight against the cross bar. Arsenal could not pose much of a threat in the latter stages with rain falling hard at the Bridge, and the Gunners arguably both physically and mentally spent.

While Chelsea leapfrogged Manchester United back to top place in the Premier League, the result surely means the end of the road for Arsenal's title challenge. The Gunners title credentials were always going to be tested with back-to-back games against Aston Villa, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool, and the North London club have come woefully short once again this season. The fourth part of that incredible quadruple header is midweek against a rejuvenated Liverpool, and Arsenal must be careful not to drop points again, else they will find themselves heading back into the dog fight for Champions League places next season.

Teams:

Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Terry, Carvalho, A Cole, Mikel, Ballack (Zhirkov), Lampard, Malouda, Anelka(J Cole), Drogba

Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna (Eboue), Gallas, Vermaelen, Clichy, Walcott (Bendtner), Song, Fabregas, Diaby (Rosicky), Nasri, Arshavin

Final Score: Chelsea 2-0 Arsenal