Both sides used their allotted number of subs as Arsenal sought a way back in, but Chelsea remained organised and when they did break though, Cech was on hand to prevent Lukas Podolski from scoring with a smart save at close range.
On 90 minutes Welbeck was booked for an ugly challenge on the excellent Fabregas, before Diego Costa had the chance to claim his second of the afternoon, but somehow lifted Branislav Ivanovic’s cross over the bar. He will have been pleased to see the offside flag raised just afterwards.
At the final whistle there were huge celebrations, and we now go into the international break with a healthy lead at the top of the table.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Courtois (Cech 23); Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry (c), Azpilicueta; Matic, Fabregas; Schurrle (Mikel 68), Oscar (Willian 86), Hazard; Diego Costa.
Unused substitutes: Filipe Luis, Zouma, Salah, Remy.
Goals Hazard (pen) 27, Diego Costa 77
Booked Cahill 19, Ivanovic 52, Oscar 85
Arsenal (4-3-3): Szczesny; Chambers, Mertesacker (c), Koscielny, Gibbs; Cazorla (Oxlade-Chamberlain 68), Flamini, Wilshere (Rosicky 82); Ozil, Welbeck, Sanchez (Podolski 78).
Unused substitutes: Martinez, Monreal, Coquelin, Campbell.
Booked Chambers 21, Koscielny 26, Welbeck 90
Referee Martin Atkinson
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