SUMMARY
Arsenal and Chelsea are locked at 0-0 after a frenetic first half at Emirates Stadium saw four penalty appeals turned down.
Oscar went closest to breaking the deadlock, beating David Ospina to Cesc Fabregas' pass only for Hector Bellerin to head clear from inside his six-yard box.
SETTING THE SCENE
That this game was even mooted as a staging post in the title race says everything about Arsenal's form since the turn of the year and, specifically, their run of eight straight league wins.
No team can match the Gunners for points in 2015 but their slow start to the campaign - and Chelsea's recent doggedness despite a drop in form - meant there were still 10 between the sides when they walked out at Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
At the front of the Arsenal line was Per Mertesacker, rated 50:50 as recently as Thursday but passed fit after the medical team went to work on his ankle.
There were still four changes. Wenger opted for his most adventurous right back - Bellerin - and his most reserved left back - Nacho Monreal - while David Ospina and Olivier Giroud came in for Wojciech Szczesny and Danny Welbeck.
The title race may be a foregone conclusion but this was a chance for Wenger to register his first victory over Jose Mourinho and for Arsenal to lay down one of those mythical 'markers' ahead of next season.
The home fans are never short of pantomime villains when Chelsea come to town and on this occasion few were looking beyond former Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas, back in north London in a blue shirt after 303 appearances in red.
But club rivalries were put to one side before kick-off as the Emirates crowd stood to remember the 56 fans who perished in the Bradford fire, 30 years ago.
FIRST HALF
Some games take a while to get going. Not this one.
Arsenal started as if they owed Chelsea one. Chelsea started with the authority of champions-elect. The tempo was high, passes were crisp, tackles were over-zealous. Players and fans alike were pumped up.
Chelsea, with a fluid front three of Oscar, Eden Hazard and Willian keeping the Arsenal defence guessing, popped the ball about with Fabregas to the fore. Alexis was in the thick of it for the home side, whipping in a free-kick that was just too close to Thibault Courtois and seeing a shot deflected wide.
Branislav Ivanovic paid special attention to Alexis, introducing himself with three beefy - and illegal - tackles. Oscar went down under a far lighter challenge from Bellerin but was then clattered by Ospina after beating the goalkeeper to Fabregas' ball over the top. Bellerin raced back to save a certain goal with a clearing header while Oscar screamed for a penalty.
That wasn't given and Fabregas was also refused one halfway through the half, taking a tumble as his right leg fished for a touch from Santi Cazorla that never came. Fabregas went in the book to the derision of the home fans.
Arsenal struggled for openings, crossing to Giroud more in hope than expectation at times. But 11 minutes before the break they sprang into life, Alexis picking out Bellerin's excellent run into the box. The Spaniard was at full stretch to cut the ball back and Cazorla's shot struck Gary Cahill's raised arm. Again, no penalty was given.
That was encouraging but Arsenal were reminded of Chelsea's counter-attacking threat moments later when Willian's progress was unchecked, he released Ramires with a clever pass and the Brazilian's flick was kept out by Ospina.
Alexis shot wide and Ozil tested Courtois before a breathless first half was brought to a close. Goalless, but very entertaining.
Gunners forever
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