Arsenal managed to postpone Chelsea's title celebrations as they refused to
surrender their trophy without one last stand at Stamford Bridge.
But after waiting 50 years for only the second league title in their history,
a delay of another week or two will surely not make that much difference to Jose
Mourinho's side.
For while this goalless draw ensures Chelsea cannot clinch the trophy at home
to Fulham on Saturday, it is surely now only a matter of when, not if, they will
prevail.
With Chelsea's gap maintained at 11 points, with just five games left to play,
Arsenal must beat Tottenham next Monday to extend the Blues' wait beyond their
trip to Bolton the following weekend.
Either way, the title baton is clearly being passed on, although Arsenal
managed to display the kind of resolve at Stamford Bridge that will be needed to
hang onto Ashley Cole, if not the title.
In midfield, Patrick Vieira and Cesc Fabregas tackled voraciously, even if
Frank Lampard matched them step for step in an enthralling personal contest.
And while the Gunners patently lacked the cutting edge of Thierry Henry up
front, Philippe Senderos and Kolo Toure coped manfully with the physical threat
of Didier Drogba.
It was, however, still too little, too late as only victory could have
reignited Arsenal's faint hopes of actually retaining their title for the first
time under Wenger.
Then again, despite Chelsea's clear lead in the title race, they have not
beaten Arsenal in the league since 1995, when Mark Hughes scored the winner and
John Terry was a 14-year-old ballboy.
In the early stages at least, it showed. Arsene Wenger's side were playing for
pride and, while the game lacked the intensity of a title decider, they clearly
dominated the first-half.
With just two minutes gone, Jose Antonio Reyes, of all people, won a header
against Glen Johnson and Robert Pires thundered a volley against the underside
of the bar.
The ball, however, stayed out and Pires wasted an even better chance when he
dragged his shot wide of the far post after Terry's attempted clearance had been
blocked.
While Pires' low shot was also saved by Petr Cech, Arsenal found Terry and
Ricardo Carvalho in a determined mood.
And when they were on the back foot, Mourinho's side actually flourish as they
are allowed to play on the counter-attack.
Indeed, with 31 minutes gone, they broke with characteristic pace as Claude
Makelele fired a swift pass through to Damien Duff, who scampered into space
before slipping the ball to Drogba.
His shot was nevertheless saved by Jens Lehmann with his legs, while Joe Cole
could not quite reach the Chelsea striker's cross soon afterwards.
William Gallas needed to cover across to block Gilberto Silva's path to goal,
but otherwise the home side were growing in stature as the interval approached.
Chelsea's Cole - Joe, that is, not Ashley - shot over the bar from a tight
angle.
The Arsenal full-back, making his 150th league start, was, however, fully
committed to his current side's cause, showing exactly why Chelsea were so keen
to treat him to tea and biscuits.
It was left to Lampard to rally Chelsea by example as he took the ball off
Pires' foot just as the Frenchman was taking aim in front of goal.
He was also there at the other end, firing just inches wide after Drogba's
clever dummy, while the Ivory Coast international also came agonisingly close
from Duff's cutback.
Indeed, now it was Chelsea imposing themselves on the game, with Lampard
flashing a free-kick just wide. Still the deadlock remained though.
Both sides made changes, with the arrivals of Robin van Persie and Jeremie
Aliadiere proving Arsenal's need for victory, while the combative Tiago showed
Chelsea's resolve as he came on for Joe Cole.
And while Mateja Kezman also came on for Duff, whose volley had just been
blocked, and Drogba fired just over the bar, there was no late drama, even if
Wenger became rather rattled on the sidelines.
The champagne, meanwhile, remains on ice - but surely only for a week or two
longer.
Teams:
Chelsea Cech, Johnson, Terry, Gallas, Ricardo Carvalho,
Cole (Tiago 79), Lampard, Makelele, Duff (Kezman 85),
Gudjohnsen (Jarosik 90), Drogba.
Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Huth.
Booked: Cole.
Arsenal Lehmann, Cole, Toure, Senderos, Lauren, Silva,
Fabregas (Aliadiere 81), Vieira, Pires,
Bergkamp (Van Persie 78), Reyes.
Subs Not Used: Edu, Campbell, Almunia.
Booked: Vieira, Pires, Reyes.
Att: 41,621
Ref: S Bennett (Kent).
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