Chelsea have taken another step towards the Premier League title after playing out a goalless draw against Arsenal at the Emirates.
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The first effort of the game fell to the hosts, as a Santi Cazorla free kick four minutes in flew kindly into the arms of Thibaut Courtois.
Chelsea appealed for a penalty in the seventh minute when Oscar went down in the box under a challenge from Hector Bellerin, but referee Michael Oliver turned the calls down.
Drama continued to flow at the Emirates as Branislav Ivanovic was lectured for scything down Alexis Sanchez and Courtois sliced a miscued back-pass out of play as Sanchez bore down on him.
There was another penalty call from Jose Mourinho's side just after the quarter-hour mark when goalkeeper David Ospina clattered into Oscar as he was in on goal.
The Brazilian was nevertheless able to get a shot on target that Bellerin cleared off the line as the appeals were once again waved away.
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Arsenal fans cheered when former captain Cesc Fabregas was booked midway through the first half for diving under pressure from Cazorla, but were aggrieved when they had a penalty appeal of their own just after the half-hour mark.
Cazorla was able to get a shot away that appeared to rebound off Gary Cahill's arm at point-blank range, with the referee subsequently opting not to give the Gunners a penalty.
The first half ended on a high as Willian sliced through the Arsenal defence before setting up Ramires, who fired tamely at Ospina, while at the other end, Sanchez and Mesut Ozil came close for Arsene Wenger's charges.
Oscar was withdrawn at the break for Didier Drogba as reports surfaced of the Brazilian suffering a concussion at the hands of Ospina, and Chelsea began brightly after the restart.
The physios had more work to do in the 51st minute after Ospina collided head first with Fabregas as both sets of fans claimed that the other party was guilty of a transgression - Ospina for handling outside the box, Fabregas for the challenge.
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Ozil gave possession away on a number of occasions early on as Eden Hazard claimed the ball from him just before the hour, but the Belgian fired well over the bar.
Aside from that chance, the second half was a more subdued affair, although there was cause for concern for the home fans when Willian teed up Drogba for a shot on the edge of the area, but the Ivorian's effort was weak and easily saved.
Per Mertesacker then blasted the ball wide in the 68th minute after a free kick was poorly punched away by Courtois, while Danny Welbeck missed the chance to give his side the win in injury time, bundling wide from four yards out.
Ultimately neither side could break the deadlock as it finished honours even, Chelsea edging 10 points clear at the summit of the Premier League, while Arsenal remain third.
Giuseppe Labellarte
