The Special One made changes from the victory over Wigan. Back came Cech, Ferreira returned in place of the injured Del Horno, Makelele returned after missing the last five games and it was Joe Cole, Drogba and Robben who made up the front attacking three.

Chelsea made the faster start putting Arsenal on the back foot as Chelsea attacked the North Bank. But despite all of their possession and half chances created in was Arsenal that nearly took the lead with their first attack of the game. Thierry Henry, subject of speculation to moves to either us of Barca hit the post with Cech well beaten.

A few minutes later it looked like Van Persie had given Arsenal the lead after chasing onto a through ball and coolly slotting home the ball beneath the body of the diving Cech. To the amazement of the home crowd, the Assistant Referee flagged for offside and it wasn't Van Persie as TV replays were to prove later.

Arsene Wenger said 'that the first goal was always going to be crucial.' Once Chelsea had rode their luck and Arsenal's storm and from a second attempt through ball from Drogba, Arjen Robben raced away and hit a right foot shot across Lehmann into the net via the post eight minutes before half-time.

The game was full of incident and seven bookings. Lampard was treated for a cut head after an accidental clash of heads. Essien, with his recent record, was 'perhaps' rather fortunate not to receive a red card for a challenge on the mouth of Lauren (which the full-back lost a tooth). Lehmann was fortunate not to have conceded a penalty when he dragged back Drogba by the arm.

But it was Chelsea who sealed the game when Joe Cole, man of the match, charged down an attempted clearance by Lauren and raced away to fire in Chelsea's second. Cole was also denied by a superb diving save from Lehmann. Up the other end Cech was forced into making fine saves from Henry and Bergkamp and at times Chelsea had to defend as if their lives depended on it.

With the way the Jose Mourinho prepares this team it wouldn't surprise me at all if 'death' was on the agenda.

So after fifteen years, Chelsea finally won a League game at Highbury and for the first time since 1969-70 completed the 'elusive' League double. What makes this victory that little bit more special is that its the third time Chelsea have beaten Arsenal this season.

Chelsea's lead has been restored to nine points at the top of the Premiership and Chelsea now have a staggering twenty point lead over Arsenal, who have now lost six league games already with the Christmas and New Year fixtures to come.

COME ON CHELSEA

40 YEARS A BLUE!