Arsene who started with Walcott on the right and Flamini on the bench had other ideas. But Arsenal are not playing with the confidence and fluidity of August so breaking through Chelsea’s narrow block proved too difficult. It is difficult enough trying to break down a mid-table side let alone a squad that costs more than most in world football. It is hard to imagine that the weather did not have some sort

Chelsea were always going to play not to concede at the Emirates last night, Jose Mourinho confirmed his ambitions by leaving both Mata and Oscar on the bench. He had set up not to concede at Old Trafford earlier this season.

Arsene who started with Walcott on the right and Flamini on the bench had other ideas. But Arsenal are not playing with the confidence and fluidity of August so breaking through Chelsea’s narrow block proved too difficult. It is difficult enough trying to break down a mid-table side let alone a squad that costs more than most in world football. It is hard to imagine that the weather did not have some sort of impact on both teams such was the strength of the wind on the night.

Chelsea used Willian and Hazard as the outlets in the attempt to hit Arsenal on the break when the opportunity presented itself. It was Chelsea who created the better chances on the break, the best chance falling to Frank Lampard who ran onto a Hazard floated pass to crash a shot against the underside of the crossbar, the raindrops pelted down from the bar as the ball bounced over Chelsea players who were waiting to pounce and away to safety.

Two controversial decisions went in favour of the away side. Firstly Mikel Arteta and Obi Mikel contest a 50/50 ball which Arteta won but Mikel’s studs caught Arteta’s ankle. The rules state that it is irrelevant if it is intentional or not, if it is a dangerous tackle then it is a red card. Nothing was given from Mike Dean. As Arsene Wenger said post match, we are used to it.

The second decision saw Willian trip Walcott in the box, Mike Dean with a perfect view decided to wave play away. It would take a lot to convince me that Dean would have done the same thing if it was Rooney at Old Trafford or Lampard at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea had the better of the first half but Arsenal improved in the second. Giroud had two golden chances to win the game, one after a clipped Ramsey pass but Giroud sliced across the ball and wide of the near post. It was not an easy chance but one where he should have at least hit the target. Moments later he could have scored following a Gibbs cut back but for a block on the Chelsea line.

Mourinho removed Torres for Luiz and Arsene did not risk making a substitute because basically both managers did not want to lose the game. A win would have been great but it was more important not to lose. Against Dortmund at home we made changes and went for it and were suitably punished, Arsene wasn’t going to do the same again. That said I would have been happy to have seen Cazorla replace Walcott who couldn’t made an impact on the game.

I was hoping that we could take them this time but a draw is not the end of the world. If having the same amount of points with the side top of the league at Christmas is the end of the world then I can’t wait until things pick up.

We are going through a drop in performance, it is rather difficult to go the whole season without any drop so having it now isn’t so bad as long as we recover from Thursday onwards. We have winnable fixtures, so we simply have to get back on a winning run.