In the first half Aaron Ramsey thought he had more time than he actually had and was dispossessed on a few occasions. It was telling that he improved dramatically when Diaby came on in the second half and allowed Ramsey to play further forward. Although we were not at our best, we still fashioned enough good chances to have won the game. van Persie met a Walcott free kick at the far post but could not steer it in, Koscielny headed onto the crossbar after yet another free kick, this time from Robin van Persie. Cech blocked van

Match Review – Arsenal 0 Chelsea 0

Frustration rang around the Emirates once more as Chelsea held us to a 0-0 draw, a draw that the visitors were all too keen to take, such was Chelsea’s negative approach to the game.

As expected Chelsea made plenty of changes and selected a midfield that would contain and protect their defenders. I thought that was going to be the game plan but I would have expected them to have gone at us a little more as the game went on considering the fact that they are in need of points with three sides above them but it did not materialise.

These last few matches seem to be the Tomas Rosicky show, well at least going forward. Once again he as the one that drove us forward and trying to force the issue but as has been the case since we beat Manchester City, he hasn’t had other players on his wavelength. Robin van Persie has been marked tightly in recent weeks and Mikel Arteta’s ability to pass between the lines has been badly missed.

I was hoping that Tomas Rosicky would replace Mikel Arteta and Aaron Ramsey would play further forward but Arsene decided to go like for like and sit Ramsey deeper alongside Alex Song. The midfield did not function, they looked disjointed and not very fluid.

In the first half Aaron Ramsey thought he had more time than he actually had and was dispossessed on a few occasions. It was telling that he improved dramatically when Diaby came on in the second half and allowed Ramsey to play further forward. Although we were not at our best, we still fashioned enough good chances to have won the game.

van Persie met a Walcott free kick at the far post but could not steer it in, Koscielny headed onto the crossbar after yet another free kick, this time from Robin van Persie. Cech blocked van Persie’s close range drive after a chipped pass from Alex Song.

Laurent Koscielny practically thwarted Chelsea on his own at times, when they hit us on the break they struggled to get the better of Koscielny who made several last ditch challenges. Daniel Sturridge was often very selfish from the right, rarely choosing to try and find a team mate and often trying to beat Szczesny when team mates were in better positions.

Theo Walcott is out for the season after pulling up with a hamstring injury. He wasn’t having the most influential of afternoons, often being doubled up on and rarely getting in behind Chelsea’s young left back Ryan Bertrand who had a very good game for the away side.

Tomas Rosicky who hadn’t trained due to illness had to be replaced which was a shame. Abou Diaby came on in his place but it would have made us stronger if the pair of them were on the pitch together. van Persie was involved in two incidents within four minutes, one saw a coming together between Gary Cahill and the Dutchman after a Alex Song cross but Mike Dean waved played on. Moments later Alex Song slipped him in down the right but van Persie snatched his shot well wide. With Gary Cahill coming across to block the shot, I couldn’t help but feel that he could have dummied his shot, come back on his left and finished.

Chelsea could have snatched it right at the death when Thomas Vermaelen slipped and Sturridge was about to pull the trigger before Koscielny flew in and performed the type of interception that only he could.

It was the first time we had failed to score at the Emirates since Liverpool beat a ten man depleted Arsenal team back in August. I thought Gervinho showed some positive signs when he came on, the link up with van Persie had improved. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain did not have a great game and was replaced in the second half because he was not offering Kieran Gibbs enough defensive cover. Andre Santos replaced him and did pretty well. With Yossi Benayoun unlikely to be kept on at Arsenal next season perhaps Santos can give the team that defensive balance from that side of the pitch at certain times.

Two games without victory may start to creep into the players minds so next weeks match against Stoke will be massively important.

Newcastle United continue their impressive run with a victory over Stoke City at St James Park but they have some very difficult fixtures to come. As I write this Tottenham are losing to Queens Park Rangers. Gaining a point on Tottenham when we should have received three ourselves could be important in the race for a Champions League spot.

Come on you hoops.

Man of the match: Laurent Koscielny