Blues breathe life into title race

CHELSEA might have come from behind, restored pride, put one over on the top dogs and regained a place in the fab four but the real winners of last night’s heavyweight clash were Arsenal.

After the devastating way in which they lost the League Cup final on Sunday, the north Londoners will have been cheered by a result which still leaves them four points behind leaders Manchester United but now with a game in hand. Of course, in a season in which all contenders have struggled to take advantage, that could turn out to be a somewhat academic bonus but at least the table gives Gooners reason to start looking on the bright side again.

Chelsea too will be heartened by making headlines on the pitch rather than off it but, much as their stirring second-half performance rocked both United and the Bridge, it won’t prove enough to close the 12-point gap which stands between them and the retention of their title.