Fortune at last favours Benitez at the Bridge

Chelsea 2 Arsenal 1

Assisted, at least in the eyes Arsene Wenger, by two helpful decisions by referee Martin Atkinson, Benitez’s side secured a first victory on home soil in four games to halt the decline that had all but ended their title ambitions and raised questions about their ability to hold on to a top four place.

Fortune at last favoured Benitez. Even to the extent that the penalty that gave Chelsea a commanding two-goal lead was converted by Frank Lampard in the 16th minute, the point in the game when the club’s supporters have voiced their support for Roberto Di Matteo ever since the previous manager was dismissed and replaced by the Spaniard.

Earlier, Juan Mata put Chelsea ahead in the sixth minute with an excellent finish and while Arsenal responded after the interval, halving the deficit through Theo Walcott, on this occasion the nerves that have afflicted Benitez’s side in recent home games were held at bay to maintain a six-point gap between the London club and second-placed Manchester City.

On balance, Chelsea deserved the victory that was built on the strength of their dominant first half display. Arsenal were poor, guilty of an apparent lack of commitment, but Chelsea, inspired by the enterprising Mata and driven forward by the tireless Ramires fully deserved their two-goal half-time lead that should really have been even more commanding.

There was a sense this would be Chelsea’s day immediately before Mata scored. Walcott, who last week agreed a new contract to remain at the Emirates Stadium, released Olivier Giroud with a clever through ball but the France forward was unable to take the opportunity and screwed his effort wide.

That was a let off, as was the decision by the referee not to punish Ramires for a late challenge on Francis Coquelin seconds later. With play waved on, the ball broke to Cesar Azpilicueta who spotted Mata in space where Arsenal right back Bacary Sagna should have been. A precise pass found its way to the Spain international, and with Sagna labouring to recover, Mata finished ruthlessly high into the net.

There was worse to come for Arsenal when Sagna was again caught out of position 10 minutes later. Ramires had won the ball off Abou Diaby, moved it on to Fernando Torres before collecting it again via Mata insisde the area. The midfielder rounded Wojciech Szczesny before going to ground under a challenge from the keeper to win a penalty. Arsenal claimed Ramires had dived, Chelsea insisted the goalkeeper should have been sent off. There was a case to be made for both arguments but Lampard silenced the debate with a firmly struck spot-kick.

Two up and in control, Chelsea were dominant with Ashley Cole enjoying the space afforded him on the left-hand flank and taking the opportunity to celebrate his new, one-year contract extension with a series of surging forward runs that should have brought greater reward.

Arsenal hung on until the break before reappearing a different side. Chelsea folded when Southampton visited here last Wednesday, conceding a two-goal lead before hanging on for a point and there seemed a clear risk of a repeat when Walcott collected Santi Cazorla’s clever pass and lifted the ball beyond Petr Cech in the 58th minute.

Walcott flashed a second shot wide as it became clear this would become a test of Chelsea’s character. On this occasion they passed, although they would have enjoyed a much more comfortable end to the game had Demba Ba, introduced as a substitute for the ineffective Torres with 10 minutes remaining, not seen his effort cleared off the line by Thomas Vermaelen after the substitute had gone past Szczesny.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech 6; Azpilicueta 6, Ivanovic 7, Cahill 8, Cole 7; Ramires 9, Lampard 6; Hazard 7 (Marin 88,6), Mata 8, Oscar 6 (Bertrand 72,6); Torres 5 (Ba 81,6).

Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Szczesny; Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs; Diaby (Arshavin 75,6), Coquelin (Ramsey 58,6); Walcott, Wilshere, Cazorla; Giroud.

Referee: Martin Atkinson.