Better to be boring than unsuccessful?

Arsene Wenger resisted the temptation to invade Jose Mourinho’s technical area and give the Portuguese coach a push and a shove this time, but one could sense the Arsenal manager was itching to get stuck in.

Forget Alex Ferguson and Wenger’s fabled Manchester United mind games, for no manager has been able to get under Wenger’s skin and negate his managerial prowess like Chelsea’s Special One.

Arsenal should still finish second to Jose Mourinho’s Premier League champions-elect, and win the FA Cup again next month, but this result already casts a doubt over the north London side’s ability to challenge for the title next season.