Chelsea 2-0 Arsenal: RETURN OF THE MIKE DEAN NARRATIVE

1-0 Kurt Zouma 53'

2-0 Eden Hazard 90'

Arsenal brought Petr Čech, Theo Walcott, Aaron Ramsey, Héctor Bellerín, Nacho Monreal and Francis Coquelin back into the starting lineup. Chelsea played an attacking lineup with Cesc Fàbregas paired with Nemanja Matić in midfield and a front 4 of Pedro, Oscar, Eden Hazard, and Diego Costa.

Arsenal's tactic early was to play in Walcott behind the centerbacks and it looked promising early as there were two opportunities in the first four minutes. Chelsea had the majority of the possession throughout the half though struggled to create chances. Their best came from a Fàbregas long ball that played Pedro in behind Monreal. Luckily for Arsenal, Cech was equal to the challenge.

The match was turned on it's head though in first half stoppage time. Diego Costa two hand shoved the face of Laurent Koscielny and then followed it up with a slap to the Frenchman's place. Gabriel backed up his teammate and got in Costa's face and both sides yapped at each other. Referee Mike Dean decided to give Costa and Gabriel yellow cards but that did nothing to stop the two Brazilians from yelling at each other. Then, out of view of camera, Gabriel did something to Costa (the ref said he kicked out) which caused Dean to show him a straight red.

Calum Chambers came on for Francis Coquelin at halftime as the latter suffered a knock in the first half which he never ran off.

Unfortunately, Arsenal were not able to hold out their London rivals as Kurt Zouma headed in a Fabregas FK in the 53rd minute. Like midweek, the Gunners' backline did not cover themselves in glory. Koscielny played Zouma onside and Monreal did not mark his man. Cech was able to get a hand to the close-range, back post effort but could not keep it out.

Alexis had a brilliant chance to equalize in the 60th minute as a long ball from Ramsey bounced over the Chelsea defense. Alexis was through on goal but couldn't make good contact on the half volley.

Chelsea dominated possession in the second half, as you might expect, but rarely troubled the Arsenal goalkeeper. Arsenal went for it late with Olivier Giroud and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain coming on for Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil.

Unfortunately, the match was put to bed in the 79th minute as Cazorla was sent off for a second yellow card challenge on Fabregas. It was the rotten cherry on top of a two day old, melted sundae of a performance from the Spaniard.

Hazard closed things out with a heavily deflected finish in the 90th minute as his possibly-off-target shot bounced in off of an unlucky Chambers. It was unfortunate for the young English defender who had actually acquitted himself well in the second half.

This match concludes a rough week for the Gunners who may be facing an injury layoff for Coquelin on top of their two losses as well as mandatory suspensions for Gabriel and Cazorla in domestic play to go along with Giroud's in the Champions League.

There's not much to say about actual performances in this match other than Chelsea really didn't look convincing even up a man. Unfortunately, they took all three of the points. Life is unfair.