Mourinho denies Wenger again as Chelsea beat Arsenal

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LONDON: Chelsea went five points clear of reigning champions Manchester City at the top of the Premier League after a 2-0 win at home to Arsenal in a fiery all-London clash on Sunday.

Eden Hazard gave Chelsea a 27th-minute lead with a coolly-taken penalty after he had been brought down in the box by Gunners defender Laurent Koscielny.

Diego Costa’s ninth goal in seven Premier League games after an excellent lofted through-ball from former Arsenal favourite Cesc Fabregas sealed Chelsea’s victory 12 minutes from time.

Kick-off at Stamford Bridge was delayed by 15 minutes as officials slowed the entry of Arsenal fans into the away end after a flare was set off. There was a flare-up of a different kind when Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger clashed with Jose Mourinho after the Gunners’ Alexis Sanchez was fouled by Gary Cahill.

“There are two technical areas not one,” said Mourinho. “He (Wenger) was coming to my space.”

Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois then went off due to suspected concussion following an earlier collision with Sanchez.

Wenger, whose side were thrashed 6-0 on their last visit to Stamford Bridge in March, suggested Arsenal had been unlucky.

“We had more shots and missed opportunities to take more,” he said.

The defeat, Arsenal’s first in the Premier League this season, left the Gunners nine points off top spot and meant Wenger had failed to beat a Chelsea side managed by Mourinho in 12 attempts.

Earlier, Radamel Falcao’s first goal for Manchester United secured a 2-1 victory over Everton.

Colombia striker Falcao — signed on loan for a reported 10 million euros ( 7.8 million, 13.1 million) on transfer deadline day — marked his fourth United appearance by scoring from inside the box after deflecting Angel di Maria’s long-range shot in the 62nd minute.

Argentina midfielder di Maria had given United a 27th-minute lead when he curled in a shot from just inside the penalty area.

Everton could have equalised on the stroke of half-time following a penalty but United goalkeeper David de Gea saved Leighton Baines’s spot-kick — the first of several fine stops. — AFP