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LONDON
(AP) — Eden Hazard ran half the length of the pitch, fending off
Arsenal's brittle resistance, to score a mesmerizing solo goal as
Chelsea coasted to a 3-1 victory on its charge to the Premier League
title.
A
goal of such exceptional quality, between Marcos Alonso's header and
Cesc Fabregas' lob into an empty net, embodied the leaders'
transformation since a 3-0 loss in the reverse fixture in September.
That
defeat saw an eight-point chasm open up between Chelsea, then in eighth
place, and front-runner Manchester City. Now, Chelsea is 12 points in
front of north London clubs Tottenham and Arsenal at the summit.
Coming
four days after a home loss to Watford, it was another unsettling day
for a bedraggled Arsenal and manager Arsene Wenger, who was forced to
watch from the stands as he continued his four-match touchline ban for
pushing a fourth official. The Frenchman was right in the middle of the
celebrating Chelsea fans as Hazard produced a moment of magic eight
minutes into the second half.
It was a fusion of strength, aggression and pace that four Arsenal players couldn't disrupt.
Hazard
started the run from the center circle. Laurent Koscielny was the first
opponent brushed aside and Francis Coquelin was left spinning, trying
forlornly to put in a tackle before slipping to the turf.
Hazard
just continued to zip forward. Koscielny had darted back in defense,
but was as ineffective immobilizing Hazard a second time. Hazard weaved
his way past the captain and then outmuscled Shkodran Mustafi before
slotting a low shot past goalkeeper Petr Cech.
The
Belgian international has 10 goals in 23 appearances this season,
eclipsing last season's haul of four in 31. There was awe at the goal
across the stadium: Owner Roman Abramovich was high-fiving people in his
executive box and manager Antonio Conte flung himself into the crowd
behind the dugout, swarmed by fans.
It was a day when they had much to celebrate, starting with Alonso's 13th-minute goal
Diego
Costa initially nodded a cross against the bar and Alonso darted in to
meet the rebound with a header. The wing back had caught the side of
Hector Bellerin's head with his arm as he leapt over the defender but he
was not penalized. Following concussion protocols, a dazed Bellerin was
forced off, injured.
Little
went Arsenal's way at Stamford Bridge. Even the usually reliable Cech
was exposed on his return to his former club. With five minutes to go,
the goalkeeper's misplaced clearance went straight to former Arsenal
captain Cesc Fabregas, who chipped the ball into an empty net.
Arsenal's
only achievement was denying Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois a
clean sheet, with substitute Olivier Giroud heading in a stoppage-time
consolation.
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