Chelsea back on top after Drogba double

Feb 7, 2010 - 7:29 PM By ALEX CROOK STATS European Football Writer=

LONDON (SE) - Didier Drogba hailed skipper John Terry after Chelsea beat Arsenal 2-0 at Stamford Bridge to go back to the top of the Premier League table.

Drogba grabbed both goals as the Blues all but ended Arsenal's title challenge for another year.

Terry was greeted like a returning hero by the home fans before the game and turned in a performance of the highest calibre \2013 matched only by Drogba, who was denied a hat-trick by the woodwork in the second half.

Ivory Coast star Drogba said: "It's been a difficult week for the club, but we've tried to stay together and focus on the games and we must look forward. We have a title to win.

"We have offered John Terry as much support as we can, but the best thing for him is to play football and he was fantastic today.

"But it was a great game for all of us today, we played very good football.

"We were up at half-time but we suffered a lot in the second half, Arsenal played well.

"I thought I had my hat-trick, I think it was a bit unlucky to hit the bar but we have won and that is the most important thing."

Given the fevered anticipation of Terry's performance in such a high-profile match, it was perhaps no surprise that the deposed England captain should have a hand \2013 or rather a head \2013 in the game's opener.

Terry's glancing header in the eighth minute found Didier Drogba who volleyed home clinically at the far post for his 21st of the season.

The goal spurred Arsenal into action and they should have been level just ten minutes later, when a brilliant ball from Cesc Fabregas set Andrey Arshavin free.

But the diminutive Russian, who earlier this week expressed a dislike for playing up front on his own, could only volley tamely straight at Petr Cech.

Just minutes later and the game, and perhaps Arsenal's title ambitions, had gone.

Frank Lampard waltzed unchallenged through the Arsenal midfield and fed Drogba who ghosted past Gael Clichy, before viciously smashing past Manuel Almunia for his second of the game.

Arsenal responded well in the second period, but were always second best as Chelsea snuffed out attack after attack, with Terry in imperious form.

Even when the Chelsea defence was breached, a combination of poor finishing \2013 chiefly from Theo Walcott who scuffed tamely when clean through \2013 and acrobatic work by Petr Cech \2013 who expertly saved a stinging Fabregas free-kick \2013 kept the Gunners at bay.

The final whistle brought howls of joy from the Stamford Bridge crowd and their captain, as a tumultuous week ended on a bright note.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admitted the defeat had put a serious dent in his side's title aspirations, but refused to concede another trophyless year now looks likely for the Gunners.

Wenger said: "It is difficult to swallow a defeat like that when we felt we were the better team.

"Chelsea defended well until the last minute so you have got to give them credit. We had our chances today but we did not take them and Chelsea did.

"We are outsiders for the title now but we will fight until the last day of the season. I think it will go that far and we will try to be there at the end.

"I believe everyone can drop points. Let's come back to win our next game first and then see where we stand."

Chelsea are now two points clear of second-placed Manchester United, with Arsenal nine points behind the Blues in third place.