Published: 29 October, 2013
by PAUL COWLING at the Emirates Stadium

Capital One Cup Fourth Round
ARSENAL 0, CHELSEA 2

ARSENE Wenger has now gone nine matches without tasting victory against Jose Mourinho, as Arsenal limped out of the Capital One Cup against a well-drilled Chelsea side.

"It was a tight match, and we can take a lot of positives from it," said the defiant Arsenal boss after the match.

It's hard to see what positives Wenger could have garnered – Chelsea dominated from start to finish, while Arsenal only managed one shot on target.

The visitors were the better team, but it was a poor game, summed up by a defensive howler from Carl Jenkinson which allowed Chelsea to take the lead on 25 minutes.

Cesar Azpilicueta seized on Jenkinson's misplaced header back to keeper Lukasz Fabianski and the Chelsea right-back dinked the ball skillfully into the net.

Nacho Monreal almost levelled for Arsenal moments later, but his well-struck shot ended up going wide.

Arsenal stepped up the pace in the second half, with off-target efforts from Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey.

Mesut Özil came on for Ryo Miyaichi, but within minutes, the German could only stand and watch as Chelsea went 2-0 up – Juan Mata curling a fine shot into the top right hand corner with Fabianski well beaten.

Wenger immediately sent for Olivier Giroud, the Frenchman replacing Nicklas Bendtner.

Bendtner recently scored two goals for Denmark against Italy, but was completely anonymous given the chance to impress for his club. The Dane hardly touched the ball all night, and looked two yards off the pace.

Giroud showed Bendtner how it is done, forcing Chelsea keeper Mark Schwarzer into his first and only save of the night on 69 minutes.

Post match, Wenger looked slightly uncomfortable when asked about Bendtner's contribution.

"I do not want to go into an individual assessment of (any) of the players," insisted the French coach.

The truth is Arsenal still don't have the squad to match Chelsea's, whose ten changes easily saw off their hosts.

A top quality striker has to be bought in January, but before then, the real tests begin, with upcoming matches against Liverpool (at home on Saturday) and then crucial away trips to Borussia Dortmund and Manchester United.

"We have to respond well against Liverpool. We are in a strong position in the (Premier) League, and we have an opportunity at home," said Wenger.

But, after defeat tonight, Arsenal's promising start to the season, could be undone if they don't get the required results in these next three matches.

Arsenal: Fabianski; Jenkinson, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Monreal; Wilshere, Ramsey (Park 82), Cazorla, Rosicky, Miyaichi (Özil 64), Bendtner (Giroud 69). Subs not used: Sagna, Viviano, Hayden, Yennaris.
Attendance: 59,445