LONDON — Chelsea’s pursuit of the Premier League trophy will go into May after the runaway leaders drew 0-0 at Arsenal on Sunday with a cautious, ultra-defensive display.
By protecting a 10-point lead over Manchester City and Arsenal, Chelsea can secure its first title in five years by beating Leicester on Wednesday and Crystal Palace next Sunday.
“It’s a big step to where we want to go,” Chelsea captain John Terry said. “We nullified them, we played very well … and we came and gave it a go.”
However, the draw was marred for Chelsea by Brazilian playmaker Oscar being taken to the hospital after a heavy collision with Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina. Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho said Oscar “went to (the) hospital to make some scans to see what is going on.”
Asked if Oscar had suffered a concussion in the collision, Mourinho said: “I don’t know.”
Chelsea was frustrated to have three penalty appeals rejected in the first half at Emirates Stadium, two involving Oscar and then one when Cesc Fabregas was booked for diving. But Terry later said referee Michael Oliver “probably got them right.”
Fabregas sent the ball through to Oscar for the game’s early controversy in the 15th minute. Oscar hooked the ball over Ospina and — as Hector Bellerin headed it clear from the goal line — the Arsenal goalkeeper clattered into the midfielder.
Oscar lay flat on the pitch after the incident and received treatment. He played out the rest of the half before being replaced, and there was no immediate information on his injury. No penalty was awarded, much to the apparent annoyance of some Chelsea players, given Bellerin already had fouled Oscar in the penalty area.
Fabregas later was booked for diving when he went down under a slight touch from Santi Cazorla. Arsenal appealed for a penalty when Cazorla’s shot hit the raised arm of Gary Cahill while the defender on the field.
Photo via Rui Vieira/Associated Press
