John Terry to enjoy a brief moment of elation in front of his adoring fans as Chelsea after Crush Arsenal 2-0.
After 48 hours drop from England Captain, Terry earlier and the subject of more lurid headlines about his private life, Chelsea defender responded in a typically defiant manner as two first-half goals from Drogba put Chelsea back on top of the Premier League.
It was perhaps inevitable that Ivory Coast striker Drogba's first goal in the eighth minute arrived courtesy of a glancing header from John Terry.
Taunted by The Gunners fans throughout for his affair with French lingerie model Vanessa Perroncel, the former girlfriend of John Terry's one-time team-mate Wayne Bridge, the Chelsea captain produced a commanding performance at the heart of defence.
The victory restored Chelsea's two-point lead over Manchester United at the top of the table and, more significantly, increased the gap over third-placed Arsenal to nine.
The outcome was never in doubt once The Blues's other talismanic figure had put them in front with a simple volley at the far post.
Didier Drogba's 21st goal of the season was the perfect start for Ancelotti's side and with their confidence sufficiently rocked, Arsenal failed to respond before Drogba added his second.
When Arsenal did manage to get past the imposing Terry, they were woefully wasteful with Andrey Arshavin the main culprit.
In the 20th minute, A delightful chip from Cesc Fabregas found the Russian unmarked inside the penalty area, but he volleyed straight at Petr Cech.
Two minutes later Arsenal were handed a lesson in textbook finishing which was to ultimately leave their title dreams in tatters once more.
Chelsea thought they had put Wenger's side out of the race when they defeated the Gunners 3-0 at the Emirates last November.
But Chelsea's poor form in December, coupled with a resurgent Arsenal during the same month, all but wiped out an 11-point advantage.
However, Arsenal's remaining title chances were dealt a killer blow by Drogba's 22nd of the season in the 22nd minute.
Lampard was given the freedom of Stamford Bridge to run 30-yards before supplying the Ivory Coast striker with a simple pass.
The Arsenal defence continued to back-pedal and that was the invitation Drogba required to cut inside from the right and fire a left-foot volley beyond Manuel Almunia.
Chelsea could have increased their advantage, but Ashley Cole was denied by Alumunia after Lampard's incisive pass had put him clear on goal in the 31st minute.
Arsenal were a different side in the second-half, but the task was just too much for them.
Chelsea defended too deep and that allowed Arsenal to press forward in numbers.
Terry was forced to play much of the second period with his thigh heavily strapped after a muscle injury, but there was little chance of him deserting his post.
Theo Walcott should have done better when clean through, but got caught in two minds and before he could get his shot away, Chelsea's defence cleared the danger.
Peter Cech, who had preserved Chelsea's lead in the first-half, was in outstanding form and pulled off another great save to keep out a goalbound Fabregas free-kick.
But as Arsenal overstretched themselves, Chelsea looked for a third.
Ballack was close with an angled drive that flashed beyond the far post on the hour, but Cech rescued Chelsea again 11 minutes from time by whipping the ball off the toes of Arsenal substitute Nicklas Bendtner.
Arsenal enjoyed plenty of possession but the final ball was poor and Chelsea, led by the unruffled John Terry, were tigerish to the end.
courtesy :Soccernet ESPN
