Arsenal and Chelsea serve up bleak midwinter draw

Wednesday, 25 December 2013 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

REUTERS: A fixture billed as a pre-Christmas cracker was more ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’ than ‘Jingle Bell Rock’ as Arsenal’s hopes of regaining top spot in the Premier League fizzled out in a turgid 0-0 draw with Chelsea.

Nine days after losing 6-3 at Manchester City and having seen their title rivals steal a march on them at the weekend, Arsenal found themselves stifled by a defensive Chelsea side and hardly managed a shot on target. Both sides moved up a place in the table, Arsenal to second with 36 points, behind leaders Liverpool on goal difference, while Chelsea returned to the top four with 34 points, above Everton also on goal difference.