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Here are today’s teams…

A cardboard cutout of Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger prior to the Barclays Premier League match at the Emirates Stadium. Adam Davy Adam Davy

We’re underway…

Half chance for Arsenal early on, as a Walcott  cross is played into Joel Campbell but he mis-hits the shot.

Down the other end, Oscar’s shot is parried away for a corner by Cech.

Nervous moments for Arsenal as Fabregas gets to the by-line, and the Chelsea midfielder’s cut-back is just about cleared by Mertesacker.

It’s been a decent start to this game by Chelsea.

Ramsey’s pass towards Walcott goes astray amid a loud collective groan from the home crowd.

That sums up Arsenal’s slightly uncertain start to this game.

A wild challenge from Oscar, as he cynically brings down Campbell.

The Brazilian midfielder deservedly picks up a booking as a result.

Theo Walcott, and not Per Mertesacker, is currently wearing the captain’s armband.

It’s probably to do with the fact that the England winger is celebrating a decade at the club today.

Willian gets a second chance after his wayward shot deflects back into his path via a Mertesacker block.

Again, however, the Brazilian midfielder’s effort is tame, and Cech collects his shot easily.

RED CARD FOR PER MERTESACKER!

Willian plays an excellent through ball to Diego Costa, who is taken out by Per Mertesacker as he runs towards the box.

The German defender was the last man, so it looks like a correct decision from referee Mark Clattenburg.

The crowd and Olivier Giroud are not happy, as the striker is sacrificed.

Gabriel comes on in his stead to give 10-man Arsenal more solidity, as they face an uphill task now.

ARSENAL 0-1 CHELSEA (COSTA 23)

Costa finds space in the box and volleys home Ivanovic’s cross.

An extremely difficult challenge for Arsenal may have just become impossible.

Costa again runs in behind the Arsenal defence but this time is adjudged offside.

The Spanish international now has six goals in his last six games — he managed just four in 20 matches under Mourinho this season.

Arsenal's Per Mertesacker, centre, is shown a red card and sent off by referee Mark Clattenburg for a foul on Chelsea's Diego Costa. Frank Augstein Frank Augstein

Appeals for a penalty, as Ramsey’s flick is blocked by Willian’s body. Replays reveal it hit the Chelsea player’s chest, however.

Arsenal, to their credit, look far from a beaten team right now. As I type, Walcott side-foots a shot just wide, though he would have been offside anyway.

Costa draws a foul from Gabriel amid more groans from the home crowd.

The striker has been excellent so far, while Willian and Fabregas have also stood out with their impressive work rate and creativity.

Arsenal are finding it difficult to break Chelsea down, with the Blues looking solid and compact since the goal, while consistently threatening on the counter attack.

As I type, Costa’s snapshot is saved by Cech, before an Ivanovic header from a corner is cleared off the line by Monreal.

HALF-TIME: ARSENAL 0-1 CHELSEA

Decent chance for Arsenal, as Ramsey’s pass deflects to the onrushing Flamini’s pass.

It’s awkward for the Frenchman, however, as he hooks his volley over the bar from close range.

Half-time, and Chelsea have the advantage at the break.

It’s been a disappointing half from an Arsenal perspective, and the Gunners now have a very difficult task on their hands, following the deserved dismissal of Mertesacker for a rash challenge on Costa.

The Chelsea striker’s opportunistic finish added to Arsene Wenger’s woe, though his side have shown signs of life since the opening goal.

Despite playing against 10 men, the Blues have still been quite happy to sit back and soak up pressure at times, while Fabregas, Costa and Willian have all posed a consistent threat on the counter-attack.

The outlook seems grim for Arsenal at the moment, but as long as the gap is just one goal, they are still in this game, and the hosts have the potential bonus of fit-again Alexis Sanchez to bring off the bench if needed in the second half.

Graeme Souness was not sure about Mertesacker’s sending off, but Robbie Savage does not agree with the Liverpool legend.

The second half is underway…

The home crowd certainly still believe Arsenal can still get something from this game.

Koscielny is roared on as he charges forward with the ball.

Arsenal are looking a little sluggish at the moment, with the Gunners conceding possession needlessly on a number of occasions in recent minutes.

Chelsea, as they did numerous times under Mourinho, are effectively killing this game now.

Good sliding tackle by Bellerin to stop the onrushing Azpilicueta

Chelsea are looking the more likely of the two sides to score at the moment.

Enthusiastic cheering from the home crowd, as Alexis Sanchez replaces Joel Campbell.

Can the Chilean star make the difference?

Chelsea were not at all happy just there, as Fabregas was knocked over in the box by Koscielny.

The referee, perhaps thinking that he has already awarded one big decision in Chelsea’s favour, waves play on.

The tension just threatened to boil over there, as Costa had a slightly naughty late challenge on Ramsey — even if he barely made contact with him ultimately.

Half an hour remains, and you certainly wouldn’t rule out another red card before the final whistle.

Panic in the Chelsea box, as a lofted set piece deflects off Azpilicueta’s back, before about four Arsenal players seem to scuff shots, allowing the visitors to clear their lines belatedly.

Chelsea have certainly been far from convincing in holding on against 10 men, and the longer the game goes without them scoring, the more nervous they’re likely to get.

Costa is down holding his knee after an innocuous-looking challenge from Koscileny.

The Brazilian-born forward departs the field to loud boos, as he’s replaced by Loic Remy.

That didn’t look good. Mikel had a slight swipe at Sanchez as he chased after the ball.

The midfielder receives a booking from the referee, and it’s probably the correct call, as it was an innocuous enough brush on the Chilean.

Theo Walcott is replaced by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in a like-for-like change.

Just over 15 minutes remain.

This has not been an easy game for Mark Clattenburg to referee. EMPICS Sport EMPICS Sport

Hazard returns from injury, as he comes on for Oscar for the final few minutes.

As I type, Oxlade-Chamberlain bursts down the wing and wins a corner off Azpilicueta.

Great link-up play between Monreal and Sanchez down the left, before the latter’s cross is blocked by a well-positioned Zouma.

Chelsea, for all their faults, are looking rock solid at the back this afternoon.

Fabregas bursts forward on the counter, but the Spaniard’s through pass is just too strong for Willian to run onto.

This looks set to be a very tense finale.

Arsenal win a corner and the crowd roars them on.

The Gunners have been virtually camped in Chelsea’s half for the last few minutes — not great from Guus Hiddink’s side’s perspective, given that they’re playing against 10 men.

As I type, Courtois spills a looping cross, before Chelsea’s defence again nervously clear.

Another half chance, as a cross falls to Flamini, whose back-flick deflects off Zouma and safely into Courtois’ hands.

Shortly thereafter, Monreal gets in a good position in the box, but cannot steer his shot goalwards with the outside of his foot.

These are very nervous times for Chelsea fans.

We’re into stoppage time and Arsenal continue to probe around the Chelsea area.

Five minutes of time added on will be played.

Chelsea have a chance to wrap it up on the counter, but Remy dwells on the ball, and Sanchez takes it off him.

Moments later, Willian receives the ball in a good position inside the box, but he drags his effort wide.

Corner for Arsenal with a minute to go.

Cech is up…

FULL-TIME: ARSENAL 0-1 CHELSEA 

It wasn’t pretty, but Chelsea have got the job done in a Mourinho-like display from Hiddink’s side.

Arsenal can be proud of their efforts. Having been reduced to 10 men and gone behind in the first half, Wenger’s side certainly cannot be accused of collapsing.

While coming away from the Emirates with three points is nothing to be sniffed at, you still get the feeling that this display won’t totally silence Chelsea’s doubters.

Diego Costa’s sixth goal in six games was ultimately enough for the Blues to secure three points, but Chelsea increasingly were pinned back into their half against the 10 men of Arsenal as the game developed, and were a tad fortunate not to concede amid a few nervous second-half moments.

That said, the Blues’ defence stood up well to the Arsenal pressure, while not for the first time against Chelsea, Arsene Wenger’s men were left to rue their ill-discipline.

Right, that’s all from me. Thanks for reading and commenting.

We’ll have more reaction to this game coming up on the site shortly.