Chelsea ruthless as Anelka helps gun down Arsenal

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Arsene Wenger's were convincingly defeated 4-1 at the Emirates.

New Delhi: Despite a strong start by Arsenal, Arsene Wenger's side were outgunned by Chelsea and were convincingly defeated 4-1 at the Emirates.

Chelsea consigned Arsenal to fourth position in the Premier League as Alex started a rout at the Emirates Stadium this afternoon. Nicolas Anelka scored the second before an own goal by Kolo Toure and a late Malouda strike rounded off Arsenal's woes. Nicklas Bendtner grabbed a goal that turned out to be little more than a consolation.

Arsenal were right at Chelsea from the kick-off, Theo Walcott charged at the Pensioners defence, playing a one-two with Robin Van Persie, and entered the penalty area. The young English winger was challenged but he still managed to collect the loose ball, firing over the bar with his right foot.

Samir Nasri had an opportunity to shoot in the 7th minute after being played through by Francesc Fabregas. The French international was forced out wide by Jose Bosingwa and the Portuguese cleared the danger.

Walcott had another chance to open the scoring, Nasri picked the ball up in an inside right position and threaded a pass through to the Englishman in behind Ashley Cole. Walcott elected to shoot at the front post and Petr Cech palmed the ball wide comfortably.

Chelsea managed to alleviate some of the pressure as former Gunner Nicolas Anelka was played in down the right hand channel. The Frenchman did well to hold and ball up, and laid off to an advancing Frank Lampard in the middle. The English midfielder hit the ball first time and sent his effort high and wide of the target.

Arsenal had an excellent chance in the 12th minute. The superb Nasri drove at the defence moving beyond his marker, and then played the ball to Walcott behind Cole. The Englishman pulled the ball back into the middle of the area and Abou Diaby, running into the box, took the shot first time and skewed it past the right hand post.

It was one way traffic at this point, with Arsenal pressing high up the field. Diaby attacked down the left and squared a low cross that was picked up by Walcott at the far post. Electing to shoot first time the Englishman hit the ball back across goal and his effort went inches wide.

Despite Arsenal's dominance Chelsea carved open an excellent chance down the left. Dider Drogba held the ball up well, and his neat footwork moved the ball to Cole. The full-back attacked the byline and cut the ball back to Florent Malouda, who had held his run level with the penalty spot, the Frenchman hit the shot first time with his left foot but didn't connect properly and the ball was cleared by Kieran Gibbs.

Fabregas conceded a cheap free-kick against Drogba on the left flank. Drogba stepped up to chip the ball into the penalty area and picked out Alex in the middle. The Brazilian connected with a powerful header that arched towards the top left hand corner. Hitting the underside of the bar it bounced over the line, beating Lukasz Fabianski in the Arsenal goal. 1-0 to Chelsea.

Arsenal looked visibly shaken by the goal and as Chelsea floated in a corner Fabianski flapped at the cross and gave chase to an unwinnable ball. The keeper was stranded 12 yards from his goal as Michael Essien struck the ball goal wards, it was blocked by a Chelsea player and saved Fabianski's blushes.

Just as Arsenal looked to have steadied themselves Chelsea extended their lead with a fantasic individual goal. Anelka picked the ball up just inside the Arsenal half with his back to goal and turned Nasri superbly. Advancing goal wards the French international smashed the ball into the bottom right hand corner, his shot was always swerving away from Fabianski. 2-0 to the Pensioners.

As the half drew to a close Anelka had a chance to finish the game off, Malouda drove into the centre of the box and tried to navigate two Arsenal defenders. As he was challenged the ball fell to Anelka 10 yards from goal, the Frenchman hit the ball powerfully but it was straight at Fabianski and the Pole saved well with his feet.

Chelsea started the second half confidently, creating a number of chances to extend their lead. Cole got in behind Walcott who was struggling to track back to cover. The England left-back advanced into the penalty area and drilled the ball across the box. Kolo Toure tried to intercept but his outstretched leg only diverted the ball into the Arsenal net. Fabianski's positioning was awful and he was culpable for the goal, 3-0 to Chelsea.

Van Persie almost immediately had a chance to get Arsenal back into the game, springing the offside trap, the Dutchman advanced on goal and tried to cut back onto his left foot. He was closed by defenders sharply but still managed to shoot, but Cech made a comfortable save to his right.

Arsenal continued to go forward, Alex Song chipped a wonderful ball over the backline to Walcott in the right hand side of the box. The Englishman controlled well but lashed his finish wide with a wild effort past the advancing Cech.

Drogba picked the ball up on the right flank, the Ivorian had no support and decided to attempt a lob from distance, but it didn't trouble Fabianski.

Arsenal got a goal back in the 70th minute through substitute Nicklas Bendtner, Nasri did well on the right flank and played the ball back to Bacary Sagna who crossed first time towards the back post. The Dane jumped well above Essien and directed his strong header low towards the bottom left hand corner, 3-1 to Chelsea.

The Gunners almost got a second immediately with an almost identical move to the goal. Nasri played the ball to Sagna who crossed the ball in towards Bendtner in the box. This time the Dane headed the ball back across goal and Cech did well to get a palm to the ball to save.

Another chance for Arsenal saw substitute Emmanuel Adebayor drove across the defence 20 yards from goal, playing in Nasri on the right who crossed into towards Van Persie. The Dutchman's header was powerful and well saved by Cech to his left.

In a passage of play that summed up the game Adebayor rounded keeper and was brought down for what looked like a stonewall penalty, but the referee waved play on and Chelsea immediately broke on a counter attack that killed the game

Malouda was threaded through for a one-on-one with Fabianski by Lampard, the Frenchman hit his shot straight at the Pole and the ball spilled to Anelka on the right of the box. The former Gunner smashed the ball goal wards and it catapulted off the right hand post into the path of a bemused Malouda who directed the ball into the net. 4-1 to Chelsea.