Eden Hazard opens up about Antonio Conte after Chelsea’s win over Arsenal

It speaks volumes about why the Gunners are without a title in 13 years and why Fabregas left them to win several trophies since.

Chelsea’s London rival had certainly done that in the reverse fixture, after a first-half blitz that saw Conte’s side lose 3-0, a second successive defeat after losing to Liverpool at Stamford Bridge.

Their two opponents from the week were obliging on Saturday in similar ways.

“Francis Coquelin does three things that you should never do as a central midfielder: you flick the ball, then you run out of position, then he gets put on his backside”, Souness told Sky Sports. Wilshere was unlikely to be starting numerous matches and there was just no guarantees that he’d be able to stay fit for the entire season.

Yet, the same old failings have reared their heads again despite a promising start to the season.

It was the 18th time that Chelsea have scored first this season, and Antonio Conte’s men looked completely comfortable defending a one-goal advantage.

“I just can’t make a case for Arsenal here”.

They’re powerful, they win the ball back but can manipulate the ball as well. But the playmaker has been absent for months now.

Further complicating matters for the Frenchman is a raft of missing midfielders, Aaron Ramsey having joined the list of absentees after sustaining a calf strain against Watford.

With Arsenal’s injury crisis in midfield, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was forced to play in the unfamiliar central midfield position.

Players such as wing backs Marcos Alonso, who scored Chelsea’s opener, and Victor Moses, rejuvenated under Conte, harry and harass their opposition, allowing the creatives space to excel.

We snuck in four, but Arsene Wenger was not in the mood to offer much by way of illumination on why, once again, his side are failing to challenge for the title. “They know that until now we haven’t won the title”.

Arsenal are often accused of lacking determination but at least they have the consolation of Top Four finishes season after season. “Not just me. Two years ago I was on fire, you know”.

We had the right attitude but our experienced players were not at their best. It’s why the Blues so far ahead, and why no one has a chance in hell of catching them.

The effect is that the league campaign has been reduced to the annual scrap for Champions League qualification. [Mohamed] Elneny will come back after the weekend so we still have some strengths. But they do have losses to Swansea and Bournemouth and Burnley and Hull.

Meanwhile, Liverpool has not lost to a team near the top of the table this season. Though they did at Tottenham and Liverpool, the five challengers haven’t been good enough to exploit it. But, as usual, Arsene Wenger’s team haven’t lived up to expectations and a 2-1 home loss to Watford on Tuesday exposed flaws and led to the coach questioning whether his players were “mentally ready” for the game.