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In a match that also featured six yellow cards Arsenal dominated possession but were far from their dazzling attacking best and have only scored three goals, including two own-goals, in four games this season.

A lack of pace has long been a problem with the Chelsea FC defence, but one that has been largely covered – partly due to sound defensive positioning, but also due to the Blues’ pressing in midfield which has denied opposition the time and space to thread balls...

Pulis has masterminded successive wins over the Portuguese with Crystal Palace and then with West Brom in May.

Whether or not the furore distracted the players is debatable, but clearly something is not clicking this season at Chelsea after their dominance of last season’s Premier League.

The former Stoke No 1, playing in place of the suspended Thibaut Courtois, made several crucial saves against Manchester City but was unable to stop the Blues crumbling to a 3-0 defeat against Manchester City on Sunday.