Has Wenger's Arsenal run out of munitions?

Yes our 2-1 victory over Arsenal, at home, has energised me into writing perhaps sooner than I might have done.  I may have also been 'spurred' on by Dempsey's last minute equalizer for Tottenham against Manchester United! A wintery London hosted both matches, and the ground staff at Stamford Bridge and White Hart Lane did a fantastic job to render the snowy pitches playable.

A newly sheared Fernando Torres took his place in the starting line up alongside 'the three amigos'.  Frank Lampard also started as Captain in the absence of the anticipated John Terry, who found himself on the bench. 

Chelsea started the game with a  quick pace and renewed hunger, pressing Arsenal for the ball and creating numerous chances.  It felt like I was watching a completely different side to the one that has been struggling to keep visitors at bay at Stamford Bridge.  My daughter suggested Fernando's  new hairstyle may herald a new beginning for him and the team., before saying it made him look 'more fit' - not sure what she was getting at!

Within six minutes, Azpilicueta's (also known as 'Dave' to fans who can't/won't pronounce his name), perfect cross-field pass was picked up by Juan Mata and he scored the opening goal.  My elation at our early goal was (only slightly!) marred by discussion of Ramires fouling Francis Coqueling in the build up to the goal.  The referee Martin Atkinson didn't call it.... that was good enough for me!

Ten minutes later, Ramires found himself in the centre of more controversy which again led to a Chelsea goal! Having received a pass from Mata, only Szczesny stood between Ramires and the goal. The inevitable tackle from Szczesny resulted in Atkinson awarding us a penalty, though he did not send off the goal keeper for making a last-man foul. Super Frank Lampard did not disappoint with his 195th goal in a blue shirt.  Look out Bobby Tambling! Arsene Wenger, Gary Neville and Jamie Redknapp (and probably all Arsenal fans)  accused Ramires of diving.  I find myself in the unusual position of agreeing with the referee once again!!

Basically the gunners were atrocious in the first half and looked pedestrian.  The second half was a different story - not only had Wenger energised his team with the half time talk, it looked like he may have slipped something into the Chelsea players' orange slices (isn't that what they get at half time?)  The blues came out to find the Arsenal players already on the pitch waiting to pounce like a starving leopard on a newly sighted prey.  It was a familiarly nervous watch.  Theo Walcott, fresh from having signed his new and hotly debated contract with Arsenal, scored in the 58th minute.  The next half an hour or so was painful and slow... losing our two nil lead to Southampton last Wednesday was far too fresh in my mind.  I think I can set my watch by when Benitez decides to bring Demba Ba onto the pitch (81 mins) - not sure if his timing is designed to stir the crowds up even more. Although the last minute efforts of Ba were not enough to help us seal the victory, we hung on tooth and nail (including through 5 minutes of Wenger pacifying extra time) and ended up with our first home win of 2013.

Is the losing curse broken?  I guess it depends if you believed there was a curse in the first place.  For now I would rather not speculate about our winning form being a certainty and just want to enjoy today's win, which reinforced our early season win over the gunners at the Emirates.

I would like to end by firstly congratulating Pepe Guardiola on keeping his move to Bayern one of the most safely guarded secrets of the season, and secondly showing much appreciation and gratitude to those responsible for Ashley Cole staying on at Chelsea.  Could they organise the same for Lampard please.