Chelsea torment Arsenal in Cup victory

Arsenal 0 Chelsea 2

Juan Mata’s brilliant goal sealed a resounding Capital One Cup victory for Chelsea in a one-sided derby at the Emirates Stadium.

Cesar Azpilicueta put them ahead after a mistake by Carl Jenkinson and Mata’s strike midway through the second half emphatically took them into the quarter-finals.

As promised, Jose Mourinho made wholesale changes – 10 of them – to the Chelsea side that beat Manchester City on Sunday.

The team he put out was more than strong enough to dispose of the Premier League leaders, who never recovered after going behind following a swift counter-attack on 25 minutes.

Mata’s quick thinking inside his own half helped Chelsea launch a decisive break following an Arsenal corner.

The ball span into the air after Aaron Ramsey’s challenge on Michael Essien, and Jenkinson’s awkward back-header fell short of keeper Lukasz Fabianski, allowing Azpilicueta to nip in and score his first goal for Chelsea.

Nacho Monreal and Ramsey both sent efforts wide as the Gunners pressed for an equaliser without managing to create a clear-cut chance.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, still without a win over his Blues counterpart Mourinho, brought Mesut Ozil on as a 63rd-minute substitute in a bid to give his side some creative spark.

Ozil was given a rousing reception by the home fans but it was Chelsea’s magical playmaker who made the difference, putting the visitors further ahead two minutes later.

Mata collected the loose ball following Jack Wilshire’s challenge on Willian and superbly found the corner of the net from the edge of the penalty area.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Schwarzer; Azpilicueta, Cahill, Luiz, Bertrand; Essien, Mikel; De Bruyne (Ramires 69), Mata (Kalas 90), Willian; Eto’o (Ba 80).
Subs not used: Blackman, Ivanovic, Hazard, Torres.

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