Cesar Azpilicueta and Juan Mata did the damage as Chelsea saw off a below-par Arsenal to progress to the Capital One Cup quarter-finals at the Emirates Stadium.
Cesar Azpilicueta, prodded the visitors ahead at the Emirates in the first half as he pounced on a short headed back pass from Carl Jenkinson to beat Lukasz Fabianski, the ball bouncing in off the post for Azpilicueta’s first goal as a Chelsea player.
Arsenal were the stronger side for much of the evening, but a lacklustre showing from the recalled Nicklas Bendtner typified a frustrating evening for Arsene Wenger and his men.
It was rounded off in clinical fashion by Mata in the second half, as he picked up a headed clearance on the edge of the Arsenal box and thumped a swerving shot beyond Fabianski before celebrating in emphatic and pointed style with the Chelsea support.
Wenger’s men will now focus on the premier league, the F.A Cup and the UEFA Champions league in their quest to end the eight year trophy drought.