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Last season's FA Cup winners lost ground on surprise league leaders Leicester thanks to a first-half strike from Blues hitman Diego Costa. Arsene Wenger's troops, who prior to kick-off occupied second place in the Premier League table, started the contest brightly and immediately hemmed in the visitors.

Chelsea weathered the early storm and nearly took the lead in the 14th minute through Willian. The Brazilian, who has undoubtedly been the Blues' star performer this season, latched on to a cross from Cesar Azpilicueta but couldn't find a way past Gunners stopper Petr Cech - who was making his second appearance against his old club. Arsenal continued to press the visitors, who went into the contest on the back of a 3-3 draw with Everton, but saw their hopes of recording a victory severely dented in the 18th minute when Per Mertesacker was given his marching orders for upending Costa. And the visitors capitalised on their one man advantage in the 23rd minute when Costa got on the end of a dangerous cross from Branislav Ivanovic and tapped home from just inside the six-yard box.

Guus Hiddink's men continued to use their numerical advantage and restricted the hosts to sporadic forays into their half. Costa, who was making his first appearance at the Emirates, nearly doubled his and Chelsea's tally in the 40th minute but saw his close-range effort well saved by Cech.

 NEAT FINISH: Costa fires Chelsea into the lead

From the resulting corner, Ivanovic nearly gave the reigning Premier League champions some much needed breathing space - but saw his headed effort cleared off the line by Nacho Monreal. Arsenal should've levelled the scores moments before the half-time interval when Mathieu Flamini got on the end of a neat pass from Aaron Ramsey.

However, the Frenchman scooped his effort high over Thibaut Courtois' crossbar - much to the dismay of the Emirates faithful.The second period started in the same vein that the first ended and Chelsea continued to dictate proceedings.

Alexis Sanchez, who prior to today missed the Londoners' last ten matches with a hamstring injury, was brought on in the 53rd minute to try give the home-side more of a threat going forward.

The Chilean's introduction gave the Gunners a jolt in the arm and they began to carve out more chances.

However, they were unable to find a way past Courtois which meant that they suffered their second consecutive defeat to the west Londoners.