This game between London's two biggest clubs will be remembered for the if onlys, of which included four penalty shouts, three of them for Chelsea, one of them for Arsenal, all of them in the first half. But, this game will also be remembered for yet another step that Jose Mourinho's Chelsea took towards clinching the English Premier League title.
The celebration at the final whistle blown by Michael Oliver said it all, with Branislav Ivanovic and John Terry, who was outstanding on the day, leading the "come ons" as the Blues shut out Arsenal, their closes rivals for the Premier League title to move to within tasting distance of that crown they so crave.
While the 0-0 result will surprise no-one, this game was a lot more than that, even if the predicted pattern came to the fore in the second half. The first 45, though, was sprightly, played at a searing pace with both sides looking for that opening goal, the goal that is usually the killer blow in such high-octane contests.
Chelsea and Mourinho, who has now extended his unbeaten run over the Arsenal manager to 13 games, will look back and say they should have had three penalties – there is a case for at the very least one -- while Wenger and his Arsenal team will point to a handball from Gary Cahill as a path that was shut towards getting the "scoring of goals groove" going on.
Oscar was deployed as a "false 9" by Mourinho, with Diego Costa still struggling with injury and Didier Drogba looking like the dying spirit of the ghost of Christmas Past, and the Brazilian had a couple of penalty shouts turned down early, first, when he went down, rather easily it must be said, to a challenge from Hector Bellerin and second when he was absolutely clattered by David Ospina.
The second one should have seen Oliver point to the spot after Oscar got in behind the Arsenal defence and got there before the goalkeeper, only to see his shot headed off the line by Bellerin. But, Ospina had also taken the Brazilian, who would not come back on the pitch in the second half, probably because he was still feeling the effects of that foul, down in the process, and Mourinho was livid on the sidelines, as Wenger stared at the Portuguese with a "been there, and I am not interfering this time," look.
Cesc Fabregas, who was cheered at the beginning, 20 minutes before kick-off, and while he was substituted, right at the end, but booed throughout the match, by the Arsenal fans, also had a decent shout turned down, with matters made only worse as Oliver also gave the Chelsea midfielder a yellow card for simulation.
Arsenal's penalty appeal came a little later when Gary Cahill blocked a shot from Santi Cazorla with his hand, but Oliver by now was very much in the "not giving away a penalty today" zone.
The second half, after a decent enough start from Chelsea, was mostly about Arsenal possession -- the home team had 58 percent in all during the 90 minutes – but little penetration, even if there were plenty of those "if only he had taken a shot earlier" or "if only that pass had been made a touch quicker, or into that space" or "if only the ball was inches to the other side" moments.
Wenger, true to his style, threw everything at Chelsea in the end, bringing on Danny Welbeck for Francis Coquelin, while Mourinho, truer to his own style, brought on Kurt Zouma for Fabregas, albeit very late in the piece to end even the slightest of chance of an Arsenal winner.
Chelsea are now ten points clear of their rivals Arsenal and Manchester City, who have played a game more, while Wenger, when he sits back and relaxes with a glass of red, will know it is a good enough point, especially after Manchester United fell to Everton earlier on Sunday.
