Cech gives the game away - Arsenal enjoy Chelsea’s charity

Here was a match that could have turned out so differently had Mourinho still been in charge of yesterday's Emirates Stadium visitors. A fiercely contested, at times badtempered encounter that would have once proved too physical for Arsenal and all too perfect for Chelsea.

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One-nil to the Arsenal: Gallas gets behind the Chelsea defence and catches Petre Cech off guard

Now, however, things are different. The manager Arsene Wenger never defeated has gone, leaving Chelsea lacking their usual edge and vulnerable to an Arsenal side who proved, as they did at Liverpool and against Manchester United, that they have made the transition from boys to men. This was an Arsenal side who responded to United's victory at Liverpool earlier in the afternoon with a gutsy display that lifted them back to the top of the Barclays Premier League.

That they did so after agreeing to donate their day's wages to the TreeHouse school for autistic children in London made the victory all the more poignant. But it also highlighted what remained the greatest act of charity this week: giving Avram Grant a four-year contract worth in the region of £12million.

Before anyone gets too uptight about Fabio Capello's £6m-a-year, compare the respective merits of the managers and then consider which comes closest to representing value for money and who, out of Brian Barwick and Roman Abramovich, needs their head examined.

Grant deserves to be rewarded for restoring order to a football club in chaos and masterminding an unbeaten run of 16 games. But the two defeats he has suffered have come against United and Arsenal and that has to concern his employers if they really are serious about letting him continue beyond the end of this season.

The smart money, and smart money is an increasingly rare currency in football these days, says changes will still be made, with Frank Rijkaard looking more and more likely to be reunited with Henk Ten Cate at Stamford Bridge.

Less predictable yesterday were the events that conspired against Chelsea: the sight of Petr Cech committing a rare, not to mention decisive, mistake; the sight of Gallas, once of Chelsea but now proudly of Arsenal, shoving Tal Ben Haim out of the way — perhaps illegally — and punishing Cech for flapping hopelessly at a Cesc Fabregas corner with a simple header.

By then, two minutes into firsthalf stoppage-time, Chelsea had lost John Terry when he, in turn, had lost the plot. He limped off with ankle ligament damage courtesy of a dangerous Emmanuel Eboue challenge, but only after he went close to inflicting a similar injury on a variety of opponents.

Ashley Cole, the 'greedier' half of an acrimonious swap deal, had already allowed the tension and the taunts to get the better of him — at one stage giving Arsenal fans a twofingered salute. Terry responded to that by pursuing Arsenal players in over-zealous fashion. A game that concluded with nine bookings was not Terry's finest hour.

Golden goal: William Gallas celebrates his winner

It was not Ashley Cole's, either, and he was a little fortunate to escape the attention of referee Alan Wiley in the dying seconds when he responded to a poor tackle from Fabregas by grabbing at the Spaniard's throat.

While Chelsea suffered in Didier Drogba's absence, Arsenal benefited from Fabregas' return. In his absence, Arsenal drew at Newcastle and lost at Middlesbrough. Now they look title contenders again.

That said, it was Manuel Almunia who made the most important contribution here. He was outstanding, producing a succession of fine saves — not least in denying Andriy Shevchenko and John Obi Mikel — and giving Capello a timely reminder of his desire to play for England once he can apply for British citizenship next summer.

He was a little lucky on occasions and never more so than when Shevchenko and Shaun Wright- Phillips squandered wonderful opportunities. But it was also proof that, contrary to the belief of Jens Lehmann, he can win matches.

Gallas also makes crucial contributions and the captain who scored the equaliser against United struck again, maintaining a cool head while others around him lost theirs.

There were moments when, like Almunia, he also defended with great courage. But to Grant's dismay it was Arsenal who went closest to scoring again and Arsenal who finished the stronger. But for minor infringements and an incredible double save from Cech, they would have scored at least two more goals. Once Robin van Persie came on for the injured Eboue, they were significantly more dangerous.

That fact and his side's success in defending their advantage for the duration of a frantic second half must have been particularly pleasing for Wenger. "At least two sides at the top will drop points today," he said in his programme notes. "But we can only take advantage if we win our game."

They took full advantage of Mourinho's departure.

Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Eboue, Flamini, Fabregas, Rosicky, Hleb, Adebayor. Subs: Lehmann, Senderos, Van Persie, Silva, Bendtner.

Chelsea: Cech, Ferreira, Alex, Terry, Ashley Cole, Wright-Phillips, Obi, Makelele, Lampard, Joe Cole, Shevchenko. Subs: Cudicini, Pizarro, Kalou, Ben-Haim, Belletti.

Referee: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire)