Chelsea 1 - 1 Arsenal

Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal: Essien wonder goal

Updated: December 10, 2006, 1:13 PM ET

A stunning goal by Michael Essien preserved Chelsea's unbeaten league record under Jose Mourinho and cut Manchester United's lead at the top of the Barclays Premiership to eight points with a 1-1 draw with Arsenal.

Arsenal had looked set to become the first side to beat the champions since they last achieved the feat in February 2004 when Matthieu Flamini put them ahead in the 78th minute.

• Jose warns Fergie

But Essien rescued Chelsea with a 35-yard thunderbolt six minutes from the end and the home side were unlucky to finish on level terms when they twice hit the woodwork in stoppage time.

The first half surprisingly failed to yield a goal as Chelsea were denied an advantage by a goal-line clearance from Cesc Fabregas and Jens Lehmann's left-hand upright.

There was much to admire in what was a typically full-blooded London `derby', but referee Alan Wiley also managed to enjoy his fair share of the limelight.

The official was a constant subject for Mourinho's theatrical leaps off the Chelsea bench as he complained bitterly about his decisions - most notably a yellow card for Ashley Cole.

The former Arsenal defender, who moved to Stamford Bridge in the summer, was booed every time he touched the ball by those who once idolised him.

A quarter of an hour had passed though before either side managed to produce a shot on target.

But Andriy Shevchenko tested Arsenal's Lehmann with a powerful 20-yard drive which the German goalkeeper dealt with easily.

German midfielder Michael Ballack gave Lehmann some real cause for concern when his right-foot shot fell inches the wrong side of the post.

But in the 17th minute Arsenal had the woodwork to thank for keeping them on level terms when Frank Lampard's shot bypassed the flatfooted Arsenal keeper and rebounded off the post.

Arsenal has shown some neat touches in midfield with the busy Alexander Hleb always looking for an opening and Robin van Persie taking up some clever positions.

It was the Dutchman who almost surprised Hilario with an angled shot that flashed beyond the Portuguese keeper's post in the 21st minute.

Moments later the game began to get a little tempestuous when Cole was booked for bringing down Hleb, to the fury of Mourinho and his assembled cohorts in the dugout.

Arsenal escaped again in the 38th minute when Fabregas was on hand to clear off the line after Lehmann had failed to deal adequately with a corner from Lampard.

In the 63rd minute tempers flared again when Lehmann pushed Drogba and the Ivorian striker returned the favour - a move that prompted Wiley to stop the game and deliberate his next course of action with his assistants. The outcome was a booking for both players.

Four minutes later a poor pass from Philippe Senderos was intercepted by substitute Arjen Robben who ran on to despatch a left-foot shot that Lehmann did well to keep out at the second attempt.

But Chelsea paid for their wastefulness when Flamini put the Gunners ahead in the 78th minute.

The Arsenal midfielder cleverly exchanged passes with Hleb on two occasions before sending a shot into the bottom corner.

The goal stung Chelsea into action and Drogba twice failed to supply the required finish before Essien despatched a thunderous right-foot drive in the 84th minute to level matters.

But there was still more to come with Chelsea twice hitting the woodwork in injury time - first Essien slammed the ball against the bar from two yards out and Lampard hit the inside of the post after Lehmann had spilled Robben's shot.

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Jose warns Fergie

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has warned Sir Alex Ferguson not to rest on his laurels despite the Blues being eight points adrift after a 1-1 draw with Arsenal.

Michael Essien's brilliant 84th-minute goal rescued a point for the champions after Matthieu Flamini's goal looked to have given Arsenal a shock win.

However, Mourinho insists the Blues are not daunted by the Red Devils' lead at the top of the Barclays Premiership.

He said: 'I think he (Ferguson) must be happy now because we can say we dropped two points but if he thinks it's over he is in trouble.

'Chelsea are ready, we were losing at home with five minutes to go but we had an incredible reaction and should have won the game.

'I think it will be five points after Wednesday (after the Newcastle game).

'After that let's do it, let's enjoy it. Going in front is better but let's chase them. We showed at Old Trafford we are not afraid of them, we can beat them at Stamford Bridge.'

Essien hit the woodwork late on before Frank Lampard pounced on a mistake by Jens Lehmann in the six-yard box but his shot was deflected on to the post by Flamini.

Despite the Blues coming closest to scoring, Mourinho felt a draw was acceptable although he felt Arsenal's ambitions were limited.

'Everybody saw the game. We had chances to win the game and we tried to win the game,' Mourinho said.

'In the first half they had better control, better possession, more quality and more confidence.

'After their goal we had a great emotional reaction and scored an unbelievable goal and then we had big chances to win.

'For the way they were in the first half and the way they were in front 1-0 I accept a draw.

'But for me it was a bit of a surprise for a team who are 18 points behind the leaders to come here not to win just to go with a draw it almost says `we don't want to win the Premiership, we just want to make a positive result at Stamford Bridge'.

'Mourinho's counterpart Arsene Wenger was 'frustrated' by referee Alan Wiley's decision to allow play to continue and eventually equalise despite an apparent foul on Alexander Hleb by former Gunner Ashley Cole.

'It was a very good football game for the neutral,' he said.

'We could have won it in the end and I feel a bit frustrated because before the goal they scored it looked to me a foul on Hleb.

'At that time we were in control, there was not much time to go and we could have scored a second on the counter-attack.'

Wenger explained his tactics: 'We had a very young defence and I wanted to give them protection, to not be too open too much. It worked well overall. When you look at their age, what they did today was sensational.

'We came to try to win the game and we nearly did that. Don't forget Chelsea didn't play last weekend so we had a little physical disadvantage.'