LONDON, Dec 28 — Two weeks after Carlo Ancelotti said his faltering Chelsea side had emerged from a nightmare moment, the champions plumbed new depths yesterday and appear to be sleep walking towards the point of no return. 

The Italian was left "shocked and surprised" as Chelsea imploded either side of halftime to lose 3-1 against Arsenal — a defeat that left them fourth, six points behind league leaders Man United who have a game in hand. 

No wins in their last six league matches and a meagre haul of six points from 24 which is more in keeping with a side heading for relegation has left Chelsea facing the very real prospect of beginning the New Year outside the top four. 

It also raises the possibility that Chelsea's Russian owner Roman Abramovich, not best known for his patience, could dispense with a manager who six months ago was celebrating the double at the end of his first season in charge. 

Tomorrow's home game against Bolton Wanderers has now become the proverbial "must win" for the Italian who said he was confident he would remain in charge. 

"We have to wake up quickly," Ancelotti, well-used to the hiring and firing mentality of Serie A, told reporters as he came to terms with Chelsea's fifth loss of a season that began in a blaze of goals. "Maybe I need to be the first to wake up." 

"I'm worried obviously. It's six or seven games that we haven't won and I haven't seen the team play how we want. We have had difficulty to play our football and so this my worry." 

More worrying was that, apart from the injured Nicolas Anelka, Ancelotti fielded a pretty much full-strength side with Frank Lampard starting for the first time since August. 

Chelsea, however, offered little threat with Lampard, Florent Malouda, Didier Drogba and Michael Essien virtually anonymous. 

When Theo Walcott added to goals by Alex Song and Cesc Fabregas to make it 3-0 in the 54th minute Ancelotti, who cut an isolated figure in the technical area for the entire 90 minutes, wore a bemused expression as a team of double winners crumbled in front of his eyes. 

"I've had a very good feeling with my players in the past two weeks and I didn't expect this," said Ancelotti, who thought his misfiring side had turned the corner in a 1-1 draw at Tottenham Hotspur 15 days ago before the big freeze. 

"I'm surprised by this performance. I had hoped that the bad moment was over. We worked very well in the two weeks but it was not enough. We didn't play well in this game." 

With Chelsea's bench containing several inexperienced players such as Gael Kakuta and Josh McEachran, it is clear that reinforcements are needed urgently if Chelsea are to revive their flagging season. 

Asked whether he will get the chance to spend Abramovich's money in the transfer window, Ancelotti was said that decision was not up to him. 

"I can't use any new players on Wednesday at Bolton that's for sure," he said. "When the market opens I can answer that. 

"We are sleeping, this is the reality. If you play against a good team like Arsenal you can't win if you don't wake up. 

"I think (Abramovich) will not be happy but I take my responsibility. This is not a question you can ask me about how long he will be a patient. Obviously we have to do better because he's not used to not winning for six games." 

Ancelotti did receive some support from Wenger, whose side beat Chelsea for the first time in more than two years to move second in the table. 

"I have a very high regard for Ancelotti as a coach," Wenger said, suggesting it would be folly for Chelsea to change their manager. "I can't believe that." — Reuters   

 

LONDON, Dec 28 — Chelsea's worrying slump turned into a full-blown crisis when the Premier League champions were comfortably beaten 3-1 by Arsenal at The Emirates yesterday.

Goals from Alex Song, Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott in a nine-minute spell either side of halftime condemned Carlo Ancelotti's team to another defeat and they have now managed just six points from the last 24 on offer.

Branislav Ivanovic replied for the visitors but the damage was already done as Arsenal ended a run of five consecutive defeats against their London rivals to reclaim second place in the table above Manchester City on goal difference.

"The win had a double impact. First of all it keeps us in touch with the leaders and, secondly, it is the pyschological impact because we were questioned about our ability to win big games," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told reporters.

"We know that to beat the big teams at home will have an important impact on the league (title race)."

Arsenal have moved to 35 points from 18 games with unbeaten leaders Manchester United on 37 having played a game less. Chelsea, who started the season in scintillating form but have forgotten how to win, remain in fourth place on 31.

"The table is not good but this is the reality," said Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti. "We have to play better and wake up. I am not worried. I have to work and you will have to ask the owner (Roman Abramovich about my future)." 

WINTER BREAK

After an unofficial two-week "winter break" caused by the freezing weather conditions in Britain, both sides knew a win was needed to stay in touch with Manchester United.

Chelsea had been impressive in the second half of their 1-1 draw at in-form Tottenham Hotspur 15 days ago and, with Frank Lampard in the starting lineup for the first time since August, there was optimism among the visiting fans that their season could be reignited at a ground that has been kind to them.

However, after 40 minutes of cut and thrust had failed to separate the teams, Chelsea fell apart alarmingly, leaving Ancelotti ashen-face in the technical area where he had stood in a black raincoat for virtually the entire 90 minutes.

If anything Chelsea had looked the more threatening early on with Didier Drogba, scorer of 13 goals in 13 appearances against Arsenal since joining Chelsea, rampaging forward to fire narrowly wide of Lukasz Fabianski's post.

Arsenal's home form has been an irritant this season with three defeats already at The Emirates and there were anxious grumblings around the stadium as their pretty possession football offered little goal threat.

In the end it took some direct action from midfield enforcer Song to lift the psychological shackles Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger feared had begun to grip his side against Chelsea.

CHELSEA COLLAPSE

A minute before halftime the Cameroonian barrelled forward, played a one-two with Jack Wilshere and, as the ball bobbled back into his path, tucked a low show past Petr Cech.

Six minutes after the break Chelsea imploded.

Michael Essien's attempt to win the ball in midfield inadvertently sent Walcott racing through on goal and the England winger calmly squared it to Fabregas to make it 2-0.

Three minutes later Chelsea were again engineers of their own downfall with Florent Malouda losing the ball under pressure near the centre circle.

This time the roles were reversed as Fabregas released Walcott with a perfectly weighted pass and the England winger picked his spot and fired past Cech.

Chelsea's players threw bemused glances towards Ancelotti who immediately substituted the disappointing Malouda.

Ivanovic guided a header past Fabianski after 57 minutes to restore a little hope but as the visitors pushed forward to try and salvage something from a hopeless situation Arsenal wasted several chances to increase their pain on the counter-attack.

Defeat means Chelsea are 10 points worse off than at this stage last season with their title chances disappearing fast. — Reuters