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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger shoved Jose Mourinho as their long-running feud turned physical in a 2-0 win which saw Chelsea take a five-point lead at the top of the Barclays Premier League.
Wenger refused to take a backwards step in the 20th minute after leaving his technical area following Gary Cahill's tackle from behind on Alexis Sanchez.
Mourinho told the Frenchman to "back off" as their rivalry endured another ugly episode, with the Gunners boss firmly planting two hands on the Portuguese's chest - risking Football Association disciplinary action - and the pair also eye-balling each other in close quarters.
Sanchez had earlier clattered Thibaut Courtois in the head in challenging for the ball, with the goalkeeper playing on for a short time before departing the stadium for precautionary tests.
Petr Cech was on the field when Chelsea took the lead through an Eden Hazard penalty awarded after the Belgian slalomed through two challenges before being felled by Laurent Koscielny as the Arsenal defence failed to follow Wenger's combative example.
Calum Chambers might have been sent off for two bookable offences in the first half and Wojciech Szczesny made a fine save to prevent Mathieu Flamini from turning the ball into his own net as Arsenal survived two scares in a feisty contest.
Cesc Fabregas might have conceded a penalty for handball before the former Arsenal captain played a beautifully flighted pass to allow Diego Costa to net his ninth Premier League goal of the season.
Chelsea v Arsenal - player ratings
Although Arsenal showed more steel than in March's 6-0 capitulation in Wenger's 1,000th match in charge, it means the Frenchman is still to taste victory over a Chelsea side managed by Mourinho after 12 attempts.
Mourinho on Friday refused to apologise for in February labelling Wenger "a specialist in failure" and their latest contretemps will have soured the relationship further.
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The Chelsea boss will barely care as his side took a commanding advantage over second-placed Manchester City into the international break after dropping just two points in the opening seven games.
