The 20-time English Premier League champions are far from their best, but, in the final analysis, it is the results that matter, and at the moment they are on a winning spree, says Bikash Mohapatra
With 17 goal attempts compared to Chelsea's 10, Arsenal will feel they should have gone home with a bigger margin of victory and it will be all to play for in north London on February 3.
The three favourites for the English League Cup were kept apart when the draw for the quarter-finals was made on Saturday. Manchester United will host Blackburn Rovers in the only all Premier League clash while Arsenal, who will keep faith with their policy of fielding the reserves in the competition, will travel to Championship (second division) Burnley who beat Chelsea on penalties on Wednesday.
Daniel Sturridge's third goal in as many matches gave Liverpool a 1-0 win over bitter rivals Manchester United in a feisty Premier League match at Anfield on Sunday.
Arsenal beat Bournemouth 3-2 on Saturday to extend their lead at the top of the English Premier League.
British media reported that the fee for the 24-year-old would be around 75 million pounds ($96.68 million), making him the club's second most expensive signing after last year's world record deal for French midfielder Paul Pogba.
Manchester United were humbled 3-0 at home by Newcastle United in the League Cup fourth round
The Premier League club's first-team doctor Steve McNally said earlier this week that players had been sent a package of resources.
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho was sent off for the second time in a month on Sunday as the controversial coach watched his side draw 1-1 at home to West Ham United and lose more ground in the English Premier League title race.
Manchester United can challenge for the league title after recovering from their worst start to a Premier League season and rediscovering the art of winning ugly, according to their captain Wayne Rooney.
Manchester City scored three goals in 17 second-half minutes and move within six points of league leaders Arsenal.
Arsenal marked Mikel Arteta's 300th game in charge with a convincing 2-0 home victory over West Ham United in the Premier League on Saturday.
After Saturday's 2-1 win at Chelsea - their 12th in 13 league matches - Aston Villa have claimed 18 points from losing positions so far this season, more than any other team.
Manchester City were confirmed as English Premier League champions for the fifth time in six seasons on Saturday without even having to kick a ball.
Manchester United's calamitous week hit rock bottom as Bournemouth famously consigned them to a 2-1 defeat on Sunday and, to rub salt into the wounds, neighbours Manchester City moved back to the top of the English Premier League.
IMAGES from the EPL matches played on Saturday
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho will be a "massive improvement" on predecessor Louis van Gaal, according to former Old Trafford boss Alex Ferguson.
A summary of Tuesday night's Champions League matches.
Goals from Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez earned Chelsea a 2-0 victory at lowly Burnley on Saturday, a win that moved the Blues within three points of Premier League leaders Arsenal.
'We just don't feel we've got the results our performances have warranted, have not hit top gear'
Manchester City blew a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday as a moment of magic by home forward Dominic Solanke handed Arsenal a huge Premier League title boost.
Given the improvements at Chelsea and Arsenal, it will still be a significant achievement for United to secure a top four finish and in the Champions League, a decent run in the knockout stages would also be a sign of progress.
Manchester City seized the opportunity of Arsenal's 2-1 loss at Aston Villa earlier in the day to climb within two points of the leaders.
Arsenal dealt Chelsea's title hopes a blow by holding the champions to a pulsating 1-1 draw.
Midfielder Phil Foden delivered in dramatic fashion, scoring in the first and 91st minutes, to seal Manchester City's 3-2 victory over Leeds United.
Substitute Gabriel Martinelli scored a late goal to help Arsenal hold Manchester City to a 1-1 draw in a blockbuster English Premier League fixture, in London, on Sunday.
A flash of attacking brilliance from Olivier Giroud and an emphatic header from substitute Alvaro Morata earned Chelsea a 2-0 win over struggling Southampton
Promoted Sunderland, who have defied expectations to stay in the top half of the Premier League table, could be the worst affected with six players going to the tournament, while the likes of Fulham, Manchester United, Burnley and Crystal Palace will also have to make do without some key personnel.
Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick as Manchester City defeated Liverpool 4-0 to advance to the FA Cup semi-finals. Liverpool struggled after Haaland's opening penalty, with further goals from Semenyo and Haaland sealing the victory.
IMAGES from Premier League matches played on Sunday.
Jose Mourinho was delighted that Chelsea made a winning start to their Champions League campaign on Wednesday, but said he was not happy that Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal had all lost their opening matches.
Manchester City's Erling Haaland became the fastest player to reach 100 Premier League goals to ignite their charge on Tuesday.
Manchester City were drawn against Real Madrid in the Champions League knockout phase for the sixth time since the 2019-20 season after the draw for the last 16, quarterfinals and semifinals was made on Friday.
Images from Sunday's action in the Premier League.
Arsenal teenager Max Dowman made Premier League history by scoring at 16 years and 73 days in a 2-0 win over Everton, becoming the youngest scorer in the competition.
Southampton secured a 1-0 victory against Fulham with a late penalty, making them the first non-Premier League club to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals this season.
Chelsea wrapped up their sixth consecutive Women's Super League title and record-extending eighth in total after a 1-0 victory at Manchester United on Wednesday, with Lucy Bronze heading home a corner late in the game.
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is eager to build his team around midfielder Paul Pogba despite media speculation linking the French World Cup winner with a move away from Old Trafford.
IMAGES from the English Premier League matches played on Tuesday.
Inter will be his sixth club in a career which began when he made his debut for Anderlecht as a 16-year-old and has taken him to Chelsea, West Bromwich Albion and Everton.
