Jose Mourinho extended his unbeaten record against adversary Arsene Wenger as Chelsea reached the League Cup quarter-finals with a 2-0 win over London rivals Arsenal last night.
Chelsea took the lead with a touch of fortune and a sense of deja vu in the 25th minute.
It was not quite a carbon copy of Fernando Torres’ late winner against Manchester City on Sunday but it was certainly close as a high, looping ball caused confusion in the Arsenal defence and the unlikely figure of Cesar Azpilicueta ran through to get a toe on Carl Jenkinson’s poor header towards Lukasz Fabianski.
There was nothing lucky about the second, however, as Juan Mata showed some fine skill, controlling with his left before lashing home a right-footed shot.
Wenger, who enjoyed a simmering feud with the Chelsea boss during the Portuguese’s first spell in the Premier League, has not beaten Mourinho in nine attempts.
Manchester United will join Chelsea in the next round after dispatching Norwich 4-0 with Javier Hernandez scoring twice.
The Mexican got his first from the penalty spot in the 20th minute after Leroy Fer somewhat needlessly felled Adnan Januzaj, and then headed in a second on the rebound early in the second half.
Phil Jones then volleyed in a third but by then, Norwich were more concerned by the condition of Robert Snodgrass, taken off on a stretcher wearing a neckbrace, after a lengthy stoppage which followed a clash of heads.
The incident led to 11 minutes of added time being played, and United used them to add a fourth through substitute Fabio.
Fulham’s patchy league form carried over into the cup as they were knocked out by Leicester in a 4-3 thriller at the King Power Stadium.
Hugo Rodallega capitalised on some lax defending to give them an 18th-minute lead, but Leicester scored three in quick succession either side of half-time to turn it around -completely.
Wes Morgan levelled in the 41st minute on the rebound, and Chris Wood put the Foxes ahead just before half-time when Philippe Senderos’s clearance was blocked and the ball fell kindly.
Miguel Ignasi headed in a third early in the second half before Rodallega’s almost instant response for Fulham set up a late rally, which looked complete when Giorgos Karagounis fired in an 86th-minute free-kick.
But no sooner were they level than Lloyd Dyer struck what would prove the winner.
Fourth Round
Arsenal 0
Chelsea 2
Azpilicueta 25, Mata 66
Birmingham 4
Adeyemi 28, Lovenkrands 85, 90,Lee 118
Stoke 4
Assaidi 10,Crouch 55, Arnautovic 71, Jones 94
Red card: Elliott (B) 45
(Stoke win 4-2 on penalties)
Burnley 0
West Ham 2
Taylor 76 pen, Collison 90 pen
Red card: Treacy (B) 90
Leicester 4
Morgan 41,Woods 45,Miquel 53; Dyer 89
Fulham 3
Rodallega 18, 54, Karagounis 87
Man. United 4
Hernandez 20p, 54, Jones 88; Fabio 90
Norwich 0
Today – 20.45
Newcastle vs Man. City
Tottenham vs Hull