For Arsenal it is the usual refrain. Chelsea has come to town to park the bus. After a gruelling contest at The Emirates Stadium on Sunday evening, Chelsea and coach Jose Mourinho left with a valuable scoreless away draw.

It’s Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger’s failed 13th attempt at beating Mourinho in all competitions.

Arsenal dominated possession, but Chelsea, starting without a recognised striker, sat deep and stifled the home team’s moves. Both sides had chances to win it, but with caution the dominant watchword, the chances weren’t taken.

After the game Chelsea players celebrated widely because they knew that they had all but secured the tile for the fourth time under the inspirational Mourinho.

Arsenal’s failure to beat Chelsea would not look so bad in the context of the race for automatic qualification for the Champions League after top four rivals Manchester United got hammered 3-0 yesterday at Goodison Park against host Everton.

Like last week against Chelsea United had a large share of possession but failed to convert it to goals.

Goal.com reports that “a win would have moved the Red Devils, at least temporarily, into second place but the home side went in front early on when a sizzling counter-attack was finished off by James McCarthy.

“John Stones capitalised on some slow marking at a corner to head home his first goal for the

Toffees shortly before half-time, leaving United reeling, but not even some attacking substitutions could turn things around for Louis van Gaal’s men.

“A controversial decision to rule Romelu Lukaku as not interfering with play from an offside position saw things go from bad to worse for United as substitute Kevin Mirallas pounced for the third, the visiting defence having failed to play to the whistle.

“United began on the front foot but were caught out by an incisive Everton breakaway early on.

McCarthy began the move by spreading wide to Seamus Coleman, whose cross was only partially cleared by the recalled Daley Blind. McCarthy then collected the loose ball, skipped beyond weak challenges from Blind and Paddy McNair and calmly slotted low beyond David de Gea. Marouane Fellaini should have marked his first appearance at Goodison as an opposing player with an immediate equaliser but the Belgian tamely side-footed over the bar with only Tim Howard to beat after nicking possession off Gareth Barry. Van Gaal’s side continued to probe but, for all their territorial dominance, found themselves two down 10 minutes before the break when Stones glanced home his first Everton goal from Leighton Baines’s inch-perfect delivery.

“The pattern of the first half remained in place despite Van Gaal’s introduction of Radamel Falcao and Angel Di Maria, with United continuing to toil in the final third.

“And Everton once again punished United on the counter when Mirallas raced onto a Barkley pass that was intended for the offside Lukaku before slotting past De Gea at his near post.

Mirallas was clearly in the mood and forced De Gea into a fine save to keep the score at three with five minutes remaining.

“In a rare positive for Van Gaal, Robin van Persie then came on following a two-month injury lay-off but the day belonged to Roberto Martinez and United’s place in the top four – which appeared rubber-stamped after their derby win over Manchester City – remains insecure.”

•Photo shows action during the Arsenal gaffer Arsene Wenger.

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