Jose Mourinho's desire to stop the rot of conceding goals, was pivotal to The Blues display at the Emirates tonight, where they carved out a creditable 0-0 draw against Arsenal.
There were few chances from either side, and those that were on goal, were easily dealt with by the respective goalkeepers Peter Cech and Wojciech Szczesny.
Chelsea went close with a powerful volley from Frank Lampard that rebounded off the crossbar while half-chances fell to Frenchman Olivier Giroud.
The Blues move up to fourth place, two points off leaders Liverpool.
The first goal effort of he night fell to Frank Lampard, five minutes in, but his shot was wide of the mark and failed to trouble Wojciech Szczesny.
Arsenal counter-attacked quickly and only Ramires's timely intervention, to thwart Tomas Rosicky
On the Chelsea byline prevent the home side from attacking Petr Cech's goal.
A brilliant interception by Gary Cahill on 25 minutes prevented a top class right wing cross from Bacary Sagna from reaching in-running Olivier Giroud in the six-yard box as Arsenal's attempt to turn possession into a goal gathered pace.
The visitors, increasingly found themselves looking at the counter-attack as the only means to threaten the Arsenal goal.
One such attack on 28 minutes almost brought dividends, but Ramires's header from just inside the Arsenal penalty area and skimmed off his head and wide of goal.
Goal-line technology could have being brought into use on 33 minutes as Lampard's brilliant controlled volley from a Eden Hazard deft chip rattled off the underside of the Arsenal goal.
No Chelsea player called for a goal, and referee Mike Dean continued play and TV replays clearly showed the ball no in.
This signalled a period of pressure by Chelsea and Torres twice forced a save from Szczesny.
The game erupted four minutes later as Arsenal felt they should have had a penalty when Willian appeared to touch the heels of Theo Walcott. Dean waved away the appeals but it looked a fair shout for a spot kick.
With Mikel and Mikel Arteta going into a full-blooded challenge, the Arsenal man coming out of it worse, temperatures started to rise.
A stupid mistake by Aaron Ramsey allowed Chelsea to counter, however while Hazard did his bit by pushing forward, his pass to Willian allowed the Brazil wide man to attack on goal, but his shot, albeit, on target was woefully weak and Szczesny was equal to the task.
Neither side made a change at half-time.
Arteta went to ground under a robust challenge from Ramires on 66 minutes, and while Dean deemed it a yellow card offence, the baying Arsenal fans were chanting for a sending off.
Walcott went into the book for a foul on Azpilicueta three minutes late as the game took another heated turn.
Lampard had a rasping shot from distance well saved by Szczesny and a minute lat tempers fired in the corner flag as Branislav Ivanovic and Mesut Ozil tang led.Rosicky was next in the book with 16 minutes of the game to go. He scythed down Ivanovic.
The first change came from Jose Mourinho, bringing on Andre Schurrle for Hazrad on 77 minutes.
With Ramires on the floor following a challenge, Ramsey decided to kick the ball out of play much to the fury of his own players Giroud and Sagna.
Willian quickly followed Hazrad with Oscar entering the fray with nine minutes minutes of the game to go.
A clear indicator that Mourinho wants to win the game. Both Schurrle and Oscar are, by nature, attacking players.
Giroud had a wonderful chance to put the Gunners into the lead but fluffed his chance by belting his left-footer into Cech's side-netting, much to the mirth of the 3,500 Chelsea fans who hooted with laugher at the French striker's misfortune.
The fans laughter turned to relief two minutes later as Cech blocked Giroud's near post touch on goal, that, with five minutes in the click would surely proved the winner.
Mourinho then replaced ineffectual Fernando Torres for defender David Luiz.
That resulted in Oscar moving to up to top spot with Luiz sitting in a midfield berth.
With three minutes added to the clock, Arsenal had a corner. The ball fell to Sagna, who headed towards goal, but Azpilicueta hacked the ball off the line.
That was the last action - a point for both sides, but Chelsea will be the happier of the two managers.
Teams: Arsenal, Szczesny, Sagna, Mertessacker, Vermaelen, Rosicky, Arteta, Ozil, Giround, Walcott, Ramsey, Gibbs
Sub, Podolski, Monreal, Cazola, Flamini, Fabianski, Bendtner, Jenkinson
Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Ramires,Lampard, Torres, Mikel, Hazard, Willian, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta
Subs, Cole, Luiz,Mata, Oscar, Schurrle, Schwarzer, Eto'o
Referee, Mike Dean