Arsenal and Chelsea shared a scrappy goalless stalemate at the Emirates on Monday to leave Liverpool top at Christmas.

In a tight opening period in this London derby, Frank Lampard volleyed against the bar, while Theo Walcott had a penalty claim turned down after being caught by Willian.

After the break, Olivier Giroud shot wide and Bacary Sagna had an effort cleared off the line by Cesar Azpilicueta as Arsenal could not find the win they needed to retake the Premier League lead.

The Gunners are now level on points with Liverpool at the top, while the stalemate sees Chelsea move fourth, two points off the top.

The draw means Arsene Wenger remains without a victory over Jose Mourinho's Chelsea.

The Gunners boss was bidding for a first victory over his Portuguese adversary at the 10th attempt, knowing that was what his side required to return to the top of the Premier League at Christmas.

Wenger has had plenty of shots at masterminding victory over Blues sides managed by Mourinho, who now holds a record of five wins and five draws against the Frenchman.

There were numerous classics in Mourinho's first Stamford Bridge spell, but the latest bout was not in their class.

Less adventurous

Chelsea beat Arsenal on enemy territory in the Capital One Cup in October but their approach in the Premier League was less adventurous.

After 30 minutes of sizing each other up, the contest ignited when FLampard hit the bar and the tackles began to fly in.

John Obi Mikel was perhaps fortunate to avoid a red card for a studs-up tackle on Mikel Arteta and, in the same move, referee Mike Dean also opted not to award a penalty when Willian tripped Walcott.

Willian passed up a good opportunity on the counter-attack for a Chelsea side which had set up defensively, putting men behind the ball in an effort to limit the space Arsenal's creative players, such as Mesut Ozil, could work in.

Arteta's right ankle took another hefty blow from Ramires, who was booked, as the second half continued in much the same vein as the first.

Giroud sliced wide with 11 minutes remaining and was denied by Petr Cech at point-blank range with five minutes to go.

Sagna then saw his effort cleared off the line near the death as the honours ended even, with Mourinho the happier of the managers.

Teams

Arsenal Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen (c), Gibbs, Ramsey, Arteta, Walcott, Ozil, Rosicky, Giroud
Subs Not Used Fabianski< Monreal, Jenkinson, Flamini, Cazorla, Podolski, Bendtner
Booked Rosicky, Walcott
Goals

Chelsea Cech, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry (c), Azpilicueta, Mikel, Lampard, Ramires, Willian (Oscar 77), Hazard (Schurrle 73), Torres (Luiz 87)
Subs Not Used Schwarzer, Cole, Mata, Eto’o
Booked Ramires
Goals

Attendance 60,039

Referee Mike Dean