Chelsea close in on Arsenal

Chelsea have closed the gap between the themselves and Arsenal at the top of the league to between three points. Avram Grant's side made it seven wins in a row with an impressive display which showed that they are a genuine threat in the title race.

Wigan have lost to last minute wonder goals in the last two meetings with Chelsea at the JJB Stadium but this game was as good as over by half-time.

By then the visitors had established a commanding 2-0 lead thanks to sloppy defending by the struggling hosts and some clinical Chelsea finishing.

After surviving early Wigan claims for a penalty when Belletti collided with Marcus Bent, the London club took an 11th minute lead through Lampard. The Chelsea skipper, who hit a hat-trick against Leicester in the League Cup three days earlier, beat England international Chris Kirkland from 10-yards after a delightful pass by Shaun Wright-Phillips.

Wright-Phillips made the most of his rare Premier League start and was involved in the second goal seven minutes later when he supplied a pass to Belletti inside his own half. The right-back went on a powerful run and, with the Wigan defence backing off, dispatched a tremendous 25-yard effort into Kirkland's top corner.