PREMIER LEAGUE RESULTS: Drogba double sends Chelsea back to top

DIDIER Drogba's first-half double saw off lacklustre Arsenal and propelled Chelsea back to the top of the Premier Division.

GUNNING DOWN ARSENAL: Didier Drogba comes inches away from a hat-trick as he takes his record against Arsenal to 12 goals in ten games (Getty Images)

John Terry may have been the name on everyone lips before kick-off after the Chelsea skipper was stripped of the England captaincy on Friday but it was the Ivorian who will dominate Monday's headlines after another bullish performance against the Gunners.

The 31-year old ran circles round full back Gael Clichy all game and continued his impressive record against Chelsea's London rivals, sealing a 2-0 win to take his record to 12 goals in his last ten games against Arsenal.

The Gunners threatened in patches and should have drawn level midway through the first period when Andrey Arshavin found space behind Ricardo Carvalho but the Russian's volley was straight at Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech.

But Chelsea were in determined mood and ruthlessly exposed the Gunners' susceptibility to the counter-attack, just as Manchester United did in their 3-1 win at The Emirates seven days ago.

While the Blues were lethal on the break, Chelsea's first strike came from a dead ball as Terry leaped highest to head an out-swinging corner goalwards where the Ivorian pounced unmarked at the back post in the seventh minute.

And minutes after Arshavin had volleyed Cesc Fabregas' cross into Cech's arms, the home side struck again as England midfielder Frank Lampard raced forward before releasing Drogba in the 22nd minute.

The powerful striker powered past a limp Clichy challenge before smashing a left-footed finish into the corner for his third goal in two games since returning from the African Cup of Nations in Angola.

Drobga might have completed his hat-trick late on as he slammed a 30-yard free kick onto the bar but it wasn't to be for the Ivorian as he was pulled off to a standing ovation shortly after.

Meanwhile, Kevin Phillips' double-strike saw Birmingham City take the spoils against West Midlands rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers at St. Andrews.

Irish striker Kevin Doyle worked tirelessly on his own up front for Wolves and scored a deserved opening goal three minutes before the half time, pouncing on the loose ball after Matthew Jarvis' cross deflected on to the post.

But the Blues had left it late to equalise in their 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur eight days ago and repeated the feat in the second city as Phillips - a second half substitute for Christian Benitez - converted Craig Gardner's header in the 80th minute.

And five minutes later, the former England striker sealed the points for Birmingham as the 36-year old chested down Stephen Carr's cross before hammering home a volley to keep his side seven points of fourth-placed Liverpool in eighth.