Gary Cahill won the battle of the England starters in Saturday’s early kick-off as Chelsea beat nine-man Arsenal 2-0 at Stamford Bridge.
The England central defender was partnered by Kurt Zouma in defence, with Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho electing to shuffle his pack.
And while Arsenal boasted the likes of the Three Lions' Theo Walcott among their own starting line-up, Chelsea’s defence held firm to record their first league clean sheet of the season.
Zouma opened the scoring on 53 minutes, before Eden Hazard’s shot deflected off half-time substitute Calum Chambers to confirm the win late on and inflict a second league defeat upon Arsenal – who had Gabriel and Santi Cazorla sent off.
The result moved Chelsea up to 13th in the table while league leaders Manchester City, boasting England No1 Joe Hart and winger Raheem Sterling in their starting XI, lost ground after losing 2-1 at home to West Ham United – Victor Moses pand Diafra Sakho scoring for the visitors before Kevin De Bruyne halved the deficit.
Elsewhere, striker Saido Berahino marked his return to the West Brom line-up by scoring the only goal in their 1-0 victory over Midlands rivals Aston Villa.
Former England U21s striker Saido Berahino was on target for West Brom against Aston Villa
The England man diverted James Morrison’s long-range shot past the stranded Brad Guzan for not only the Baggies’ first goal on the road this season, but also his first goal of the campaign.
Villa skipper Micah Richards appeared to head in an equaliser in the second half but referee Martin Atkinson had already blown the whistle following a foul in the build up.
Another England frontman on the scoresheet on Saturday was Jamie Vardy, who helped Leicester City complete yet another comeback.
The Foxes had been trailing to first-half goals from Bojan and Jonathan Walters but Riyad Mahrez beat England keeper Jack Butland from the spot on 51 minutes before Vardy wriggled clear of the defence to draw level on 69 minutes.
Meanwhile at the Liberty Stadium, Phil Jagielka, on his 300th Toffees appearance, John Stones and England Under-19s man Brendan Galloway helped Everton keep a clean sheet as they drew 0-0 with Swansea City – Ross Barkley was also in the starting line up for the Toffees, with England team-mate Jonjo Shelvey opposite him for Swansea.
In the Championship, Charlie Austin took his tally to six goals for the season but it was not enough to earn Queen’s Park Rangers all three points as they drew 1-1 at Hull City – Michael Dawson with the Tigers’ equaliser.
Meanwhile England U19s midfielder Lewis Cook and Alex Mowatt, of England Under-20s fame, helped Leeds United to a 2-1 win at MK Dons.
And in League One, Newcastle United loan striker Adam Armstrong scored the only goal of the game, and his sixth in the league this season, as Coventry City beat Chesterfield 1-0 to cement fourth spot.
