After easing their way into the game, Kevin De Bruyne tested Lukasz Fabianski with a curling effort before Chelsea took the lead after 26 minutes.

Arsenal have been criticised for failing to defend properly from their own corners this season, and again they succumbed to a counter attack.

Chelsea burst forward and after Ramsey's block on Essien's through ball looped up into the air, a poor back header from Jenkinson was poked in by Azpilicueta for his first Chelsea goal.

The goal signalled an improvement by Arsenal, who made eight changes to the side that beat Crystal Palace on Saturday, and one of them, Nacho Monreal, fizzed an angled shot wide soon after.

Eto'o fired wide in front of 9,000 visiting fans before Ramsey hit a strike past the post from 25 yards.

Then, despite Mesut Ozil coming on to improve Arsenal's fortunes, they went further behind to a classy Mata goal.

Ryan Bertrand's throw-in reached Eto'o on the goal line and when the Cameroon international cut the ball back, Willian nodded it onto to Mata, who struck in a sweet right-foot shot from 20 yards.

Bendtner was mercifully replaced by Olivier Giroud and the French forward's close-range shot was saved by Mark Schwarzer but substitute Ramires came close to extending the lead at the near post before Laurent Koscielny cleared.

Chelsea assistant first team coach Steve Holland: "I think it's been a satisfying three days.

"Given we had to play the game tonight, which I know Jose [Mourinho] has documented was far from ideal with one day between the matches, it gave us no choice really but to use the full squad.

"Every player in the squad deserves great credit for their performances in the three days."