Eden Hazard scores mesmerizing solo goal as Chelsea beats Arsenal

LONDON (AP) — Eden Hazard ran half the length of the pitch, fending off Arsenal’s brittle resistance, to score a mesmerizing solo goal as Chelsea coasted to a 3-1 victory on its charge to the Premier League title.

A goal of such exceptional quality, between Marcos Alonso’s header and Cesc Fabregas’ lob into an empty net, embodied the leaders’ transformation since a 3-0 loss in the reverse fixture in September.

That defeat saw an eight-point chasm open up between Chelsea, then in eighth place, and front-runner Manchester City. Now, Chelsea is 12 points in front of north London clubs Tottenham and Arsenal at the summit.

Coming four days after a home loss to Watford, it was another unsettling day for a bedraggled Arsenal and manager Arsene Wenger, who was forced to watch from the stands as he continued his four-match touchline ban for pushing a fourth official. The Frenchman was right in the middle of the celebrating Chelsea fans as Hazard produced a moment of magic eight minutes into the second half.

It was a fusion of strength, aggression…