Essien was unmarked on the half hour to head in Salomon Kalou's cross. Despite lacking the gloss of early-season when they could not stop scoring goals Chelsea are flying high with 28 points from 12 games with United on 24 and Arsenal, for whom Marouane Chamakh scored in the first minute and again in the last in a 2-0 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers, third on 23.