Forget Arsenal's Invincibles and meet Conte's invincible Chelsea as they go 13 in a row

The Blues stretched their winning run after a battle with a powerful Stoke City side at Stamford Bridge as they prepare to take on their biggest rivals in the New Year

Posted Sunday, January 01, 2017 by Goal.com

Chelsea equalled a Premier League record to cap a remarkable turnaround over the past 12 months as Antonio Conte leads his team relentlessly on towards the title.

A 4-2 home victory over Stoke City ensured Chelsea made it 13 successive wins to match the record for most consecutive victories within a single Premier League season.

Willian's brilliant double was the key for Chelsea after Stoke twice came from behind to level the score at Stamford Bridge. The Brazilian put Chelsea 3-2 up before Diego Costa continued his stunning year with another goal after by bulldozing his way past Bruno Martins Indi to smash home his 14th strike in 18 games.

Conte and his players will know they have work to do ahead of their visit to face Tottenham on Wednesday after they looked uncharacteristically defensively suspect against Stoke, but they will head to White Hart Lane in search of an outright Premier League record.

Forget Arsenal's Invincibles and meet Conte's invincible Chelsea as they go 13 in a row

Chelsea's winning run has been underpinned by Conte's ability to boost the damaged egos of his players after an abysmal year which saw the Blues finish in 10th place last season.

Cesc Fabregas successfully pulled the strings throughout his side's victory after joining the likes of Costa, Eden Hazard and Nemanja Matic, who all had terrible 2015-16 seasons, in being revitalised by the arrival of Conte.

The former Juventus and Italy coach was not expected to deliver the title in his first season, with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich hoping for a return to the Champions League. Conte has exceeded expectations in his first spell working as a manager when games have been played at Christmas.

He has done this while reaching out to everyone around the club. Conte has taken journalists to the pub, appeared at every Chelsea staff party and organised personal gifts and a party for players and staff of the first team.

Conte's personal touch and understanding of football has given him the opportunity to produce something that could leave a historic legacy. If he achieves 14 wins in a row, his Chelsea team will be talked about for many years to come and, if this is the impact that he can make in year one, imagine what he can do in year five?

Forget Arsenal's Invincibles and meet Conte's invincible Chelsea as they go 13 in a row

Chelsea's 13th win in a row means that they have matched a record set by the Arsenal team that was nicknamed the 'Invincibles', as well as Preston North End and Sunderland teams from a bygone era.

The Blues can own the single-season record outright by beating their greatest rivals next Wednesday as they chase Arsenal's 14 wins in a row, which they earned across two seasons, with Conte convincing everyone around west London that he is the real deal.

Chelsea weren't at their best against Stoke, but they have an air of invincibility about them. They have a superhuman ability to overcome hardship, such as a second equaliser from Peter Crouch, and win. They also have the ability to finish off a team like Manchester United in a 4-0 firefight.

Chelsea have 49 points from 19 games as they head into a New Year which could bring new silverware. Arsenal's 'Invincibles' are a team that every potential Premier League champion is measured against but perhaps Conte is about to change that in 2017.

Arsene Wenger called Chelsea the "superfavourites" this week. He is right, but maybe he should also call them the new Invincibles.