Chelsea drove themselves one step closer to the Premier League title with another defensive masterclass at the Emirates , shutting out Arsenal just a week after doing the same to Manchester United . Led magnificently by John Terry , Jose Mourinho ’ s side have proved once again that a solid back four is the bedrock of any title challenge . From the meanest to the most successful , Sportsmail takes a look at the best defences in Premier League history . John Terry ( centre ) , Gary Cahill ( left ) and Branislav Ivanovic celebrate Chelsea 's goalless draw at Arsenal . ARSENAL 1997-98 ... Lee Dixon , Tony Adams , Steve Bould/Martin Keown , Nigel Winterburn . These rear Gunners might have been getting a little long in the tooth , but it didn ’ t stop them delivering the Double for Arsene Wenger in his first full season in English football . They conceded 33 Premier League goals along the way as they pipped Manchester United to the title . Tony Adams was the main man in a fiercely solid unit that had been forged under George Graham . They knew each other ’ s game inside out and few defences down the years could match this one for experience and knowhow . ( From left ) Steve Bould , Tony Adams , Nigel Winterburn and Lee Dixon celebrate the title . ARSENAL 2003-04 ... Lauren , Kolo Toure , Sol Campbell , Ashley Cole . Six years on and it was an entirely new Arsenal backline that will forever be lauded for their contribution to the Invicibles , Wenger ’ s team that amazingly went unbeaten on their way to the title in 2004 . The Gunners conceded only 26 goals in the process as they finished 11 points clear of Chelsea . Campbell had succeeded Adams as the kingpin and they had more attack-minded full backs in Cole and Lauren , but the old defensive steel was as strong as ever . Lauren , Kolo Toure , Sol Campbell and Ashley Cole ( not pictured ) formed one of the league 's best defences . Campbell played alongside Toure in the season Arsenal went unbeaten as Cole and Lauren ( right ) confront Phil Neville after their side 's infamous 0-0 draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford in 2003 . CHELSEA 2004-05 ... Paulo Ferreira , John Terry , William Gallas , Ricardo Carvalho . No team in Premier League history has conceded fewer goals than Mourinho ’ s side in his first season in England after the Portuguese coach moved to Stamford Bridge fresh from his Champions League triumph with Porto . Chelsea ’ s defence was breached just 15 times as they won the title with 95 points , another Premier League record . Mourinho brought Ferreira and Carvalho with him from Porto and the effect was instant . William Gallas and John Terry celebrate after the latter scored for Chelsea in a 4-1 win against West Ham . MANCHESTER UNITED 1998-99 ... Gary Neville , Jaap Stam , Ronny Johnsen , Denis Irwin . United ’ s Treble winners were not the meanest by any stretch , letting in 37 goals in 1999 compared with the 17 conceded by nearest challengers Arsenal . But the attacking instincts of Sir Alex Ferguson ’ s side always meant it was going to be a case of ‘ we ’ ll score more goals than you ’ , as was evident in the two 3-3 draws with Barcelona that season . Ferguson has since said that Irwin would be the only certain inclusion in a best XI picked from his time at Old Trafford , while selling Stam was arguably his biggest regret . Either way , this back four deserves their place in the hall of fame on the basis of the club ’ s Treble achievement . Jaap Staam ( centre ) and Gary Neville ( right ) , pictured with David Beckham and Dwight Yorke ( top ) , formed half of United 's Treble-winning defence . Denis Irwin played at left back with Ronny Johnsen partnering Stam . MANCHESTER UNITED 2006-07 , 2007-08 , 2008-09 : Gary Neville , Rio Ferdinand , Nemanja Vidic , Patrice Evra . This was an altogether more compact United , conceding an average of 24 goals on their way to winning the title three years in a row . Has there ever been a better bit of January transfer business than the two deals United completed in 2006 to sign Vidic and Evra from Spartak Moscow and Monaco respectively ? Vidic teamed up with the majestic Ferdinand to forge one of the great central defensive partnerships , playing together in three Champions League finals , while Neville was still going strong at right back . Nani 's celebration is overlooked by Patrice Evra , Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand in the summer of 2007 . Ferdinand 's partnership with Vidic helped Manchester United to successive titles in 2007 , 2008 and 2009 . MANCHESTER CITY 20011-12 : Pablo Zabaleta , Vincent Kompany , Joleon Lescott , Aleksandar Kolarov . Manchester City ’ s success in conceding only 29 goals was ultimately crucial in snatching the title away from United on goal difference after an unforgettable final day of the season in 2012 . Kompany , who lifted the trophy , was well on his way to establishing himself as a City legend , as was Zabaleta . Both players had been signed by Mark Hughes , along with Lescott , but the defensive nous of Italian Roberto Mancini helped turn City into a more solid unit before he brought in the combative Kolarov from Lazio . Vincent Kompany is mobbed by his defensive partner Aleksandar Kolarov after scoring against Liverpool .
Branislav Ivanovic , John Terry , Gary Cahill and Cesar Azpilicueta all starred in Chelsea 's only 26-only 26 draw against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium . Chelsea have conceded 0 goals this season . They are closing in on another Premier League title under Jose Mourinho . Chelsea 's defence have proved that a solid back four is key to a charge . Jamie Carragher : Terry is the Premier League 's greatest ever defender . Terry on course to take part in all PL games for first time in his career .