The run Chelsea have been on since their humbling defeat to Arsenal in September has been nothing short of remarkable, and was opitimized when they avenged that defeat with a near perfect performance against the Gunners at the weekend.

Goals from Marcos Alonso, Eden Hazard and former Arsenal hero Cesc Fabregas sealed the Gunners’ fate and have caused quite the meltdown in north London since Saturday’s early kick-off.

The result gave Antonio Conte and 12 point gap between his side and his counterpart at The Emirates who, at times this season, had been thought to be the biggest threat to Chelsea’s second Premier League title in three years.

Their turn of form earlier in the season, having had a mixed start to the campaign, was triggered by the former Italy boss’ call to implement his own style on the team, switching to a 3-4-3 system.

The Italian had previously tried to work with the Blues’ tried and tested formula of a 4-3-2-1, which – barring last season’s anomaly, had brought his predecessors plenty of silverware over the years.

However, it had not worked and, thus, Conte did what he is paid to do and made the call to shake things up.

The change meant sacrificing the futures of the likes of Oscar and Branislav Ivanovic, who would no long fit into the formation, as well as see club legend John Terry sit out most of the season on the bench.

However, it has proved more than worth those sacrifices, with most pundits and commentators handing Conte his maiden Premier League title before March.

Whilst the system has worked wonders for the west Londoners, there is more going on than just a canny tactical change.

Conte is a million miles apart from most managers in the Premier League in the way in which he goes about things on and off the pitch.

Whilst it is unfair to say that other top-flight bosses are not passionate over their work, none seem to give as much as the Italian.
Conte seems to come away from every game having worked just as hard physically as all of his players out on the pitch and is a steadfast believer in his ideas.

The former Juventus boss has said he has a ‘blind faith’ in the work that he is doing, something which he seems to have passed through to his playing staff.

Furthermore, the way in which Conte has brought Diego Costa back from what, under Mourinho, would have been a fallout to end all fallout speaks volumes for his character and, once more, passion.

It is clear that Conte has an infections nature which players, such as Costa, cannot ignore, it is a nature that convinces the likes of the Spaniard to stay put and fight for a manager they know is giving his all to bring in silverware.

Conte may be a tactical genius, but his work rate, passion and desire to win are vital components in Chelsea’s success.