Chelsea shrugged off 抛开 any problems off the pitch to reclaim the top spot in the Premier League by beating Arsenal 2-0 on Sunday.

Some Chelsea fans had feared that the media furore 轰动媒体的丑闻 surrounding their captain John Terry may have affected the team's ability to win games.

Terry was stripped 免去了of the England squad captaincy on Friday by Fabio Capello, the England manager, following allegations in the British press that Terry had cheated on his wife with the former girlfriend of a team-mate.

"After much thought I have made the decision that it will be best for me to take the captaincy away from John Terry," said Capello in a statement.

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has been handed the captain's armband 臂章，袖章.

Terry appears to have taken the news of his sacking on the chin 忍气吞声, releasing the following statement:

"I fully respect Fabio Capello's decision. I will continue to give everything for England."

England and Chelsea fans hope the whole incident will now blow over 被忘掉 allowing the England squad to prepare for the World Cup without such lurid distractions 低俗的分散注意力的事情.

The woman at the centre of the storm, Vanessa Peroncell, has said that she will not be selling her story to the papers, despite reportedly receiving offers of up to £250,000 (2.75m yuan) for a kiss and tell exposé（指向媒体）描述自己（与名人）的丑闻.

The former nightclub hostess 俱乐部女招待 and lingerie model 内衣模特 said, "I have decided I do not want to speak publicly about the speculation since it only seems to add more fuel to the fire."

The phrase to add more fuel to the fire means to make a bad situation worse.

Whatever has been happening off the pitch, it does not appear to have affected Terry's ability and leadership on it.

Terry assisted Didier Drogba to score the opening goal in Sunday's London derby, and his performance delighted his manager Carlo Ancelotti, who described him as "the perfect captain" for Chelsea.