ARSENAL are facing rivals Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium in a HUGE Premier League clash today.
The Blues will welcome back record signing Romelu Lukaku, who STARTS for Thomas Tuchel’s side this afternoon.
- Start time: 4.30pm BST
- TV/Live stream: Sky Sports Premier League
- Arsenal XI: Leno; Cedric, Holding, Mari, Tierney; Lokonga, Xhaka (c); Saka, Smith Rowe, Pepe; Martinelli.
- Chelsea XI: Mendy; Rudiger, Christensen, Azpilicueta (c); Alonso, Kovacic, Jorginho, James; Havertz, Mount; Lukaku.
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THAT’S ALL FOR TONIGHT
Chelsea are looking like real title contenders and with Lukaku they could be an unstoppable force.
As for Arsenal, it’s back to the drawing board.
They face West Brom in the cup followed by a game at the defending Premier League champions Man City.
The table could be looking grim for Arsenal come September.
Goodnight.
TABLE CHECK
Chelsea go to the top of the Premier League table after today’s win.
DROG’S THOUGHTS
Didier Drogba enjoyed Chelsea’s performance!
FIRING BLANKS
Bukayo Saka – 6
Looked the most likely to create something for Arteta’s men but his final touch or pass often let him down.
Still looks like the most exciting player at the club, even if his teammates are not giving him much chance to show it. Tested Edouard Mendy with a venomous long range effort.
Emile Smith Rowe – 6
The game passed him by in the early stages as he looked totally out of his depth up against Mateo Kovacic and Jorginho.
Was robbed in possession a couple of times but eventually grew into the contest with some lung-busting drives into the Chelsea box. Like the rest of the Gunners team though, he lacked an end product.
Gabriel Martinelli – 5
Barely had a kick in the first half as the Gunners seemed to be desperately missing a focal point. Definitely flourishes more as a wide forward as opposed to the No9 position he tried to fill here.
Nicolas Pepe – 4
Continues to drift through big games without affecting them in any meaningful way.
Arsenal would have hoped when Pepe arrived at the club for £72million that these were the sort of games he could star in. Instead, you’d have been forgiven for not realising he was on the pitch.
BOYS AGAINST MEN
Albert Sambi Lokonga – 6
Had a quiet game but his passing and positioning were more accomplished than the far more experienced Granit Xhaka alongside him.
A very difficult match for him to look good in, especially when Mason Mount was drifting all over the place in the second half. Booked for hauling down Lukaku.
Granit Xhaka – 5
Always looked more than a yard behind the pace of the game, demonstrated in Chelsea’s second goal when he could not make up the ground to block off Lukaku’s dummy.
Was chasing shadows when the Blues had the ball. Then when Arsenal won it back Xhaka frequently struggled to carry his side away from danger.
LEAKY AT THE BACK
Bernd Leno – 6
Could not have done anything about the two goals as his defence were exposed time and time again. Made a superb save late on from a Lukaku header.
Cedric Soares – 6
Offered more protection in defensive situations than Kieran Tierney did on the other side.
Failed to receive much help from Nicolas Pepe when it came to tracking back. Did his best to curtail Marcos Alonso and Kai Havertz even if he was not always successful.
Rob Holding – 5
Both he and Pablo Mari were taught a lesson by Lukaku when it comes to the physicality of the Premier League.
It was a baptism of fire for Rob Holding given it’s his first game of the season.
But he was still sluggish, even if Mari did him no favours. He was frequently susceptible to being beaten in the air in the same way Ben White struggled against Brentford. Received a yellow card for his troubles.
Pablo Mari – 3
Clearly not capable of handling someone of the calibre of Lukaku. Allowed the Chelsea striker to wander through and tap in from close range inside the first quarter of an hour.
Alongside a second central defensive partner in as many games following the omission of White, Mari failed to show any kind of chemistry with Holding. To cap things off, he was also booked. Had an absolute nightmare.
Kieran Tierney – 5
Looked lively early on as Arsenal clearly targeted the right-hand side of Chelsea’s defence.
But was caught out for Chelsea’s opener as he got drawn inside and allowed Reece James acres of space to pick out Lukaku.
The visitors enjoyed tremendous joy down the left as the second goal also came from a similar position.
UNSTOPPABLE
Romelu Lukaku – 10
What a debut for the record-signing, Lukaku scored the opener after helping create it, and he was just far too hot and physical for the Arsenal defence to handle.
They had no clue how to deal with him and he was the absolute difference for Chelsea at the top end, helping them finish off all their good possession and chances.
MIDFIELD MAESTROS
Mateo Kovacic – 8
Really good all round performance as Chelsea’s ball carrier from deep, his contributions going forward setting up attacks was excellent, and his recovery play was also good. He played a beautiful pass through to James to cross for Lukaku’s first goal.
Jorginho – 8
So so good under pressure, receiving the ball from deep and helping Chelsea play out, keep possession and, not only that, but controlling it throughout as well.
Kai Havertz – 8
Looked really dangerous every time he got the ball, always looking for that decisive final pass or helping set up a goal. He was on fire just like Lukaku and Mount.
Mason Mount – 9
Hungry, full of energy, and a real menace to the Arsenal defence linking up so well with his strike partners Lukaku and Havertz.
BLUES CRUISE
Edouard Mendy – 8
The goalkeeper had a quiet first-half but his distribution was very good. He was brilliant at mopping up anything that came through to him and made a few decent saves in the second-half.
Reece James – 8
He first assisted Lukaku for the opening goal, then he scored the second of the game with a beautiful and composed finish in the box.
Cesar Azpilicueta – 9
Excellent defensive performance from the captain and he was influential with Chelsea in possession going forward as well. He was absolutely colossal at the back.
Andreas Christensen – 9
Calm once again at the heart of the Chelsea defence and didn’t give anything away, some intelligent defending and controlling of the backline.
Antonio Rudiger – 8
The German was well up for this game as always and his pace was very useful against Nicolas Pepe, largely containing any real threats they had. He was also in a couple of small scuffles winding up the Arsenal players which was great.
Marcos Alonso – 8
He was fantastic for Chelsea as he continues to prove his worth for the club and keep Ben Chilwell out of the starting line-up, but he once again showed why with a great all round wing-back performance.
FT STATS: ARSENAL 0-2 CHELSEA
Chelsea will be favourites for the Premier League title, surely?
FT: ARSENAL 0-2 CHELSEA
Not much happened in the second half apart from Leno’s class save to deny Lukaku a second.
Romelu’s return is the story of the day.
Credit: GETTY IMAGES PEEEEEEEP!
THE REFEREE PUTS ARSENAL OUT OF THEIR MISERY!
CHELSEA WIN THE LONDON DERBY!
ARSENAL 0-2 CHELSEA
90. The fourth official holds his board up and there will be three additional minutes played.
The Arsenal faithful are streaming out of the Emirates, they’re on course for a second straight defeat.
No points and no goals for the Gunners.
ARSENAL 0-2 CHELSEA
89. SUBSTITUTION!
Havertz’s afternoon comes to an end and what a shift he’s put in for the Blues!
OFF: Havertz
ON: Werner
ARSENAL 0-2 CHELSEA
88. Chelsea win a second consecutive corner.
ARSENAL 0-2 CHELSEA
85. CHANCE!
A wonderful ball is played up towards Lukaku again, and he holds it up well.
He times his pass to perfection for Havertz, who has overlapped to his right.
The German breaks into the penalty area and gets a shot off but Leno saves!
ARSENAL 0-2 CHELSEA
83. Pepe lays the ball off to Tavares and the young left-back goes on a run.
Tavares twists and turns before playing the ball into the feet of Balogun on the edge of the box.
But the young forward is unable to make something happen, and Chelsea look to break through Ziyech.
ARSENAL 0-2 CHELSEA
81. SUBSTITUTION!
Mount has had a fantastic afternoon and he’s pulled off for a well deserved rest.
OFF: Mount
ON: Ziyech
ARSENAL 0-2 CHELSEA
79. SUBSTITUTION!
Martinelli has had a quiet afternoon and he has run his race.
OFF: Martinelli
ON: Balogun
ARSENAL 0-2 CHELSEA
78. The Chelsea fans are singing Lukaku’s name from the away end and he turns and waves to acknowledge them.
ARSENAL 0-2 CHELSEA
76. WHAT A SAVE!
A good spell of Chelsea play falls to Mount on the edge of Arsenal’s penalty area.
The midfielder clips the ball into the box, finding Lukaku in acres of space.
The forward sends a thumping header on target but Leno somehow tips the effort onto the underside of the crossbar!
Credit: GETTY IMAGES
ARSENAL 0-2 CHELSEA
73. James lands awkwardly in an aerial challenge and the physios are rushed onto the pitch.
After a short break in play, the right-back is back to his feet and walked off to the sideline.
ARSENAL 0-2 CHELSEA
71. SUBSTITUTION!
Men against boys in the midfield today and the man whose been at the centre of it, Kovacic, is coming off.
OFF: Kovacic
ON: Kante
ARSENAL 0-2 CHELSEA
69. CHANCE!
Pepe holds the ball up well before laying it wide to Cedric on the overlap.
The right-back cuts the ball back into the path of Smith Rowe.
The Gunners No10 takes a touch inside of his marker, but Azpilicueta steps in well to win the ball for Chelsea.
ARSENAL 0-2 CHELSEA
67. YELLOW CARD!
Lokonga lets Lukaku cut inside of him and drive towards Leno’s goal.
In a desperate attempt to bring the forward to a halt, the midfielder concedes a free-kick and he’s booked as a result.
Alonso or Mount to take.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
