ARSENAL won the London bragging rights tonight after convincingly beating Chelsea 3-1 at the Emirates – and have reclaimed top spot off Manchester City.
Martin Odegaard’s double sent the Emirates wild before Gabriel Jesus’ strike.
However, Noni Madueke did give the Gunners a slight scare having pulled one back midway through the second half.
- RESULT: Arsenal 3-1 Chelsea
- Live stream: NOW TV
- TV channel: Sky Sports Main Event and Premier League
- Arsenal XI: Ramsdale, White, Kiwior, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Jorginho, Xhaka; Saka, Jesus, Trossard
- Chelsea XI: Kepa; Azpilicueta, Fofana, Silva, Chilwell; Kante, Fernandez, Kovacic; Madueke, Aubameyang, Sterling
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Gunners have tough test ahead
Arsenal will travel to St James’ Park this weekend to face Eddie Howe’s in-form Newcastle United side.
Keen to keep to pressure on Man City, nothing but three points will be good enough for Mikel Arteta’s side.
It will be a true test of his side to see where they are in their transition under the Spanish manager.
Midfielder solid as a rock
Granit Xhaka played a big part in this victory for Arsenal, assisting two of The Gunners’ goals in the process.
His movement in the attacking third, created spaces and his link up play allows the more attacking flair players the chance to unlock defences.
They will need his experience for the remainder of the season if they are to win their last four games.
Gunners show their attacking capabilities
Arsenal showed anyone doubting their flair in the attacking third this evening as they opened up the visitors time and time again.
They could have scored a lot more goals in this game if they had been more clinical in front of goal.
Arteta will be disappointed they didn’t assert that dominance as much in the second half but this was still a very comfortable win.
Norway we are giving up
Martin Odegaard put in a captain’s performance tonight as he led from the front, giving Arsenal an outlet in the final third.
He slotted into the space created by the players around him and capitalised, getting two goals in the process.
Making sure his side keep Man City honest in this title race is all Arsenal can do between now and the end of the season.
FT: Arsenal 3-1 Chelsea
Arsenal showed the gulf between these two side’s fortunes currently.
Mikel Arteta will be disappointed that his team did not take full advantage of their dominance.
Frank Lampard will be hoping Christine has a glass of wine, or a bottle, waiting for him when he gets home.
FT: Arsenal 3-1 Chelsea
The referee brings the game to a close.
Solid victory for Arsenal in this London derby.
Martin Odegaard is awarded the man of the match honours.
Arsenal 3-1 Chelsea
90+4. Mudryk does well down the left and gets to the byline and crosses towards the back post.
Havertz is there but he does not get enough contact to test Ramsdale.
Arsenal counter attack and Xhaka shoots from distance but Kepa gets down well to save.
Arsenal 3-1 Chelsea
90+2. The free kick was like ordering a Dominos at 2am on a Saturday night, very disappointing delivery.
When the board said the added time, had Chelsea managed to get a goal there it would have put this Arsenal side under real pressure.
The game has dropped off a bit now as Mikel Arteta’s side look to consolidate what they have.
Arsenal 3-1 Chelsea
90. Partey is penalised for a foul on Chilwell just outside the box.
Chance for the visitors to get a goal and make for a nervy end to this game for Arsenal.
Mudryk and Ziyech are stood over it.
We are going to have five minutes of time added on.
Arsenal 3-1 Chelsea
88. This could of and should have been a much more convincing scoreline this evening.
Currently it looks like Chelsea were in this game but The Gunners have dominated from start to finish.
Considering the score at half time, Frank Lampard will take this.
Credit: Getty Arsenal 3-1 Chelsea
86. Rob Holding comes on for Mr Glass.
Jorginho comes off for Thomas Partey.
Mikel Arteta would like another goal here to underline his side’s dominance in this game tonight.
Fofana comes off for Chalobah.
Arsenal 3-1 Chelsea
84. The ball is slotted through to Odegaard inside the box.
He cuts inside and gets off a shot at goal but it is parried by Kepa.
Gabriel is down on the floor again.
Take him off and put us all out of our misery, the guy is made of glass.
Arsenal 3-1 Chelsea
82. Gabriel is down on the turf once again for Arsenal.
The centre back has spent more time on the grass than most gardeners.
Arsenal look to knock the ball around to play through the Chelsea lines.
Arsenal 3-1 Chelsea
80. Kovacic is booked for a heavy challenge on Jesus.
The high tempo of the Arsenal attacking has dipped since the goal as if they are wary of a comeback.
Chelsea are throwing punches but not landing anything at the moment.
Arsenal 3-1 Chelsea
78. Chelsea whip a cross into the box, Thiago Silva flicks the ball on and it deflects for a corner.
Chance for the visitors to get their big men forward.
The delivery comes in but no one is able to get a telling touch on it.
Ziyech comes on for Madueke.
Credit: Getty
Arsenal 3-1 Chelsea
76. It is a big call which was the most questionable life choice of Mudryk’s career so far.
Signing an eight-year Chelsea contract or those butterfly tattoos on his neck.
Frank Lampard still has a look on his face like he has just found out he is getting paid in cryptocurrency however.
Arsenal 3-1 Chelsea
74. Zinchenko and Saka come off for Tierney and Nelson.
Ironically as he comes off, it is the closest Zinchenko has been to the left back position for most of the game.
Mikel Arteta looking to tighten things up after that Chelsea goal.
Arsenal 3-1 Chelsea
72. Gallagher and Mudryk come on for Sterling and Fernandez.
Chance for the January signing to show what he is all about.
On a big pitch like The Emirates his pace and skill is perfectly suited to take on this Arsenal defence.
Arsenal 3-1 Chelsea
70. Saka is trying to walk the ball through the Chelsea defence all too often at the moment.
Arsenal look more effective when they play their slick, one and two touch passing.
Chelsea are standing off them and resisting the press to wait to get the ball back.
Arsenal 3-1 Chelsea
68. If Arsenal were allow Chelsea back into this game, they would only have themselves to blame.
The score should be five or six before the visitors scored that goal.
It shows the defensive vulnerabilities of Mikel Arteta’s side that even in a game they are dominating so much, they still concede.
Credit: Getty Arsenal 3-1 Chelsea
66. Chelsea are thriving on the fact that Zinchenko goes walkabout all too often.
They play a ball over the top down that flank and the Ukrainian is nowhere to be seen.
Madueke gets into the box, hits his shot into the ground and beats Ramsdale in the Arsenal goal.
Goal – Noni Madueke (Chelsea)
Arsenal 3-0 Chelsea
64. Chelsea are trying to get forward more to find a goal that may change their fortunes in this game.
Arsenal are managing to keep them out but the visitors are starting to have glimpses of goal.
End-to-end stuff at the moment.
Arsenal 3-0 Chelsea
62. This is starting to look like a training match for Arsenal.
If they take their chances this could be a hammering for the visitors.
Madueke does well for Chelsea, goes around the keeper but the angle is so tight he can do nothing but try a fizz it across the six yard box.
Arsenal have numbers back and clear.
Arsenal 3-0 Chelsea
60. Chelsea come forward for a rare attack.
Sterling crosses towards the back post but Zinchenko wins the header.
That all came from Arsenal giving the ball away in their own half.
Meanwhile, Frank Lampard contemplates life.
Credit: Getty
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
