ARSENAL brushed Chelsea aside at the Emirates, thanks to some wonderful daring attacking play – and a bit of fortune.
Goals from Alexandre Lacazette, Granit Xhaka and Bukayo Saka gave the Gunners an incredible three-goal advantage before VAR checked and allowed one from Tammy Abraham.
Bernd Leno saved a Jorginho penalty late on to preserve a healthy advantage and deny the Blues the chance to get back into the game.
Read about how the game unfolded with our kick-by-kick blog below…
THAT’S A WRAP
Thanks for joining us for a Boxing Day derby.
Now it’s time to polish off your leftovers while reading our match report.
LAMPS SPEAKS
The Chelsea boss was less than impressed in his post-match interview.
Frank Lampard said: “It wasn’t good enough, the first half wasn’t good enough, we then had a mountain to climb and when you attack the way we did then the second goal happens.”We brought on people that added speed and energy, but we should have had that from every player on the pitch.”The message was clear, we knew they were a talented team, it’s a London derby, we knew we could go second and they could head downwards, perhaps the players thought too much about that.”I’m angry because I want us to win game- it was an opportunity to go second.”You should make it more difficult for them, but we gave them an opening from minute one, lazily gave a penalty and lazily gave away a free kick.”I’m very, very disappointed in the way we approached the first half- it’s not tactics, it’s whether you want to jog or sprint and they made the wrong choices.”
HOW’S STAT, SAKA?
No wonder Saka was named today’s man-of-the-match!
⭐️ Man of the Match, @Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka46 touches, 3 in opposition boxCompleted 20/25 passes2 shots, 1 on target2nd PL goal this season – the other was in Arsenal’s previous home PL win, 83 days ago v Sheffield Utd pic.twitter.com/N7Vhwt50eV
— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) December 26, 2020
MIKEL SPEAKS
Speaking on Sky Sports, Mikel Arteta says: “Obviously it’s a really big win for us.
“We’ve been really disappointed with the results recently, the players were suffering and the fans were suffering.
“But it’s a special day to play a London derby on Boxing Day at the Emirates.
“We know how good Chelsea are, but we were the better team that’s why we won the game.
“When you start to see everything going against you; ten men, injuries, Covid issues and just how unlucky we’ve been, you start to question what you need to win a match!
“But I’m proud of the players for the performance they put in and that we can give something back to the fans.”
TIERNEY TALKS
Speaking on Sky Sports, Kieran Tierney says: “It’s a start isn’t it?
“We needed that win today and needed to give the fans something to be positive about.”I think we started better and didn’t wait until we went one down to take chances- we started on the front foot today and that’s the message that we’ve had during training.
“The half-time message was ‘keep going’, we were playing more positively and kept up the hard work in the second half.
“Fair play to Leno, he’s an outstanding keeper and saved us today.
“The win and three points gives us something to build on and helps us climb up the table, Chelsea are a good team, we knew it would be tough, so three points are important.”
XHAKA’S CRACKER
Arsenal are beaming from ear-to-ear and we can’t blame them.
They stopped Chelsea from moving into second and ended their winless run.
Swiss international Granit Xhaka has been heavily criticised for his performances of late, but he was a top performer today.
His cracker of a goal came during his first game back after his three-match ban.
CHRISTMAS MIRACLE
It’s the first win in eight games for Arsenal and their first home win in almost three months.
Chelsea and Arsenal players alike are checking with Saka if he meant his goal or if it was fluke!
FT: ARSENAL 3-1 CHELSEA
ARSENAL 3-1 CHELSEA
94. Pulisic pushes right until the end as his quick feet enable him to find space in the box.
But his shot at goal is weak and Leno stops it with relative ease.
ARSENAL 3-1 CHELSEA
93. Consolation stat for Chelsea.
⚽️ Tammy Abraham has scored 21 goals in 50 PL apps for Chelsea – only Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (34) and Diego Costa (31) have scored more in their first 50 PL apps for the club pic.twitter.com/eQaxbwjrss
— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) December 26, 2020
ARSENAL 3-1 CHELSEA
92. Gary Neville is full of praise for Saka and makes the youngster his man-of-the-match.
He has been impressive for Arsenal this evening on the right.
ARSENAL 3-1 CHELSEA
90. Five added minutes at the Emirates.
Arsenal make another substitution as Mustafi replaces Lacazette in a bid to plug any gaps.
ARSENAL 3-1 CHELSEA
90. WOW! Jorginho adds another penalty failure to his list.
With a hop-skip-and a jump, Jorginho taps the ball to his right but Leno reads it well and stops Chelsea from getting their second.
ARSENAL 3-1 CHELSEA
89. Mari takes out Mount with a late challenge, giving Chelsea a glimmer of hope.
ARSENAL 3-1 CHELSEA
89. PENALTY TO CHELSEA!
ARSENAL 3-1 CHELSEA
88. Chelsea could have really done with Giroud’s height and power in the air.
Silva fails to nod another ball downwards, instead sending it over the bar.
ARSENAL 3-1 CHELSEA
87. A glimmer of hope for Chelsea, or is it too little too late?
Lampard’s side have another corner, thanks to some persistent work down the right wing.
ARSENAL 3-1 CHELSEA
85. After a lengthy VAR check, Chelsea have their first goal.
Hudson-Odoi picks out Abraham, with another decent cross from the right, Abraham taps the ball in from the six-yard area.
GOOOOAL
BUT WE’RE WAITING ON VAR…
ARSENAL 3-0 CHELSEA
84. A scramble in the box sees Elneny hit the post.
Arsenal have several attempts from all over the box before Chelsea eventually clear the danger.
ARSENAL 3-0 CHELSEA
82. Mistake by Mendy almost sees Arsenal get their fourth!
Zouma passes the ball back from the left, but Mendy’s first touch is straight at Laca.
Lacazette takes a second to steady himself but as he attempts to curl the ball into the goal Mendy makes an impressively athletic save as he leaps to his left.
ARSENAL 3-0 CHELSEA
82. Tierney is shown a yellow for wasting time.
The Scotland international took his sweet time to take a throw in deep in Arsenal’s half.
ARSENAL 3-0 CHELSEA
80. Great challenge from Willock stops Pulisic from racing towards the box.
Decent counter from Chelsea there, but is it too little too late?
ARSENAL 3-0 CHELSEA
79. Abraham headers the ball over the bar as Hudson Odoi sends another decent cross in from the right.
Abraham jumped early but leant back too far.
ARSENAL 3-0 CHELSEA
78. Goals from Laca, Xhaka and Saka look like they’ll be enough.
Chelsea have failed to respond, they have twelve minutes to do so…
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