Arsenal 2 Chelsea 1
Set-pieces rule the day. Arsenal won’t care but yet again set-pieces decide a big game in the Premier League this season, Chelsea were looking the stronger team in the first half up until Arsenal got their first corner of the game in the 21st minute, Saka swung the ball to the back post were Gabriel nodded the ball back across goal to Saliba who opened the scoring for Arsenal. Chelsea continued to look the stronger team as the half went on and just before half-time scored from a corner themselves as Reece James’ wicked delivery was flicked into his own net by Piero Hincapie to put the sides level at 1-1 going into half-time. The second half was much the same but Arsenal were looking more dangerous as the half went on and they eventually scored from yet another corner which Robert Sanchez couldn’t deal with as Jurrien Timber put Arsenal 2-1 in front. Just 5 minutes after that Pedro Neto decided that it would be a great idea to wipe out Martinelli whilst already being on a yellow which yet again put Chelsea down to 10 men this season, Chelsea nearly drew level in the closing stages but David Raya was able to keep Chelsea out to give Arsenal a much needed 3 points in a cagey match overall.
Just about for Arsenal who can thank David Raya for 3 points. I’ve got to say I thought Arsenal were very poor for large portions of this game as Chelsea looked dangerous every time they came forward, especially in the first half were Joao Pedro was able to get the better of Arsenal’s defenders a number of times. I was super disappointed with Victor Gyokeres and Ebere Eze who I thought turned a corner last week but I suppose that’s the effect playing against Spurs this season has on players as both reverted to the form they’ve been showing for most of the season. Gyokeres in particular was terrible today getting eaten alive every time he went up against Trevor Chalobah who had a brilliant game at the back for Chelsea. All of Arsenal’s attackers were poor including Saka, Trossard along with Eze and Gyokeres with Martinelli looking their most dangerous player coming from the bench. Arsenal will take the three points but have to improve going forward in the next couple of weeks.
Chelsea have themselves to blame yet again. On another day Chelsea could have easily come out of this game with at least a draw but their naivety from set-pieces cost them big time today. In the previous games against Arsenal Chelsea left 3 players on the half-way line to try and counter Arsenal’s set-pieces which did work in the last few games but for some reason they didn’t use that tactic in this match, Robert Sanchez was dreadful throughout the game almost costing Chelsea a goal numerous times in that first half along with being an absolute calamity on that second goal for Arsenal. Other than that I thought Chelsea played pretty well with Moises Caicedo bossing that midfield winning the ball back time and time again for Chelsea, they just lacked that quality from the likes of Cole Palmer, Pedro Neto etc that could have unlocked the door for Chelsea. Defensively they gave Arsenal very little to go at with Jorrel Hato probably having his best game in a Chelsea shirt up against Bukayo Saka as well as debutant Mamadou Sarr having a solid introduction into the Premier League. The only thing that split the teams was Arsenal’s set-pieces that ultimately cost Chelsea on the day.
Poor discipline yet again costs Chelsea points in the league. I feel like every time Chelsea play this season they get a red card for one thing or the other and this time it’s Pedro Neto getting a second yellow card for wiping out Martinelli on a counter-attack. Chelsea have now received the joint-most red cards by a team in a single Premier League season, with 10 games still left to be played. Sometimes you can understand a player getting a second yellow for trying to stop a goal-scoring opportunity but this one is just pure stupidity from Pedro Neto to clean out Martinelli when Chelsea have players back ready to defend the situation, he’ll miss the game against Aston Villa on Wednesday which has now become a must-win game for Chelsea at Villa Park.
The gap is back to 5 points. With City winning yesterday this was yet again a must-win game for Arsenal and although they weren’t at their best they still managed to come away with the win which is the sign of champions. The games don’t get any easier for Arsenal who play Brighton at the Amex on Wednesday which is never an easy game whilst City host Nottingham Forest at the Etihad who are fighting for their lives down at the bottom of the table. For Chelsea they are now 6 points off top 4 with a monumental game on Wednesday against free-falling Aston Villa which Chelsea simply have to win to try and regain some ground in the battle for Champions League football. Aston Villa are in horrific form at the minute and Chelsea will fancy themselves after playing pretty well overall today against the league leaders, a loss or even a draw doesn’t do an awful lot for Chelsea who have to start picking up wins in the league if they want to play in the Champions League next season. A big midweek of Premier League action awaits with implications all over the league, looking forward to it.