Chelsea’s miserable night at the Emirates, rise of Arsenal’s kids
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| Not this time! Chelsea's effort came to nothing at the Emirates as Arsenal ran out 3-1 winners. (Photo credit: Premierleague.com) |
Mikel Arteta rang lots of changes, some weird and some informed by circumstances, but the result after 90 minutes left many wondering of Frank Lampard is the right man for the Blues and not the other way round.
Chelsea went to the Emirates Stadium looking to go second on the table but on the back of two consecutive away defeats, going up against an Arsenal side that had picked just two points from a possible twenty-one, and a loss to
Chelsea surprisingly handed a starting role for two players that
were touted to be ruled out before due to injuries and it was a huge surprise
to see Ben Chilwell and Recce James in the starting lineup for Frank Lampard’s
side, did they play through pains? You’ll ask why considering the form of
Arsenal;
Mikel Arteta, without Willian and David Luiz due to illnesses and unable to call upon Gabriel Maghaeles started Gabriel Martinelli, Emile Smith Rowe and Pablo Mari.
With the latter having his first premier league
involvement of the season, in fact, the three had struggled with injuries all
along.
In the absence of Pierre
Emerick Aubameyang, Alex Lacazette started upfront, flanked by Bukayo Saka and
Martinelli and Hector Bellerin had the armband on.
Chelsea returned with the same 4-3-3, with Ngolo Kante and Kovacic sitting behind Mason Mount and Tammy Abraham kept the number 9 role.
Arsenal
came out firing, but not many expected them to get a point from the game
considering how poor they have been.
Chelsea settled into the game and could have scored when Mason Mount’s free-kick whistled off the right upright.
But it was Arsenal that would
take the lead not long after; Reece James tripped Kieran Tierney in the Chelsea
area and Lacazette made no mistakes from the spot, sending Edouard Mendy the
wrong way.
Arsenal looked the likelier to score afterward and they made it
two deep into the first half. Bukayo Saka won a free-kick not too far from the
edge of the box and Granit Xhaka, returning to the fold after serving a three-match ban fired in a screamer that Mendy could do nothing about.
At that point, it felt like fresh air was returning to the
Emirates but many fans won’t update statuses on social media or call friends
yet, it felt like a dream and they didn’t want to wake up.
Two became three very early in the second half, Bukayo Saka picked
a ball from Smith Rowe and his cross sailed into the net to the bewilderment of
Mendy but the Arsenal man took to social media to claim he meant the attempt after
seeing Mendy off his line, he’ll do more to convince many actually.
From then on it became obvious that Arsenal were going to continue
their good run of Boxing Day fixtures, Mohammed El Neny struck the woodwork and
Lacazette missed from range, Chelsea had their chances too but Arsenal stood
firm.
Mikel Arteta took off Emile Smith Rowe and Grabriel Martinelli, with Nicolas Pepe and Joe Willock coming on, that upset Arsenal’s shape and handed Chelsea the initiative.
The Blues pressed hard and substitute, Callum
Hudson Odoi found Tammy Abraham in the Arsenal Area and the young forward
chested past Bernd Leno.
VAR checked for offside but the goal stood.
It was becoming a nervy finish for Arsenal, Pablo Mari impeded Pulisic in the area on a half turn and a penalty was awarded.
But Bernd Leno
saved from Jorginho, and that in fact was the biggest moment for Arsenal for
had that gone in, at 3-2 with about four minutes to play, Arsenal would have
struggled with Chelsea’s onslaughts.
The game ended 3-1 to Arsenal, a result that not many expected and Arsenal can now build on that as they try to move away from the dreaded drop zone.
Questions will be asked of the position of Frank Lampard who had it all
to win until Arsenal came with other plans.
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