Dominant Arsenal ease past Chelsea to return to league summit

Arsenal players celebrate after their big win at Stamford Bridge over Chelsea on Sunday. (Photo credit: Premierleague.com)

Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta has admitted that the Gunners are in the title race after a dominant performance against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Manchester City’s late win against Fulham on Saturday temporarily reshuffled the league table with City sitting on top and Arsenal needed to win away at Chelsea to return to the summit and the Gunners did just that in a fine outing.

Chelsea handed a starting role to Pierre Emerick Aubameyang and he was flanked by Raheem Sterling and Mason Mount. The only change to Arsenal’s starting eleven was Alex Zinchenko who came in for the injured Takehiro Tomiyasu.

Arsenal dominated the opening exchanges and saw Gabriel Jesus head wide from point blank range off a decent cross from Gabriel Martinelli. Chelsea didn’t have much say in the Arsenal area but poor decision by Kai Havertz to balloon the ball over when he could have set up Aubameyang was the highlight of the half.

Arsenal took the lead with what eventually became the winner through a corner kick by Bukayo Saka; Gabriel Maghalaes was the quickest to react to the loose ball and he helped the ball home to silence the home crowd.

Arsenal had more chances to bury the game with Martin Odegaard firing wide after being set up by Gabriel Jesus. Aubemeyang was replaced by Armando Broja and Connor Gallagher replaced Havertz but it was Arsenal that looked likelier to increase the lead.

Chelsea has now lost back-to-back games in the league and slipped thirteen points behind their London rivals. The Gunners return to the summit and will play Wolves away in their final fixture before the World Cup break while the Blues are away to high flying Newcastle.