Arsenal ease past pathetic Chelsea to return to premier league summit

 

Gabriel Jesus celebrates after rounding off Arsenal's goals on the night against Chelsea at the Emirates. Arsenal won 3-1. (Photo credit: Sky Sports)

Arsenal’s fall from grace gained some redemption on Tuesday at the Emirates as the Gunners eased past Chelsea to move back to the top of the log.

Mikel Arteta made changes to the side that was humbled at the Etihad; Gabriel Martinelli and Thomas Partey dropped to the bench, with Leandro Trossard and Jorginho coming in for the duo. There was no place in the starting lineup for Rob Holding; January arrival Kiwior made his full league debut in his stead.

Chelsea benched Kai Havertz and Mhykalo Mudryk to hand starts to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Raheem Sterling. It didn’t make any difference, as Chelsea didn’t trouble Arsenal until after the hour mark in their 3-1 defeat.

The Gunners set out on fire, and it didn’t take long for Martin Odegaard to register the first of his two goals on the night. Granit Xhaka squared to the Chelsea area, and the Norwegian met the sleek pass with a sleek finish that went in off the crossbar.

One became two thirteen minutes after that. The same combination produced the same result as Odegaard sweeping home from another Xhaka pass. Gabriel Jesus made sure of the points just after the hour mark, as he was on hand to slide home after a goal-mouth scramble that involved Xhaka yet again.

Chelsea tried to limit the damage in the second half, and their resistance earned them a consoling goal after the hour mark. Noni Madueke bundled home to ruin Arsenal’s clean sheet yet again, but the Gunners ran out winners with ease.

"Everyone was so hurt after the game [against City]," Odegaard told Sky Sports.

"We used the anger and the disappointment to get back into this game. You can lose games, but the way we lost, we didn't play our game and weren't ourselves; that was the most painful thing, and we wanted to show a different side, and we definitely did.

"Especially the first half was brilliant," he added. "We came out and showed a different spirit than last time.

"We have to fight and keep going." "We believe and will fight until the end."