Chelsea drops points again as Arsenal break Goodison jinx

Leandro Trossard wheels away in celebration after firing Arsenal's winner against Everton on Sunday. Arsenal won 1-0. (Photo credit: Sky Sports)

Chelsea delivered another uninspiring performance on Sunday away at Bournemouth, dropping points yet again as they settled for a goalless draw.

The Blues spent hundreds of millions in the last two windows, yet they struggled to have notable names on the bench for their fixture at the Vitality Stadium. Mauricio Pochettino named Ben Chilwell among the substitutes but not a single name on the bench after the England defender rang a bell.

Mhykalo Mudryk has failed to live up to the hype that came with his mega-money signing. Raheem Sterling shone brightly against Luton but has failed to find the same spark since then. The former City man struck the woodwork with a freekick in the second half, but that’s as far as it gets for him and Chelsea.

Dominic Solanke troubled his old side, and he could have scored the winner when he nutmegged Malo Gusto to break free in the Chelsea area, but the Bournemouth striker fired straight at Robert Sanchez in the Chelsea goal.

The draw leaves Chelsea in the 14^th spot, one place and two points above Bournemouth in the 15^th. Up next for the Blues is a home game against Unai Emery’s Aston Villa, while the Cherries will be away to Brighton at the Amex.

Right after the stalemate at the Vitality Stadium, Arsenal went to Everton to attempt to get a result on a ground where they have toiled in vain for six years. Since the departure of Arsene Wenger, the Gunners have not won a single game at Goodison, and they set out to change that on Sunday.

Mikel Arteta made a big call in goal, with David Raya named to start ahead of Aaron Ramsdale and Eddy Nketiah named ahead of Gabriel Jesus. Everton had Dominic Calvert-Lewin back, but Portuguese striker Beto got the nod to start.

Arsenal dominated the game from start to finish. Everton didn’t have a sniff for the entirety of the game, and the Gunners could well have played without a goalkeeper and wouldn’t have a lot to worry about with Everton sticking to their "haram ball" strategy.

Arsenal had a goal chalked off in the first half after Gabriel Martinelli curled one past Jordan Pickford, but a VAR review showed Nketiah coming from an offside position in the build, but an Everton player had the last touch before it got to Nketiah.

Leandro Trossard replaced Martinelli midway into the first half and was on the end of Arsenal’s corner routine to fire the Gunners in front. It was Trossard’s first goal since February, and it was enough to hand Arsenal their first win at Goodison since 2017.