Premier League: Struggling Arsenal Halt Poor Run With Vital Win Vs Chelsea
Arsenal ended their poor run with a deserved 3-1 win against Chelsea in Saturday’s Premier League game at the Emirates.
It was Arsenal’s first Premier League home win since 4th October and first Premier League win since 1st November and they are now 14th on 17 points.
Arsenal went into the game on the back of an eight-game run without a Premier League win and received more bad news before kick-off, as Gabriel Magalhaes, David Luiz and Willian were all ruled out.
Chelsea, meanwhile, were able to give Ben Chilwell a start, despite it looking as if he would be out with an injury.
The Blues have now suffered defeats in each of their last three away games and miss the chance to move into the top four and are 6th on 25 points.
Arsenal came closest to scoring first inside the opening minute, when Gabriel Martinelli nearly made the most of an unsuccessful header from Thiago Silva however, the striker shot wide.
Chelsea’s first decent chance came when Mason Mount clipped the outside of the post with a free kick.
Arsenal had a chance when the referee played an advantage after two fouls, as Hector Bellerin was driving forwards, he sent a pass along the floor, but Emile Smith Rowe could not stretch onto the end of it.
The Gunners have been struggling to convert chances recently, but were given a golden opportunity when Reece James clipped Kieran Tierney in the box to give them a penalty.
Alexandre Lacazette sent Edouard Mendy the wrong way with his powerful effort from the spot to give Arsenal the lead on 34 minutes.
It marked the first time Arsenal have taken the lead in a league game since their last victory in the competition, nearly two whole months ago.
Things got even better for Arsenal when Granit Xhaka doubled their lead on 44 minutes with a superb free-kick on the edge of the box.
That made it the first time Arsenal have scored more than one goal in a Premier League game since the beginning of October.
Chelsea made two changes at the break, and began the second half on the front foot.
However, Arsenal were not going to let their hard work go to waste as they went 3-0 up in the 56th minute after Smith Rowe fed the ball to Bukayo Saka on the right wing, before the England international sent a chip towards goal.
Arsenal had more chances, with Martinelli twice being thwarted by Mendy – who first saved a weak overhead kick from him and shortly after was equal to an effort from close range.
As the clock ticked down, Mendy had to make another save to make amends for his own error. The goalkeeper gave the ball away to Lacazette with a poor pass out, but he clawed away the striker’s attempt to chip him.
With five minutes left in the game Tammy Abraham made it 3-1 after cheating in Callum Hudson-Odoi’s cross.
The goal was initially ruled out for offside but after the check it was given.
Chelsea were awarded a penalty in stoppage time but Bernd Leno went the right way to push away Jorginho’s effort to retain Arsenal’s two-goal advantage.