Thanks to an excellent first period marked by a double from Odegaard and a goal from Gabriel Jesus, Arsenal torpedoed Chelsea and returned to victory. The Gunners temporarily regain the lead in the Premier League, while the Blues sink into crisis.
23:20 – Arsenal put pressure on top, match recap
Mikel Arteta has certainly not found his sovereign team from one end to the other of the match and will find fault with the disjointed performance of his team after returning from the locker room, but he can only be satisfied with what he has been able to observe for the first 45 minutes, even against an opponent as disunited as Chelsea can be. Less than a week after the slap received at the Etihad Stadium against Manchester City, Arsenal did without Catholic advice wanting to offer the other cheek to raise their heads and show their character.
After a first quarter of an hour to break in and where Xhaka despite everything almost took advantage of a hazardous delivery from Azpilicueta’s header, he was able to accelerate when he wanted to make the difference. On the left side, after a good shift from Gabriel Jesus, Xhaka, again, turned into a passer by sending a perfect center back at the entrance to the surface for Odegaard. The captain of the Gunners was responsible for firing to open hostilities. His recovery from inside the left came to embrace the bottom of the crossbar before going to curl up in the opposing nets. A first cannon shot to which the Norwegian artificer was responsible for offering an echo ten minutes later on a similar action. Upon receiving a new offering from the Swiss, he changed sides and crossed his recovery from the left at ground level. The fort of Chelsea was gutted and yielded once again a few moments later. Indeed, Fofana did not appreciate the center of White and saw in his back Gabriel Jesus responsible for punishing the largesse of the Blues, in front of an Azpilicueta not on his plate. In the space of 40 minutes, Arsenal had regained their fire and shattered doubts about potential discouragement.
The essential had been done and the sequel would not be of the same ilk as the collective festival offered by Saka and consort. There was indeed this double situation on the way back from the locker room with a header from Gabriel pushed back on his line by Thiago Silva and the parade on the ground of a lively Kepa on his supports to get out the shy inside of Xhaka’s foot, but it was good there everything that Arsenal offered. As disarticulated, the London formation lost the thread of its score and let the Blues breathe. Rare satisfaction of the day with Kanté in particular, Madueke was rewarded for his good evening with a goal, well served by a cross from Kovacic. Insufficient for a team that demonstrated all its flaws and the lack of connection between its elements, like an Aubameyang never served or found, a Mudryk, entered later, who brought percussion but was not followed by its partners.
Under these conditions, it is impossible to thwart the plans of a team which plays the leading roles and will return to the Champions League next season, unlike the Blues, not even sure of their maintenance and stuck in 12th place, far from its past prestige, with a sixth consecutive defeat in the bag. For its part, Arsenal is back with a victory that has been fleeing it for a month and temporarily takes the lead in the Premier League, pending the first of two late matches for Manchester City, tomorrow against West Ham. Arteta will be satisfied with it. The Spanish technician filled the first of the five boxes of this final sprint, four remain to maintain the pressure on the outgoing champion and continue to believe in the insane dream, now, of a title.
23:15 – Four in a row
By easily dominating Chelsea at home, Arsenal won their duel against the Blues for the fourth time in a row. A first for 19 years for the Gunners against their London rivals.
23:10 – Arsenal find the taste of victory
After four disappointing results (3 draws and 1 defeat), Arsenal is back to winning ways. Saka and his partners had not known the intoxication of the three points for almost a month and a success on April 1 when receiving Leeds (4-1).
23:01 – Chelsea sinks again
The Way of the Cross continues for Frank Lampard and his men. Chelsea have just chained their sixth consecutive defeat in the Premier League.
22:55 – Arsenal win against Chelsea (3-1)
Sparkling in the first period but more in difficulty afterwards, Arsenal ensured a precious success against Chelsea after a complicated month of April (3-1). The Gunners made the difference before the break thanks to a brace from captain Odegaard and a goal from Gabriel Jesus. Thanks to this positive result at home, they regain the place at the top of the Premier League and put pressure on Manchester City, who play tomorrow against West Ham. For its part, Chelsea will not have been able to be strong enough, nor dangerous enough to weigh in this London derby. Madueke’s goal does not change the situation of Blues, twelfth in the championship.
22:53 – Havertz header
Mudryk picks up speed on the left, fixes White with a feint and adjusts a dive ball into the box. Habertz comes from afar and places his head without managing to give him strength. Ramsdale captures with both hands.
22:52 – Safe Havertz
On a long ball, Havertz reverses Holding on the shoulder and penetrates the surface before lighting from the left. That doesn’t worry Ramsdale.
22:51 – Ziyech unscrews
At 25 meters, Ziyech takes advantage of the spaces left by the Gunners to try his luck from the left. His shot escapes him high up.
22:50 – Additional time: 5 minutes
There will be five minutes of added time in this second half between Arsenal and Chelsea.
22:50 – Gabriel Jesus repels
At 23 meters, on the left, Mudryk wraps in the area but his free kick is repelled by the head of Gabriel Jesus.
22:49 – Partey sanctioned
Chelsea players are trying to close the gap even further. On the left, Chilwell gets a foul from Partey who, in wanting to take the ball, swept the support foot from the side of the Blues. Free kick to come.
22:46 – Fofana exits
Moments after Arsenal’s double change, Lampard called Fofana back on the bench and sent Chalobah onto the field.
22:45 – Gabriel finally replaced
In pain, Gabriel limps out. He is replaced by Holding for the last 6 minutes. At the same time, Jorginho also gives up his place for Partey.
22:42 – Kepa prevents the hat-trick
Odegaard is found in the area and in front of Fofana arms a dry shot from the right. Kepa lays down and fends off the Norwegian’s attempt, depriving him of the hat-trick.
22:41 – Gabriel is exhausted
After a new passage on the ground, Gabriel gets up and grimaces. The Brazilian defender has been suffering for long minutes. This time he is complaining about his left ankle and trying to push the pain away. Arteta doesn’t seem ready to replace his player.
22:40 – Kovacic warned
Author of a very strong tackle on the side, Kovacic receives a yellow card. Gabriel Jesus was able to avoid the Croatian’s sole and the game will resume with a free kick.
22:38 – Entry of Ziyech
In the 79th minute, Madueke, sole scorer of the evening for Chelsea, was replaced by Lampard in order to give Ziyech a few minutes of expression.
22:37 – Corner for Chelsea
At 20 meters, glued to the touchline, Mudryk wraps his free kick in the area where Thiago Silva places his head. It bounces off Tierney and goes for a corner.
22:36 – Foul by Nelson
Left side, Gallagher is the victim of a blow from behind on the calf of Nelson, who could not control his intervention.
22:35 – Mdryk crashes unsuccessfully
Mudryk is served in the Arsenal area and wants to transplant on his right foot but he stumbles on Kiwior, then White. Ramsadale then grabs the ball to put an end to this Blues situation.
22:33 – Double change for Arsenal
In response to Lampard, Arteta is also making two new substitutions. Zinchenko and Saka give up their places in the 73rd minute in favor of Tierney and Nelson.
22:32 – Gabriel makes a mistake
On a well brushed corner from 6 meters, Gabriel jumps the highest and takes the lead without managing to direct his shot. The referee signals a foul from the Brazilian and gives Chelsea a free kick to get clear.