Arsenal claimed a huge three points after overcoming a pumped up Chelsea team to reopen the five point gap to Manchester City at the top of the table.
Mikel Arteta’s side knew they couldn’t fluff their lines again after Manchester City’s win at Elland Road over Leeds United on Saturday turned up the pressure ahead of a feisty London derby. And two goals from corners from William Saliba and Jurrien Timber saw off Liam Rosenior’s side in a nervy 2-1 win.
Chelsea were out for revenge after losing both of the legs in the semi-final of the Carabao Cup earlier this year. And Rosenior’s side were happy to take the Gunners on mentally as their first decision saw them turn Arsenal around at kick-off, with the hosts kicking towards the North Bank in the first half.
(Image: PA)
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But the first psychological effort to unsettle the hosts didn’t pay off as the Gunners almost forced Robert Sanchez into gifting possession away on the edge of his own box on several occasions. Chelsea had to be strong to beat the league leaders, but Arteta’s set-piece giants struck again when William Saliba headed in from a corner after 21 minutes.
It was a goal that Arsenal’s play had merited and the hosts continued to frustrate Chelsea, limiting the likes of Cole Palmer to half-openings on the counter-attack.
However, Arsenal failed to mount the pressure on Sanchez’s goal and eventually the Blues took an opportunity that came their way as they played Arsenal at their own game.
(Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
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After Declan Rice survived claims of handball from Reece James’ first corner delivery, those complaints were redundant when the following corner was glanced into his own net by Piero Hincapie in added time at the end of the first half.
Chelsea’s equaliser completely ripped up Arteta’s half-time talk with his side comfortable for the majority of the opening 45. But it appeared the Spaniard was happy with more of the same as the Gunners methodically approached their build-up rather than starting the second half on the front foot.
Instead it was Chelsea that started better and almost went ahead from another corner. David Raya had to spring across his goal line to deny Joao Pedro’s header after he also managed to avoid giving a penalty away having appeared to clatter the Brazilian and not get the ball in the previous delivery.
(Image: Getty Images)
Arteta had to do something and it didn’t take long for him to act as Gabriel Martinelli entered the scene in place of Leandro Trossard in the 54th minute. A positive move that was needed to find a spark in a flat Gunners performance.
Frustration built among the home fans, which wasn’t helped by referee Darren England twice not playing advantage on dangerous Arsenal breaks from two separate corners. Chelsea believed they could win, and looked the only team to do so. That was until the set piece kings struck again.
Another wicked Declan Rice delivery was bundled over the line by Jurrien Timber in the 66th minute after Sanchez flapped and missed the ball.
It got even worse for Chelsea when a brainless Pedro Neto scissor tackle saw him receive a second yellow card less than three minutes after his first booking for dissent in the complaints about Timber’s goal – completely knocking the stuffing out of the visitors.
Arsenal could have buried the game, Sanchez actually helped Chelsea out at one point in the game by saving Eberechi Eze’s low stinging shot. But the Gunners couldn’t do so and still had to endure a nervy ending.
Raya again bailed his side out with a stunning reach to claw away Alejandro Garnacho’s cross-come-shot in added time. Liam Delap also had the ball in the back of the net in the final minute but Joao Pedro was offside in the build-up.
Arsenal overcame a major test, just, but at this stage it doesn’t matter how you do it.