Chelsea 0-1 Arsenal
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are back at the top of the Premier League thanks to a well earned victory in the Capital City Derby over Graham Potter’s Chelsea.
Centre back Gabriel scored from point blank range on 63 minutes to take all three points but, in truth, the margin of victory could have been higher as the Gunners dominated from start to finish. Stamford Bridge is a hard place to go but the Blues had little to offer against their buoyant opponents and they remain seventh.
The latest Premier League 2022 betting odds have pulled the Gunners into single figures, at around 7.00, to win the 2022/23 title and, with over a third of the campaign already over, Arteta’s side show no sing of fading yet.
Highlights of the game
Manchester City’s 2-1 victory over Fulham on Saturday put pressure on the Gunners, who needed a win at the Bridge to retake their top spot. And they started with attacking intent, Gabriel Jesus squaring to Ben White but he dragged his shot just wide. And then, as Martin Odegaard pulled the strings in midfield and Arsenal continued to impress, Thiago Silva made a brilliant block to deny Jesus.
Former Arsenal favourite Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was loudly booed by the visiting fans when his name was announced before the game, and the boos became even louder when the Gabon striker earned a yellow card for nasty late tackle on White. In response the Gunners moved up a gear and Jesus should have done better when he met a cross from Gabriel Martinelli, but his header sailed just wide.
Chelsea had a good chance, on 34 minutes, when Raheem Sterling found Kai Havertz in space but, with Aubameyang lurking, the German shot tamely at Aaron Ramsdale in the Blues’ only real goalmouth action of the first half.
The second half began a little scrappily and when Arsenal broke the deadlock it was a strange goal from a defensive point of view. Bukayo Saka swung in a corner which evaded everyone, including keeper Edouard Mendy and Gabriel side footed the ball home at the far post. The Brazilian was virtually on the goal line and the corner may well have been on its way into the net directly.
Aubameyang’s game was immediately over as Potter replaced him with Armando Broja and the Arsenal fans cheered again! And the visiting hoards were almost celebrating a second goal when Saka took aim but his shot flew over the bar. And, on 75 minutes Arsenal had a golden chance to finish the game when Jesus beat three Chelsea players and put Odegaard in but he too fired over.
But 1-0 was enough and Arsenal’s victory was more comfortable than the score suggests.
Key statistics
Arsenal bossed the first half with 62 per cent possession and seven shots to three, but they failed to trouble Chelsea keeper Edouard Mendy in the first 45. The visitors finished with 15 shots to five and two to one on target, but were wasteful in front of goal.
The Gunners have now won four of their last five Premier League games against Chelsea, having won just two of the previous 17. The balance of power in the Capital City is shifting.
Having lost to Brighton last week, Chelsea have recorded back to back league defeats for the first time since December 2020.
What’s next?
The final game of this weekend sees top four hopefuls Spurs and Liverpool clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and fans of both Chelsea and Arsenal will be checking the Premier League 2022 updates to see which side makes a move in that one. The Blues are in danger of losing more ground to their rivals.
Next up for the Gunners it’s the League Cup, on Wednesday, when they entertain Brighton and Hove Albion at the Emirates, before travelling to the Midlands next weekend to take on struggling Wolves.
After Potter’s side lost to the Seagulls last week they now face two more really tough games to follow this latest disappointment. Firstly they visit Manchester City in the League Cup, and the Sky Blues will, as always pursue every tournament they are in. Then the Blues travel way up north to take on upwardly mobile Newcastle United who are another team above Potter’s side in the race for a Champions League place.
And, of course, next weekend is the last round of domestic football before, here at SBOTOP, we join the rest of the football world for the 2022 World Cup.
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