Arsenal vs Chelsea LIVE: Premier League result and reaction as Gunners’ run riot after White and Havertz goals
Arsenal 5-0 Chelsea: Kai Havertz and Ben White both scored twice as the Gunners go three points clear at the top of the table
Arsenal moved three points clear of Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table with a blistering 5-0 victory over Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium.
Mikel Arteta’s men dominated from the get-go but couldn’t make full use of a first 45 minutes of controlled play despite Leandro Trossard’s fourth minute opener. He was fed the ball by Declan Rice then smoked the ball home at the near post.
After the break, the Gunners turned up the heat with Ben White latching onto a deflected shot from Rice and Kai Havertz lifting a fine finish over the goalkeeper to put Arsenal clear. Havertz then added a fourth with a guided finish to the bottom corner before White volleyed a beautifully dainty pass from Martin Odegaard into the top corner.
For Chelsea it was a night to forget but Arsenal took advantage of playing first this week and now Liverpool and Manchester City must respond if they hope to avoid dropping points in the title race.
Relive the updates from Arsenal vs Chelsea in tonight’s live blog below and get the latest match odds and tips, here
Arsenal vs Chelsea
Chelsea are unbeaten in eight Premier League games with four wins and four draws in that run. They have scored at least twice in each of their previous six league outings.
Arsenal vs Chelsea
The Gunners have won 12 of 16 Premier League home matches this season but could lose consecutive top-flight home fixtures for the first time in two years.
Arsenal have won 11 of their 13 league games in 2024 (D1, L1).
Arsenal vs Chelsea team changes
Arsenal have made two changes to the side who beat Wolves 2-0 on Saturday. Gabriel Jesus and Jakub Kiwior drop to the bench with Thomas Partey and Takehiro Tomiyasu slotting back into the line-up.
Chelsea have made four changes to the side who were beaten 1-0 by Man City in the FA Cup semi-final on Saturday.
Malo Gusto, Trevoh Chalobah and Thiago Silva miss out in the defence as Axel Disasi, Benoit Badiashile and Alfie Gilchrist come in. The big news though is that Chelsea as top scorer Cole Palmer misses out with illness and Mykhailo Mudryk starts in his place.
Arsenal vs Chelsea line-ups
Arsenal XI: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu, Rice, Partey, Odegaard, Saka, Havertz, Trossard.
Chelsea XI: Petrovic, Gilchrist, Disasi, Badiashile, Cucurella, Caicedo, Fernandez, Madueke, Gallagher, Mudryk, Jackson.
Arteta on Chelsea’s improvements
Mikel Arteta spoke about Arsenal’s opponents tonight and explained how he feels the Blues have developed over the course of the season.
The Arsenal manager said: “They have made huge improvements. I think they deserve to be in a much higher position in the league, when you look at what they’ve done and what they’ve produced in games – they’ve reached a final, they’ve reached a semi-final, they could have been through.
“I think what Mauricio is doing is really impressive, so I’m sure that he’s going to get them there.
“I think the journey of [us and Chelsea] are very, very different. Nothing to compare in my opinion. It’s a huge admiration for Mauricio because I’ve known him since 23 years ago and I really wish him all the best.
“He’s an incredible manager, he’s a huge leader and he will inspire the club to get what they want to get, that’s for sure.”
Can Chelsea earn European football?
As for Chelsea, Mauricio Pochettino’s team can still end the season in the European places despite a topsy-turvy year which has seen them play far below their expected levels.
They are within reach of sixth-placed Newcastle United and could draw level on points with the Magpies if they win at the Emirates tonight. Not only that but victory would massively dent the hopes of their London rivals who are trying to win the league.
A win for Pochettino’s side would show that the manager is beginning to imprint his style onto the young squad and it would leave Chelsea in a strong position looking towards next season.
Arsenal maintain hopes of winning Premier Legaue title
With the season drawing ever closer to the finishing line, Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool are all fighting to win the Premier League title and the Gunners have the chance to go three points clear at the top of the table on Tuesday night.
A win over Chelsea at Emirates Stadium would take them up to 77 points ahead of Liverpool’s Merseyside derby at Goodison Park on Wednesday and Manchester City’s trip to Brighton on Thursday.
With a north London derby against Tottenham on the horizon, Mikel Arteta will know that his team cannot afford any slip ups this evening if they hope to maintain their title challenge.
Everything you need to know ahead of tonight’s match
Arsenal returned to the top of the Premier League following their 2-0 win over Wolves on Saturday, and will take on a Chelsea side trying to break into the European places this season.
The Gunners sit top of the table, albeit only on goal difference to Liverpool, while favourites and defending champions Manchester City have a game in hand, and they will want to build on that narrow lead against Chelsea on Tuesday.
Against Wolves in the late kick off on Saturday, Arsenal dominated the game without ever taking full control, and the goals came at a good time, while Chelsea will be ruing another missed opportunity this season, when they missed key chances and were unable to reach the FA Cup final.
It was Chelsea’s second Wembley defeat this season, after losing in the Carabao Cup final to Liverpool, and ensures Mauricio Pochettino will finish his first season in charge at Stamford Bridge without silverware.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Premier League match:
Is Arsenal vs Chelsea on TV? How to watch Premier League fixture
Can the Blues deny the Gunners in the title race in a midweek London derby?
Chelsea release statement over Jackson racial abuse
Chelsea have threatened to bring criminal charges against anyone found to have racially abused Nicolas Jackson in the aftermath of Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final loss to Manchester City.
In a statement they said: “Chelsea Football Club is disgusted by the racial abuse directed towards Nicolas Jackson via social media, following Saturday evening’s game.
“There is no place in society for any form of discrimination and we operate a zero-tolerance approach to any incident of this nature.
“The club will support any criminal prosecutions and take the strongest possible action, including bans, against any individual who is found to be a season ticket holder or member.”
Chelsea to take strongest possible action after Nicolas Jackson racially abused
Chelsea have threatened to bring criminal charges against anyone found to have racially abused Nicolas Jackson in the aftermath of Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final loss to Manchester City.
The 22-year-old striker missed a number of chances at Wembley as his side bowed out of the cup with a 1-0 defeat and was subsequently the target of abuse on social media.
The racist comments were left on an Instagram post he had made following last week’s victory over Everton, in which he scored his 10th goal of the season.
Chelsea to take strongest possible action after Nicolas Jackson racially abused
The 22-year-old striker missed a number of chances at Wembley as his side bowed out of the cup with a 1-0 defeat
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