Arsenal vs Chelsea LIVE: Result and reaction from London derby as Gunners go back top of Premier League
Arsenal 3-1 Chelsea: The Gunners moved back to the top of the table with convincing victory over London rivals
Arsenal are the Premier League leaders once again after a dominant first half display blew Chelsea out of the water at the Emirates Stadium. Right from the kick off the Gunners pushed high up the pitch to take advantage of a Chelsea team low on confidence.
Granit Xhaka – superb all night for the hosts – pulled an early save out for Kepa Arrizabalaga before the Chelsea keeper kept out a header from Bukayo Saka. The pressure on the Blues only mounted and it was Xhaka who supplied Martin Odegaard on the edge of the box and the Arsenal captain turned it home with a curling side-footed strike.
Xhaka and Odegaard combined again in a very similar move to send the Gunners two up before Gabriel Jesus turned a loose ball home from inside the six-yard area three minutes later to give the hosts full control.
They went into the break with a comfortable that Chelsea never looked like overturning. One bright spark for them though was the performance of Noni Madueke who was fast and direct enough to enough a consolation goal midway through the second half thanks to a darting run in behind.
The performance was worthy of three points and Arsenal are back at the top of the Premier League.
Relive the action as Arsenal hosted Chelsea in the Premier League:
HT Arsenal 3-0 Chelsea
Martin Ødegaard is the third Arsenal player to reach 20+ goals and assists combined in the Premier League this season, after Bukayo Saka (24) and Gabriel Martinelli (20).
Arsenal are the only side with 3+ players to have done so in this campaign.
Half-time: Arsenal 3-0 Chelsea
45+2 mins: The whistle goes to call time on the first half. Arsenal have been brilliant but Chelsea have made it easy for them. They’ve been allowed time and space to operate.
Martin Odegaard has scored twice with Gabriel Jesus adding a third to put the Gunners back to the top of the Premier League table as it stands.
Arsenal 3-0 Chelsea
45 mins: Two minutes of added time to play at the end of the first half.
Arsenal 3-0 Chelsea
43 mins: Noni Madueke receives the ball and sparks Chelsea into life with an enterprising run through the middle. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang eases into the left side of the box but can’t control the ball when Madueke picks him out.
The ball skips behind for a goal kick and the Arsenal fans give their former captain a bit of stick.
Arsenal 3-0 Chelsea
40 mins: Wesley Fofana has stayed down after taking a knock in the face. He seems to be wincing and clutching his right eye, requiring some assistance from the physios.
He’ll be fine to play on.
Arsenal 3-0 Chelsea
37 mins: Chelsea have been blown away by the Gunners here. From the start Arsenal seemed determined to get amongst Chelsea’s back line and force them to play inside their half.
The three goals will give Arsenal so much confidence after their hammering from Man City last time out.
GOAL! Arsenal 3-0 Chelsea (Jesus, 34’)⚽️
34 mins: Arsenal are running rampant now! Ben White floats a cross into the box from the right wing, Gabriel Jesus chests it down and knocks it into the nearest defender.
The ball comes to Granit Xhaka who taps it back to Jesus and the striker turns it home from close range!
GOAL! Arsenal 2-0 Chelsea (Odegaard, 31’)⚽️
31 mins: This is lovely play from Arsenal over on the left side. Granit Xhaka and Leandro Trossard fluidly switch positions as Arsenal pass the ball it little triangles.
Martin Odegaard runs around the back of Raheem Sterling and gets into the middle of the box as Xhaka sends in the cross. It’s simple for the Arsenal captain to meet the ball in space and he belts it into the back of the net!
Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea
27 mins: Penalty shout from Arsenal! Leandro Trossard whips a cross into the penalty area and Wesly Fofana leaps into the air to block it.
He tries to pull his hand away and the ball clips it. The Arsenal players all appeal but the referee waves for play to go on and VAR doesn’t overturn the decision.
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