Arsenal vs Chelsea: Unai Emery's side close on top four with convincing Premier League win
Re-live the action from the Premier League clash at the Emirates Stadium
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Arsenal reinvigorated their hopes of finishing in the Premier League's top four with a deserved 2-0 victory over London rivals Chelsea.
Unai Emery had said on the eve of the game that a defeat at the Emirates Stadium, which would have left Arsenal nine points adrift of the fourth-placed Blues, would have meant the end of their top-four ambitions.
In truth, the hosts never looked like losing as they went at Chelsea from the off, sealing the win with first-half goals from Alexandre Lacazette and Laurent Koscielny.
Maurizio Sarri opted to set up his Chelsea side with Eden Hazard again playing at the main central attacking option and the visitors rarely threatened. Re-live the action in the blog below:
What time does it start?
Arsenal vs Chelsea kicks off at 5:30pm (GMT) on Saturday 19 January.
Where can I watch it?
Arsenal vs Chelsea will be shown live on BT Sport 1 from 5:00pm (GMT).
BT Sport subscribers can watch the action on the BT Sport app.
Highlights will be shown at 10:20pm on BBC One.
Player to watch...
Willian: The Brazilian has been a firm fixture in Maurizio Sarri’s starting XI all season and scored a beauty to clinch three points against Newcastle. The 30-year-old has played in all but one of Chelsea’s Premier League fixtures, and has scored five goals in all competitions. With Eden Hazard playing up front in recent weeks, Willian and Pedro are Sarri’s preferred options out wide, keeping Callum Hudson-Odoi out of the team.
Form guide...
Arsenal: WDLWWL
Chelsea: WWDWLW
Odds...
Arsenal to win: 21/10
Chelsea to win: 11/8
Draw: 13/5
(Odds provided by Betfair)
29 minutes
Chelsea are constrained by their diminutive front-three and thus must exclusively play out from the back.
Eden Hazard is bored and drops into his own half to collect the ball, but loses it and is fortunate that Aaron Ramsey does not truly test Kepa, who pats down the 25-yard drive and gathers.
30 minutes
Willian swings in the corner but Bernd Leno only has red shirts to contend with as he powerfully punches clear.
31 minutes
Alexandre Lacazette is incensed as Anthony Taylor denies his quick-thinking, the referee whistling for a chat with Jorginho as Lacazette takes a free kick quickly to feed Granit Xhaka in acres of space down the right.
Smart play from the Frenchman, but Taylor had whistled.
32 minutes
Peril for Chelsea as Arsenal have another set-piece.
Lucas Torreira delivers but Kepa is able to punch unopposed with Antonio Rudiger shielding well on Laurent Koscielny.
34 minutes
David Luiz looks long again, putting five yards too much on his pass for Pedro and allowing Bernd Leno to come out and claim.
Sead Kolasinac unnecessarily clatters into Pedro with his shoulder to make sure the Spaniard can't retrieve it. Physical.
36 minutes
Nearly from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang!
The Gabonese striker overhead kicks magnificently from Sead Kolasinac's cross, and it cruelly fades wide of the far post.
Spectacular effort.
38 minutes
David Luiz lunges into Aaron Ramsey, taking the ball and the man almost simultaneously.
He has slid rather than jumped, and the contact is solely on the boot, and thus it is only yellow.
GOAL! Arsenal 2-0 Chelsea (Laurent Koscielny, 39 minutes)
Off his shoulder!
A bouncing ball is beautifully put back across goal by a controlled slice from Sokratis on the edge of the box.
Laurent Koscielny has stayed in the area and combines with his centre-half partner, completely missing his headed attempt from about five yards out but watching the ball bounce off his shoulder into the far corner with Kepa sprawling for the potential header the other way.
43 minutes
Chelsea's persistent problem is that lack of a central striker.
Marcos Alonso is increasingly exasperated as he again looks up to find N'Golo Kante (all of five-foot-six) the only player waiting for a cross.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments