Match Report : Arsenal showed character to return to winning ways at the Stamford Bridge

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Arsenal ended their poor run of three consecutive loss by beating Chelsea 4-2 in an enthralling contest at the Stamford Bridge stadium, inflicting a third consecutive home loss on their host.

(Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Chelsea started the game brightly and were very dangerous earlier on set-piece with more than a couple going their way at the start of the proceedings. Romelu Lukaku also had a shot just wide off the goal.

However, it was the visitors that drew the first blood in the 13th minute. Nuno Tavares sent a long clearance away from the Arsenal area and pressure from Eddie Nketiah forced Andreas Christensen to make a mess of his back pass to Edouard Mendy.

The Danish defender hit the ball too short, allowing Nketiah to pounce. The striker just got there before Malang Sarr and take a further touch before burying his effort past Mendy in the Chelsea goal.

The host were not behind for long though and four minutes later, Timo Werner’s deflected shot beat Ramsdale to his near post to restore parity for Thomas Tuchel’s side.

Arsenal took the lead again three minutes from the half hour mark. After expertly playing themselves out of danger at the back, Xhaka finds Ødegaard who gave the ball to Saka down the Arsenal left.

The Norwegian makes his way into the final third to get the return ball and laying it on for the arriving Emile Smith Rowe, who took the shot first time and find the back of the net to restore Arsenal's lead.

Again, the lead did not last for more than only five minutes. Mason Mount swung a good cross into the Arsenal box and the defenders were caught off guard by Cesar Azpilicueta, who made a run from behind to slip his shot past Ramsdale for 2-2.

Chelsea continued to enjoy most of the possession and three minutes before the hour mark, Arsenal retook the lead. Azpilicueta’s pass to James was cutout by Tavares, who push forward before sending his pass to Nketiah on the edge of the Chelsea box.

The English striker took a heavy first touch but got lucky as they ball took a bounce off Sarr and that allowed him to nick it between the two Chelsea defenders and into the net with Mendy beaten.

Bukayo Saka wọn and scored a late penalty to seal a 4-2 win for the Gunners and hand Mikel Arteta's side a very important three points in the race for a top four finish this season.

Chelsea have now lost three consecutive home games for the first time since November 1993. Then, the third loss also came against Arsenal with the other two against Norwich City and Oldham.

Arsenal are also unbeaten in their last three visits to the Stamford Bridge, their longest for the first time since 2004. The Gunners has won two and drawn one, a run which coincides with the number of times Mikel Arteta has managed the club away to their London rivals.


Author : Kehinde Hassan Afolabi

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