Arsenal beat Chelsea with ease to end winless run

Arsenal 3 Chelsea 1    
Premier League   
Tuesday 2nd May 2023 8pm   

Six days on from the chastening defeat at the Etihad and it was a relief to see Arsenal return to winning ways at home to Chelsea. All they can do now is try and win their remaining matches this season, anything less would surely give them no chance of bucking the current odds and usurping Manchester City. As it is, the current holders have to suffer a draw and a defeat from their final six matches to concede the title, should the Gunners finish with maximum points. Brighton away might prove a difficult fixture, but can you see them slipping up at home to West Ham, Leeds or Chelsea? Their other away trips are Everton and Brentford. Not gimmes, I will grant you, but City do resemble a runaway train. 

 

After four games without a win, three points was vital for Mikel Arteta’s team last night to get back on their own track and prevent the season collapsing completely. Chelsea seemed the ideal team to play, given their wretched run of form – five straight losses in all competitions since Frank Lampard’s return. And yet, you also feared the law of averages meant that they had to win sometime, and this was a London derby. Fortunately, they were as woeful yesterday evening as they have been recently, and the season can’t end soon enough for the club. One foresees a smaller squad at the Bridge next season, and assuming Mauricio Pochettino does take over from Lampard, without European distraction, they will once again be in more accustomed territory towards the top of the table. They have some decent players, but simply aren’t performing as a team. Sacking Thomas Tuchel was like shooting themselves in the foot. Their players didn’t respect Graham Potter and do not take Lampard credibly, knowing he is simply keeping the manager’s seat warm.

 

So Arsenal have beaten them home and away this season. The game at the Emirates saw Arteta ring the changes, with Holding, Partey and Martinelli all dropping down, meaning starts for Kiwior, Jorginho and Trossard. It’s difficult to assess their performances given the questionable quality of what they were facing, although all performed capably, Trossard the pick of them. The game was won in the opening 35 minutes as the Gunners raced into a three goal lead. Granit Xhaka set up both of Martin Odegaard’s goals, scored from a similar position, and Xhaka’s blocked shot led to Jesus making it 3-0. It was all too easy. After the rollercoaster of the past four matches, Gooners needed this kind of game – a nice straightforward home win in which their team dominated.

 

Chelsea were so bereft of quality that even Arsenal couldn’t blow their lead, and Doktor Schneide messaged me to say, “We seem to have this mentality of getting nervier and more hesitant the further we go out in front. You get the feeling you wouldn’t be surprised to see Arsenal being overtaken doing a lap of honour”. Chelsea had a lot more of the ball in the second half and created more danger. Their only real moment in the opening half was at 1-0 down when Ben Chilwell broke through and Ramsdale saved well. Arteta’s men could have extended their lead when three up – Silva cleared off the line from a corner. But there was to be no humiliating scoreline. 

 

Pierre Emerick Aubameyang was started in a surprise selection by Frank Lampard, presumably in the hope that he might be fired up against his old team. That didn’t work out, and the first half had a pantomime element when he was booed on the rare occasions he touched the ball. That he was withdrawn at the interval says it all. The striker performed respectably at Barcelona, but since his return to London has gone completely off the boil, with one goal in the league all season. Chelsea have had trouble scoring all season though.

 

20 minutes into the second half, Zinchenko’s focus went and ball-watching, he allowed Madueke to drift in behind him and score Chelsea’s consolation goal. It’s fair to say the Ukrainian brings more to his team when he has the ball at his feet than when he has to do the more basic stuff demanded of a left back. Perhaps it was a factor in Manchester City allowing him to leave last summer. It’s an interesting conundrum for Arteta, because you don’t really see this changing. Were a Tony Adams lining up alongside him, he might get more reminders not to switch off. However, defending generally has not been the side’s strong point this season, even when Saliba was fit. Chelsea have actually conceded less goals than Arsenal. 

 

It's something to work on, and the fans understand this is a work in progress, and assuming Arsenal do finish second, despite the disappointment, there is no debate the club have made massive strides since the conclusion of the previous campaign. 

 

Martinelli and Nelson had runouts from the bench but couldn’t add to the score. Saka made way for Nelson and may be feeling the effects of a long season with little rest - he was less influential in this game. In the event that the title comes down to goal difference, it’s unlikely that Arsenal could overcome the current 12 goal deficit. 

 

That might all feel academic though if they fail to beat Newcastle on Sunday. Eddie Howe’s team have only lost once at home so far this season, so if Arsenal are to give Manchester City something to think about, they will have to perform at the top of their game at St James’s Park. The same fixture at the tail end of last season pretty much did for their chance of a top four finish and was a very disappointing Monday evening for the fans that travelled north for the game. The team didn’t really turn up that night. That can’t happen again. 

 

Let’s clutch at straws here. Arsenal manage to string four wins together from their remaining matches. Manchester City have to go to Everton – between their two Champions League semi-final legs - before Sean Dyche’s side are likely to be condemned to relegation, so will be absolutely scrapping for even a point. City’s final two matches are away to Brighton and Brentford – both of whom may still have a chance of qualifying for Europe by that time. Even with the poor run of three points from four matches that was broken by last night’s victory, there is still something to play for. You wouldn’t bet on it, but the title isn’t won yet, Arsenal are back in first place for a day, and football has been known to surprise. They have to win at Newcastle though, I think for any chance of overcoming Guardiola’s march to a fifth title in six seasons, that is the first thing that needs to happen. In the meantime, good luck tonight West Ham!

 

Finally, the 300th issue of The Gooner went on sale before the game last night. Congratulations to my successor as editor almost three years ago now, Layth Yousif, on taking the fanzine to this milestone under challenging circumstances. If you wish to play your part in the fanzine continuing, please subscribe for next season, which can be done here

 

To be notified when there is fresh content on my blog (generally the day after matches), follow me on Twitter - https://twitter.com/KevinWhitcher01