2023/24
Matchweek 34
All times shown are your local time
Tue 23 Apr 2024
Kick Off:
Emirates Stadium, London
Att: 60,238
Ref: Simon Hooper
KOMins
42
43
45
45 +1
  • HT
  • 52
    57
    65
    70
    76
  • FT
  • WHO'S GOING TO BE YOUR

    MAN OF THE MATCH?

    Report

    Arsenal put pressure back on Liverpool and Manchester City in the Premier League title race after Kai Havertz and Ben White both scored twice in the 5-0 thrashing of Chelsea.

    A second win in four days saw leaders Arsenal surge three points clear of second-placed Liverpool and four ahead of Man City – who have played a game fewer than the Reds – before the chasing pair play later in the week.

    Leandro Trossard opened the scoring in Saturday's 2-0 triumph over Wolves and needed just four minutes at Emirates Stadium against Mauricio Pochettino's visiting Chelsea to repeat the trick.

    Yet Havertz and unlikely scorer White stole the show with second-half doubles as defeat ended the Blues' eight-match unbeaten Premier League run and left them ninth in the table.

    How the match unfolded

    Declan Rice's early mazy run opened space inside the area for Trossard to blast a left-footed strike through the legs of Djordje Petrovic, who kept his side in the game after that opener.

    Trossard almost grabbed another goal but his deflected effort was expertly tipped away by Petrovic, just moments after the Chelsea goalkeeper had repelled a low Havertz strike.

    Chelsea had their chances in the first half, though, as Nicolas Jackson's surging run ended with Gabriel Magalhaes deflecting the forward's shot against David Raya's right-hand post.

    Enzo Fernandez also steered a driving effort narrowly wide in what was initially an end-to-end encounter, after Benoit Badiashile's flick-on nearly found Axel Disasi, but he couldn't get contact on the ball in the six-yard box.

    Yet Arsenal took the game away from Chelsea – White first finishing into the bottom-left corner from close range after Conor Gallagher inadvertently blocked the ball into his path.

    Havertz lifted a 57th-minute chip into the roof of the net following Martin Odegaard's through-ball before the German star fired past Petrovic with the help of the right post from Bukayo Saka's pass eight minutes later.

    To make matters worse for Pochettino's side, White secured an unexpected double in the 70th minute, with his volleyed cross-cum-shot creeping into the top-left corner from Odegaard's lofted assist.

    Advantage Arsenal

    With Liverpool away at Everton on Wednesday and Man City visiting Brighton the day after, Arsenal took control of the Premier League title battle – at least for now.

    A tough trip to fierce rivals Spurs will follow on Sunday for Arsenal, though Arteta will be hoping the Gunners make the visit to north London boosted by Liverpool or City dropping points.

    And, if this strong performance against Chelsea, which included 27 shots, is anything to go by, the Arsenal manager will be confident his side – unlike last season – can push the title race all the way.

    Blues' unbeaten streak ends

    Chelsea came into this contest unbeaten in eight Premier League games, winning four and drawing as many, but saw that streak come to an abrupt end here on a night when they managed just one attempt on target.

    Pochettino will still harbour hopes of a late charge for European football, sitting just three points behind sixth-placed Newcastle United, but the early-season damage may prove too much to recover from.

    This second-half collapse also marked more Emirates misery for Chelsea, who lost consecutive Premier League away games against Arsenal for the first time since a run of three between December 2001 and October 2003.

    Arsenal report | Chelsea report

    Match officials

    Referee: Simon Hooper. Assistants: Adrian Holmes, Simon Long. Fourth official: Graham Scott. VAR: Peter Bankes. Assistant VAR: Simon Bennett.

    Show All

    Club Reports

    Match officials

    Referee: Simon Hooper

    Fourth Official: Graham Scott

    VAR: Peter Bankes

    Assistant VAR: Simon Bennett

    Match related content will appear here

        Season So Far

        Arsenal
         
        Chelsea

        Top Player Stats

          Match Stats

          Arsenal
           
          Chelsea

          Head-to-Head

          Arsenal
          Total Wins
          26
          Home
          16
          Away
          10
          Chelsea
          Total Wins
          20
          Home
          13
          Away
          7

          Played

          64

          Draws 18

          Recent Meetings