Arsenal were back to their very best on Tuesday, as Mikel Arteta’s side made light work of London rivals Chelsea in a 5-0 victory at Emirates Stadium.
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The victory sends the Gunners (77 points) four points clear of three-time defending Premier League champions Manchester City, who have now played two fewer games and still have six remaining. The five-goal margin of victory was perhaps significant, as Arsenal now lead the all-important tiebreaker by 12 goals. Man City win the title if they win out, but one draw while Arsenal win out would (likely) mean the ribbons are red and white at season’s end.
After suffering back-to-back defeats to Aston Villa and Bayern Munich last Sunday and Wednesday, Arsenal have since responded with two wins (and two clean sheets) in the span of four days to revive those title hopes just under a month from Championship Sunday.
Chelsea crumble in 2nd half as each Arsenal goal seemingly easier than the last
It takes a whole team effort for Chelsea to lose 5-0, and everyone in blue undeniably did their part in this one. There were signs of life as Chelsea created a few chances midway through the first half when Mauricio Pochettino’s side was still only 1-0 down (Leandro Trossard in the 4th minute), but once the second goal went in, it was quitting time for the lads.
Ben White made it 2-0 in the 52nd; it was 3-0 by the 57th and 4-0 in the 65th (both from Kai Havertz, against his former team); and White scored the Accidental Goal of the Season in the 70th. From 1-0, to 5-0, in 18 minutes. Each time Chelsea lost the ball, all it took was one or two passes to split the defense open and walk the ball into the penalty area (all five goals scored from 12 yards or in). Pochettino was forced to change three of four defenders from the FA Cup semifinal on Saturday, with Thiago Silva, Trevoh Chalobah and Malo Gusto all ruled out by injuries.
On the flip side, Arsenal more than played their part in the result as well. Martin Odegaard delivered one of the passes of the season to set up goal no. 3, restoring a bit of the lost swagger and proving emphatically that the Gunners are still standing for one last go at the PL title. Anytime you out-shoot a squad that costs roughly $1.2 billion to assemble, by a margin of 26-7, it was a day you can be proud of.
What’s next?
Arsenal will continue their title chase in the north London derby on Sunday (9 am ET), when they visit nearby rivals and top-four hopefuls Tottenham. Chelsea will take on the other half of the top-four race, Aston Villa, at Villa Park on Saturday (3 pm ET).
Player ratings - Arsenal vs Chelsea
Arsenal vs Chelsea highlights, updates, final score: 5-0
Goalscorers: Leandro Trossard (4'), Ben White (52', 70'), Kai Havertz (57', 65')
GOAL - Ben White floats a cross into the top corner to make it Arsenal 5-0 Chelsea (70')
GOAL - Kai Havertz bags a brace against his former club (65')
GOAL - Kai Havertz finishes after Martin Odegaard’s brilliant through ball (57')
GOAL - Ben White passes home Arsenal’s second amid constant pressure (52')
NO RED (OR YELLOW) CARD - Nicolas Jackson avoids being booked for challenge on Takehiro Tomiyasu (8')
Only a couple minutes after going a goal behind, Chelsea were perhaps fortunate to not also be a man down after Nicolas Jackson went over the top of the ball and landing on the inside of Takehiro Tomiyasu’s right ankle. Tomiyasu was also fortunate to remain in the game after the ugly challenge.
Nicolas Jackson escaped a card after this challenge on Takehiro Tomiyasu. 👀 pic.twitter.com/OH1eGzZLDg
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) April 23, 2024
GOAL - Leandro Trossard puts Arsenal ahead early with finish from a tight angle (4')
Declan Rice charged forward through the left channel and laid the ball off to Leandro Trossard making the overlapping run. One touch to control, one touch to smash it under Djordje Petrovic for the opening goal.
TEAM NEWS - Cole Palmer out due to illness; Thomas Partey makes a rare start
Chelsea will be without their Player of the Season, Cole Palmer (20 goals, 9 assists in 27 PL appearances), after the 21-year-old came down with an illness in the last few days. Mykhailo Mudryk starts in his place.
On the Arsenal side of things, Thomas Partey is set to make just his second start since August, having featured almost exclusively as a late-game substitute since early March, after missing four months. Gabriel Jesus is back on the bench after starting in the win over Wolves this weekend, pushing Kai Havertz from midfield up to the forward line against his former club.
Arsenal starting lineup
Raya — White, Saliva, Gabriel, Tomiyasu — Partey, Rice, Odegaard — Saka, Havertz, Trossard
Chelsea starting lineup
Petrovic — Gilchrist, Badiashile, Disasi, Cucurella — Fernandez, Caicedo, Gallagher — Madueke, Mudryk, Jackson
How to watch Arsenal vs Chelsea live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 3pm ET, Tuesday (April 23)
TV Channel: USA Network
Online: Watch online via NBC.com
Arsenal focus, team news
Mikel Arteta has some big decisions to make as he tries to keep his squad fresh ahead of a big week in their title bid. London rivals Chelsea and Tottenham would love to scupper their title dreams and Arteta is going to have to rotate expertly. Saka, Odegaard and Rice looked exhausted at the end of Arsenal’s win at Wolves and surely all three need a rest at some point. But can Arteta afford to do that against Chelsea? Probably not. Elsewhere, Zinchenko or Tomiyasu could start at left back, while Jorginho may come back in to midfield and Gabriel Martinelli could also start. Arsenal have options but it’s all about how Arteta plans to use the different combinations of players together over these pivotal next few games.
OUT: Jurrien Timber (knee)
Chelsea focus, team news
Pochettino will have to pick his team up from their disappointment against Man City but Chelsea aren’t playing badly. The trio of Palmer, Gallagher and Madueke underneath Jackson has been working well and Moises Caicedo has hit top form once again. Defensive injuries have not been kind to Chelsea all season long and it is likely Axel Disasi will come in for Thiago Silva in defense.
OUT: Cole Palmer (illness), Thiago Silva (undisclosed), Malo Gusto (undisclosed), Trevoh Chalobah (undisclosed), Christopher Nkunku (thigh), Levi Colwill (foot), Reece James (thigh), Romeo Lavia (hamstring - out for season), Wesley Fofana (torn ACL - out for season), Lesley Ugochukwu (hamstring), Robert Sanchez (illness)