Chelsea vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction as Gabriel pokes Gunners to victory
Chelsea 0-1 Arsenal: The Gunner go back to the top of the Premier League table with a narrow win at Stamford Bridge
Gabriel scored the winner to return Arsenal to the top of the Premier League in a hard-fought 1-0 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Manager Mikel Arteta remains unbeaten in all of Arsenal’s Premier League visits to Stamford Bridge since he took the reins in December 2019, as his side left with all three points in a game of few clear-cut chances.
The central defender poked a probing goalward-bound looped effort from Bukayo Saka over the line for the only goal of the game in the 63rd minute.
Chelsea had been looking to return to winning ways in the league having been hammered 4-1 at Brighton the previous weekend, with manager Graham Potter suffering his first defeat since he took charge of the club in September. However, the Blues struggled to impose themselves on the game, and finished with just two shots on target.
Follow the action as Chelsea host Arsenal in a Premier League London derby:
Chelsea vs Arsenal line-ups
Chelsea XI: Mendy; Azpilicueta, Thiago Silva, Chalobah; Loftus-Cheek, Jorginho, Mount, Cucurella; Havertz, Aubameyang, Sterling
Arsenal XI: Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Partey, Xhaka; Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli; Jesus
12-in-a-row for Chelsea
Chelsea are unbeaten in 12 home matches in all competitions since losing 4-2 to Arsenal on 20th April earlier this year. They’ve won seven and drawn five during that run.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is ‘really humble’ despite fast and flashy reputation
Chelsea boss Graham Potter says Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s flashy luxury cars are a mismatch for his misunderstood personality.
Sunday’s clash will be the first time the Blues striker has faced Arsenal since leaving the Gunners by mutual consent in February, when Aubameyang blamed his fraught relationship with manager Mikel Arteta as the primary reason he parted ways with the club he once captained.
But Potter was adamant that despite what some might assume about the former Gabon skipper, who is thought to have spent millions on luxury rides including Lamborghinis and Ferraris, Aubameyang is perfectly down-to-earth.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is ‘really humble’ despite fast and flashy reputation
Sunday’s clash will be the first time the Chelsea striker has faced Arsenal since leaving the Gunners
Graham Potter spoke in his pre-match press confernece about how tough today’s clash with Arsenal will be but says he wants his Chelsea sdie to impose themselves on the game especially because it is being played at Stamford Bridge.
“That’s the challenge,” said Potter in response to a questiion on how Chelsea will handle the high-flying Gunners. “Arsenal is a step up, so we have to respect the opponent and what they do well, and try to bring our own game.
“We’re at Stamford Bridge and it’s important we try to do that. We want to impose ourselves as much as we can.
“It’s an important game, but success isn’t built by one match. You need to work, decide who and how you’re playing. It’s a process of pain and suffering, but you clearly need results along the way.”
Chelsea vs Arsenal
Arsenal are vying to win three consecutive league games away to Chelsea for the first time since 1974.
The Gunners have won three of their last four Premier League fixtures versus the Blues. Prior this, they had only claimed two victories in 17 top-flight meetings with six draws and nine defeats.
‘Jesus’ bad luck will change’ says Arteta
Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, says that Gabriel Jesus will turn around his unlucky form and start to score again for the Gunners after his brilliant start at the Emirates has hit a rocky patch in recent games.
“That’s going to change [his bad luck], he’s getting the situations, he’s getting the chances, he’s contributing to the team an awful lot, he’s helping to win matches, the way he competes for every ball in every single action is incredible.” said the Arsenal boss when asked about Jesus’ form.
“It will come, he needs to be patient, he’s been through that in the past and he needs to learn those lessons and don’t stop doing those other things that he’s doing so well, because that’s going to maintain the level of him and the team.”
Chelsea players shouldn’t hold back despite World Cup injury risk, Graham Potter claims
Chelsea boss Graham Potter does not expect Premier League players to hold back ahead of the World Cup despite concerns that injuries might rule them out.
Ben Chilwell’s dream of making the England squad for Qatar has likely been crushed after he sustained a hamstring injury in the Blues’ Champions League clash with Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday.
He is one of several top-flight stars who have late fitness concerns ahead of the finals, with Tottenham’s Son Heung-min also set to undergo surgery for a facial fracture sustained at Marseille on Tuesday.
It has sparked calls from some corners for the Premier League to postpone the final round of matches before the break.
Chelsea players shouldn’t hold back despite World Cup injury risk, Graham Potter says
Ben Chilwell is one of a number of Premier League players with injuries putting their place in Qatar in doubt
Chelsea vs Arsenal early team news and predicted line ups
Ben Chilwell has joined Chelsea’s injury list with a confirmed hamstring tear and will miss the World Cup whilst N’Golo Kante, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Wesley Fofana and Reece James remain remain out of action.
Mateo Kovacic should return in midfield despite missing Wednesday’s Champions League win because of a calf issue.
Bukayo Saka is fine and dandy and Arsenal also welcome back Oleksandr Zinchenko but are likely to be without Takehiro Tomiyasu.
Predicted line-ups
Chelsea: Mendy; Azpilicueta, Silva, Koulibaly, Cucurella; Mount, Jorginho, Gallagher; Pulisic, Havertz, Sterling.
Arsenal: Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tierney; Odegaard, Partey, Xhaka; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli.
Chelsea vs Arsenal
Hello and welcome to The Independent’s coverage of Sunday’s Premier League action. There are five games taking place this afternoon with a huge clash in London up first as Chelsea host Arsenal at Stamford Bridge.
Kick off for this London derby is at 12pm and the Gunners are hoping to move back to the top of the Premier League table after Manchester City jumped above them with their controversial 2-1 win over Fulham yesterday. Arsenal trail the champions by one point but due to City’s superior goal difference Mikel Arteta’s side would need to defeat Chelsea to regain top spot.
Chelsea meanwhile are trying to get back into the battle for the top four. Graham Potter’s side sit seventh in the table but will jump up to fifth if they sweep Arsenal aside ths afternoon. The Blues could do with a win after losing 4-1 away to Brighton last time out in the Premier League.
This will be a difficult test for both teams but one that will have great rewards for whichever team is triumphant.
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