Arsenal vs Chelsea: Unai Emery's side close on top four with convincing Premier League win

Re-live the action from the Premier League clash at the Emirates Stadium

Premier League preview: Arsenal v Chelsea

Arsenal reinvigorated their hopes of finishing in the Premier League's top four with a deserved 2-0 victory over London rivals Chelsea.

Unai Emery had said on the eve of the game that a defeat at the Emirates Stadium, which would have left Arsenal nine points adrift of the fourth-placed Blues, would have meant the end of their top-four ambitions.

In truth, the hosts never looked like losing as they went at Chelsea from the off, sealing the win with first-half goals from Alexandre Lacazette and Laurent Koscielny.

Maurizio Sarri opted to set up his Chelsea side with Eden Hazard again playing at the main central attacking option and the visitors rarely threatened. Re-live the action in the blog below:

What time does it start?

Arsenal vs Chelsea kicks off at 5:30pm (GMT) on Saturday 19 January.

Where can I watch it?

Arsenal vs Chelsea will be shown live on BT Sport 1 from 5:00pm (GMT).

BT Sport subscribers can watch the action on the BT Sport app.

Highlights will be shown at 10:20pm on BBC One.

Player to watch...

Willian: The Brazilian has been a firm fixture in Maurizio Sarri’s starting XI all season and scored a beauty to clinch three points against Newcastle. The 30-year-old has played in all but one of Chelsea’s Premier League fixtures, and has scored five goals in all competitions. With Eden Hazard playing up front in recent weeks, Willian and Pedro are Sarri’s preferred options out wide, keeping Callum Hudson-Odoi out of the team.

Willian has kept Callum Hudson-Odoi out of the Chelsea side (Getty)

Form guide...

Arsenal: WDLWWL

Chelsea: WWDWLW

Odds...

Arsenal to win: 21/10

Chelsea to win: 11/8

Draw: 13/5

(Odds provided by Betfair)

Key Points

• Arsenal: Leno, Bellerin, Papastathopoulos, Koscielny, Kolasinac, Torreira, Xhaka, Guendouzi, Ramsey, Lacazette, Aubameyang. Subs: Cech, Elneny, Ozil, Maitland-Niles, Iwobi, Monreal, Mustafi.
• Chelsea: Arrizabalaga, Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Luiz, Alonso, Kante, Jorginho, Kovacic, Pedro, Hazard, Willian. Subs: Barkley, Caballero, Giroud, Hudson-Odoi, Christensen, Emerson Palmieri, Ampadu.

[19 January 2019 17:44 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

13 minutes

What reflexes from Kepa Arrizabalaga!

It is a lovely floated cross and Laurent Koscielny simply has to score as he moves on to it, but from six yards out heads straight at the Spanish goalkeeper who shoulders the ball over the bar.

Chelsea look vulnerable...

[19 January 2019 17:44 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea (Alexandre Lacazette, 14 minutes)

Vulnerable indeed!

Superb marksmanship from Alexandre Lacazette, taking down a mishit Hector Bellerin cross deftly, riding the challenge of Pedro, moving beyond Marcos Alonso, and finally finding a stinging finish at the near post where there seemed to be no such space for one.

Arsenal in a deserved early lead.

[19 January 2019 17:48 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

​17 minutes

Chelsea are all over the place!

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang just about retrieves a misplaced Granit Xhaka pass but Cesar Azpilicueta should be there to clear any resulting danger.

Azpilicueta for some reason delays his clearance and Aubameyang nips in, surging through.

Kepa saves well from Aubameyang's poke. 

[19 January 2019 17:49 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

18 minutes

Close from Pedro!

David Luiz lofts a lovely pass to Pedro who has timed his run expertly, and the Spaniard's lift over the onrushing Bernd Leno seems destined for the corner.

It drops on the line just the wrong side of the post.

[19 January 2019 17:51 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

20 minutes

Cesar Azplicueta is being afforded plenty of space with Arsenal's narrow system, and Laurent Koscielny is alert to cut out his low cross with Eden Hazard lurking behind.

Chelsea corner.

[19 January 2019 17:52 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

21 minutes

Arsenal defending resolutely, but Chelsea starting to come.

Koscielny is again the man there to clear a driven Eden Hazard cross.

[19 January 2019 17:53 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

22 minutes

Alexandre Lacazette looks to beat Marcos Alonso again down the right wing but finds the Spaniard a tougher nut to crack on this occasion, and mishits his cross such that it nearly catches out Kepa with an odd trajectory across goal, just about rising enough to clear the crossbar.

Goal kick.

[19 January 2019 17:56 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

23 minutes

Chelsea are moving well, but are lacking a focal point. Marcos Alonso improvises a driven cross to the penalty spot where the ball rather hits N'Golo Kante, and when it is worked back to Jorginho the midfield pivot lashes well over the bar.

A number of times Alonso and Cesar Azpilicueta have shirked crosses with no-one in the box to pick out. With Arsenal so narrow, there are plenty of opportunities to make progress down the flanks and Maurizio Sarri will surely consider introducing Olivier Giroud at some point this evening.

[19 January 2019 17:57 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

​26 minutes 

Arsenal counter-attack with pace, and with Aaron Ramsey peeling out to the left they are able to overload Cesar Azplicueta, who stick to his task well and allows his teammates to get back and clear.

[19 January 2019 17:59 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

1-0.