Arsenal responded well to the mounting pressure Manchester City have been creating in the title race by beating Chelsea 2-1 at the Emirates. In many ways, the result was to be expected, given that the Gunners came into the clash 16 points ahead of their London rivals in the Premier League and were playing on home turf.
However, it was far from straightforward for Mikel Arteta’s men, and at times Chelsea were clearly the better side. The Blues had more of the ball (59% to 41%) and for much of the clash used it better too. It was a game of relatively few chances and clear openings, with much of the threat from both sides coming via set pieces. However, in terms of xG it was Chelsea who had the upper hand in the second period by 0.58 to 0.36.
Arsenal got what turned out to be the winner in the 66th minute, with Jurrien Timber heading in from a corner. The goal came after a strong start to the second half by the Blues and some sustained pressure. Chelsea’s hopes of getting back into the game were diminished almost straight away, however. Pedro Neto was booked in the 67th minute, and just three minutes later, an incredibly foolish challenge on Gabriel Martinelli by Neto saw him receive a second yellow and yet another red for Chelsea.
Cutting Corners
Arsenal had taken the lead after 21 minutes following a cagey start and the goal (to the surprise of nobody) came from a corner. It involved both of the Gunners’ central defenders but it was William Saliba who scored. Just before half time, Piero Hincapie scored an own goal to bring the visitors level. It was a delicious corner from Reece James that caused the problem for Arsenal and Hincapie glanced the ball past his own keeper.
The winner was from another corner and again the delivery played a huge part in the goal. Declan Rice’s ball made the job for Timber easy. Although in truth it was Chelsea keeper, Robert Sanchez, who did most of the heavy lifting. He had a poor game and flapped at the cross terribly, getting nowhere near the ball and then, rather embarrassingly, trying to claim he had been fouled.
The win restored Arsenal’s five-point lead at the top of the table, although they have played a game more than City. Still, with another stiff test out of the way, and just nine games left for them to play, they are big favourites to finally land another PL title.
Boring, Boring Arsenal
| Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 29 | 19 | 7 | 3 | 58 | 22 | 64 |
| 2 | Man City | 28 | 18 | 5 | 5 | 57 | 25 | 59 |
| 3 | Man United | 28 | 14 | 9 | 5 | 50 | 38 | 51 |
| 4 | Aston Villa | 28 | 15 | 6 | 7 | 38 | 30 | 51 |
| 5 | Liverpool | 28 | 14 | 6 | 8 | 47 | 37 | 48 |
| 6 | Chelsea | 28 | 12 | 9 | 7 | 49 | 33 | 45 |
Both sides were hugely dangerous from corners and set pieces, and much of that is down to the brilliance of Rice and James. As the commentary team pointed out, that duo could be very useful to England at the World Cup. The Three Lions do not possess anything like the aerial threat of Arsenal, but Harry Kane will certainly be licking his lips at the thought of their excellent deliveries into the box.
The Gunners scored two more goals from corners in this clash and, in truth, created relatively little from open play. Across the game, their xG from set pieces was almost exactly half of their total expected goals. That has not been unusual for them, and despite all the attacking players at Arteta’s disposal, they invariably look most dangerous in dead-ball situations.
Critics argue they play a form of anti-football, and even some Gunners question the excitement provided by their team, longing for the free-flowing football of the best of the Arsene Wenger years. It is perhaps harsh, and while Arsenal do boast the best defence in the Premier League, they have also scored more times than anyone else.
Undeniably, however, many of their goals have come from set pieces. They have scored three penalties, and 16 of their 58 Premier League goals have come from corners this season. That is three more than any other side in the top flight. It is the most any side has ever scored in a single PL campaign, and they still have nine matches to play. This was the ninth victory of the season they have clinched thanks to a goal from a corner. Is it boring? Maybe. Will Arsenal fans care if they win the Premier League? Certainly not.
Dirty, Dirty Chelsea
As for Chelsea, while they looked dangerous from dead balls too, the bigger talking point for them was yet another red card. Neto’s second yellow was inexcusable, a terrible tackle by a player who had just been booked. At a time when his side should have been fighting to get back in the game, he made their task twice as difficult with a silly, reckless, pointless challenge.
Neto’s dismissal was his club’s seventh of the league campaign. They are top of that unheralded pile, three clear of any other club. Indeed, with 10 games left to play they could well break the competition record of nine red cards in a season. They are bottom of the PL fair play table and finished second from bottom last term.
Overall the Blues have had nine different players sent off in all competitions, collecting nine red cards in total. These are staggering numbers and have cost Chelsea a number of points over the course of the season. They have won just one of the seven PL games where they have gone down to 10 men, and their ill-discipline could yet cost them a spot in the Champions League next term.