Chelsea 0-1 Arsenal
by Amar Azam
 

MIKEL ARTETA’S Arsenal reinforced their title credentials with this impressive victory over London rivals Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. In so doing, they returned to the Premier League summit.  
 
The only goal of this engrossing match came from defender Gabriel, who scored from close range midway through the second half.  
 
On the balance of play, the win was fully deserved for this Arsenal side, who dominated their opponents for much of this enjoyable contest with a high-quality performance.

Chelsea’s players had little response to the ideas and creativity on show from this energetic Arsenal side.  
 
After a promising start under Graham Potter, Chelsea’s players seem to have lost their way. This was a poor performance from his men, who rarely threatened their opponents.  
 
This successive league defeat means that they have not won in four Premier League matches. Former Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, leading the line in blue, was one of a number of Chelsea players to struggle.  
 
Arsenal’s game plan in the first half was to destablise the Chelsea players from the outset. They did so successfully.

Arteta’s deployment of Oleksandr Zinchenko — who pushed into midfield whenever he had the opportunity in a fluid 4-3-3 system — contributed much to a vibrant display.  
 
Arsenal’s forward players were on top after the interval too. After goal-scoring opportunities from Thomas Partey and Gabriel Jesus early on, it seemed a matter of time before the visitors would score.  
 
The deadlock was broken on 63 minutes when Gabriel poked the ball in from close range after Bukayo Saka’s corner kick evaded Chelsea’s defenders and looped into the path of the Brazilian defender.