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  • Writer's pictureAdam Perry

Still Hope?

Arsenal put a dent in Chelsea’s top four hopes, completing the double over the West London side with a 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.


Emile Smith Rowe capitalised on a Jorginho mistake early on, giving the Gunners a lead to hang on to for the rest of the game.


Mikel Arteta made 5 changes from the team that beat West Brom, matching up with Thomas Tuchel’s back 3 and bringing in Marí, Partey, Tierney, Ødegaard and Aubameyang.



Chelsea dominated the opening period, culminating in an excellent opportunity 11 minutes in. Havertz beat Marí to an under-hit pass, putting him through one on one, only for the Chelsea man lifted his shot over the goal.


5 minutes later, Arsenal made Chelsea pay, capitalising on a horrendous Jorginho error. The Chelsea midfielder played a blind back pass towards his goal, with Kepa stood 10 yards to the side. The Spanish keeper scrambled towards his goal, clawing the ball out as far as Aubameyang, who squared to Smith Rowe for the easy finish to put Arsenal 1-0 up.


Smith Rowe 1-0


Chelsea continued to control the play, although most of their touches came in front of the Arsenal defence. A flurry of blocks from the Arsenal centre backs helped keep the Gunners in front.


Christian Pulisic had the ball in the back of the net for Chelsea during the second half, but the goal was ruled out for offside following a flick on from a corner.


Chelsea maintained their pressure late into the game, hitting the woodwork twice in the 90th minute. Ziyech floated a deep cross towards Zouma who headed the ball goalward. Leno made an acrobatic save, tipping the ball onto the bar, falling to Giroud who cannoned a weak foot volley off the bar.




Following the Europa League exit to Villarreal, Arsenal returned with a 3-1 victory over West Brom at the Emirates last Sunday.


A late Willian free kick gave the Brazilian his first Arsenal goal, helping to relegate the Baggies.


Arteta named 6 changes from the Europa League semi-final side, bringing in Chambers, Gabriel, Elneny, Ceballos, Willian and Martinelli.



It was a slow start for both sides, resembling the game against Newcastle the week before with both teams looking lethargic on the ball.


Arsenal burst into life around the half an hour mark, breaking the deadlock through Smith Rowe volley from close range. Willian received the ball on the left, playing in the underlapping Saka into a crossing position. Saka picked out Smith Rowe with a perfect cross, setting up the attacking midfielder to volley in with his weak foot to make it 1-0.


Smith Rowe 1-0


Pépé doubled Arsenal’s advantage 6 minutes later. Chambers fed the ball to Pépé in front of him and galloped beyond him to give the Ivorian space to cut inside. Pépé jinked to create space from the defenders before lashing in a curling shot into the top corner. It is exactly the type of goal we have expected to see more often from Pépé.


Pépé 2-0


West Brom got a goal back in the 67th minute, counter attacking off an Arsenal corner. Townsend brought the ball out of the West Brom box, playing it to Pereira. The West Brom attacker carried the ball over halfway, with Dani Ceballos struggling to catch him as he bared down on the Arsenal goal. Gabriel, Holding and Chambers failed to put a foot in and tackle, allowing Periera to roll the ball beyond Leno.


Pereira 2-1


The game remained in the balance until the 90th minute when Willian fired in an excellent free kick from 25 yards out to seal the win and score his first Arsenal goal on his 37th appearance.


Willian 3-1



It leaves Arsenal with a mathematical, but slim, chance of qualifying for the Europa League next season off the back of these two wins, sat just 1 point behind Tottenham and Everton but having played a game extra.


It is difficult to take much away from these games because they have shown us what we have seen before and there has been less pressure. We have seen Arsenal beat teams in the bottom part of the table often and we have seen Arteta’s Arsenal on several occasions frustrate top teams with a compact defence, particularly Chelsea.


A ‘since Christmas’ Premier League table has been circulating on Arsenal twitter showing the Gunners as 3rdfrom the Chelsea game on boxing day onwards. That date and game is a biased starting point, but it does at least provide some optimism for next season as that game signified the emergence of Smith Rowe and Saka in the Arsenal attack which has been the catalyst for improved, albeit inconsistent, form.



In the upcoming week, Arsenal face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Wednesday at 7pm. Palace currently sit in 13th and are officially safe from relegation for another season. Arsenal are the form side, having won each of their last 3 games, whilst Palace have lost 4 of their last 5. It should be a relatively comfortable win for Arsenal.


Prediction:

Crystal Palace 0 – 2 Arsenal


(Video Credit: Arsenal)

Adam Perry – 14/05/2021


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