English Premier League: Chelsea vs Arsenal – As it happened
Updates as Arsenal look to return to the top of the Premier League with a win against Chelsea.
- Arsenal overtake Manchester City into first position with the win.
- Chelsea needed three points just to keep pace with Champions League qualification.
- Arsenal overtake Manchester City into first position with the win.
- Chelsea needed three points just to keep pace with Champions League qualification.
- Arsenal are the second highest scorers this season in the Premier League with 31 goals.
That’s all folks …
A big test for Arsenal, and one they passed with flying colours. They were well worth their 1-0 win and look to go into the World Cup break in a good position whatever happens in their next two games.
Potter will have more questions than answers after this and perhaps will welcome a reprieve, hoping to bring some players back to full fitness in the new year. Getting players like Kante and James back would make his life much easier.
Arteta feels his side are still improving
Mikel Arteta was unsurprisingly pleased during his interview with BT Sport, saying he still feels his side are getting better at dominating games. It’s hard to argue with his prognosis, with their only defeat coming against Man United in a game that they played quite well in and were arguably unlucky to lose.
When asked what impressed him, he said: “For such a young team, the maturity that they showed, the composure they showed, the resilience and the courage to play the way we wanted to play, it was phenomenal.”
Potter under pressure?
Todd Boehly made a big call in giving Thomas Tuchel the sack after giving him more than 200 million pounds ($228m) to spend, and you feel like Potter had to hit the ground running at Stamford Bridge.
Back-to-back defeats in the Premier League leave them in danger of drifting away from the top four places, and eyes are turning to see what Newcastle and Man United can do on Sunday.
However, he won’t last long relying on results from elsewhere and will need to get his team clicking again fast. Reece James and Ben Chillwell are big losses, which have to be taken into account.
Xhaka happy in the rain
Xhaka drops the f-bomb within seconds of being interviewed on BT Sport, but who can blame him after the way he and his team performed on Sunday.
“We deserved to win today,” he said. “We were much, much, much the better team. We are doing what the coaches tell us, and these are the results.
“After the season nobody asks you how you win in November, December or January. You are just trying to get a lot of points, and let’s see where we end up.”
Granit Xhaka to BT Sport: “You see the atmosphere, it’s f*cking unbelievable!” #afc
— afcstuff (@afcstuff) November 6, 2022
How the match was won
Arsenal dominated the ball and the flow of the game, and while possession can sometimes be misleading, this was not one of those days. Partey and Xhaka were imperious in the centre of the park.
Full time: Chelsea 0-1 Arsenal
A big win for Mikel Arteta’s side, which sends them back to the summit of the Premier League. Chelsea look lost under Graham Potter and seem to be getting worse rather than better after an initial run of good results.
Title race on? You better believe it.
London is 🔴🔴🔴
The Gunners are back on top after a statement win 📈#CHEARS pic.twitter.com/lGI8qmgi8C
— Premier League USA (@PLinUSA) November 6, 2022
Potter in the firing line
Fans always turn on the manager during a disappointing run, as Potter well knows.
When there's no Reece James and Ben chilwell to create for Chelsea who den do dey have as creator on the pitch #CheArs
— 🅱️eejay🅱️🅰️nkZ (@Beejaybankz2) November 6, 2022
potter is the one to blame for this one😤 #CheArs
— bene (@benesiito) November 6, 2022
POTTER OUT !!!!!!! ❌❌❌❌❌❌🚫❌🚫🚫🚫🚫❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌
SACK POTTER NOW!!!!! pic.twitter.com/RxRI6mxj8r
— Blue Mayor 💙🏆 (@Ayowa9) November 6, 2022
92 min: Chelsea 0-1 Arsenal
Xhaka and Chalobah get into a shoving match near the corner flag, which eventually sees half the players and substitutes involved. Michael Oliver takes no action, which is probably wise.
Holding on for Martinelli.
89 min: Chelsea 0-1 Arsenal
Sterling picks up a yellow for a drag back on Thomas Partey, who was running into the Chelsea half. Doesn’t feel like Chelsea have an answer to the Gunners.
85 min: Chelsea 0-1 Arsenal
Chelsea haven’t really been able to lay a glove on Arteta’s side, and their time is running out. Conor Gallagher picks up a yellow card for a shirt pull on Kieran Tierney.
Mohamed Elneny is introduced for Matin Odegaard to try to shore things up.
The biggest transformation of this Arsenal team is their shift in mentality, it's been really good #CHEARS
— Dami (@ddmilado) November 6, 2022
The rain is coming down
81 min: Chelsea 0-1 Arsenal
Marc Cucerella gets away with one after he handles the ball, but VAR official Jarred Gillett rules that it was outside the box, so no penalty (or free kick as they don’t have the jurisdiction to make those calls).
Odd one, but such are the vagaries of VAR.
78 min: Chelsea 0-1 Arsenal
Substitution: Kovacic enters the fray for Loftus-Cheek with Christian Pulisic on for Mason Mount.
Areta brings on Kieran Tierney for Zinchenko, who’s still finding his fitness after a period on the sidelines.
Chelsea fans not happy …
We’ve spent a lot of money recently and the truth of the situation, is that we are actually no better and probably worse. Tuchel was not the problem. Top 4 no chance and top 6 doubtful.Arsenal actually playing attractive football.We are playing far too deep. #CHEARS #CFC
— Robert Bain (@RobertBain8) November 6, 2022
I don't recognize this @ChelseaFC team anymore #CheArs pic.twitter.com/vO3zy75WMl
— Victør Mutüa (@victormutua9) November 6, 2022
75 min: Chelsea 0-1 Arsenal
It’s end-to-end stuff as Broja’s run through the Arsenal defence is only matched by Gabriel Jesus at the other end. Neither comes to anything fruitful, but the game is certainly opening up as Chelsea seek a leveller.
Both managers are preparing to empty their respective benches with the Blues more in need of reinforcements.
69 min: Chelsea 0-1 Arsenal
Saka fires over from a tight angle, but he would have expected to do better with that half-chance. Minutes later, he almost rounds Mendy when played through, but the Sengalese does well to take the ball cleanly.
Arsenal are looking more likely to add to their lead than Chelsea get one back at this stage.
A former England striker approves …
The Gunners are looking the real deal. More than deserve their lead.
— Michael Owen (@themichaelowen) November 6, 2022
65 min: Chelsea 0-1 Arsenal
Substitution: Aubameyang goes off for Broja as expected. He does not look happy on the Chelsea bench.
Conor Gallagher also on for Kai Havertz, who did not have his shooting boots on.
62 min: Chelsea 0-1 Arsenal
GOAL!
Gabriel puts the Gunners ahead. A Saka corner isn’t dealt with and passes most of the Chelsea defence before Gabriel eventually pokes it in. Sloppy from the men in blue but you can’t say it wasn’t coming.
60 min: Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal
Back under way and Arsenal still dominating possession. Chalobah picks up a booking for a cynical foul on Gabriel Jesus.
Potter getting ready to introduce Armando Broja. Get ready for Aubameyang to get an earful from the Arsenal fans if he’s replaced.
56 min: Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal
Thomas Partey gets away without a booking for an obvious foul on Loftus-Cheek, which bemuses some of the Chelsea crowd. Michael Oliver will not be on Graham Potter’s Christmas card list this year.
At the other end, Partey has a great chance to put his side ahead, but his header goes well wide in the end. There’s an issue in the crowd, so the teams are taking a water break.
50 min: Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal
Sailba makes a hash of a clearance that almost leads to Aubameyang being clean through on goal but only results in a Chelsea corner.
Cesar Azpilicueta picks up a yellow card despite winning the ball in a challenge with Martinelli. Feels harsh, but he did go in hard.
Second half under way
Arsenal get things under way and will be hoping for better luck attacking the opposite end this half. No changes.
Half-time stats
(See more by clicking on our ‘Match Stats’ tab)
Half-time: Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal
Both sides will probably feel they can do better in the second half with Arsenal playing the better football but yet to register a shot on target.
Chelsea have had a couple of half-chances that have mainly fallen to Kai Havertz, but Graham Potter can’t argue with the score remaining level. Will we see the introduction of Conor Gallagher to give some more thrust in the middle of the park?