Arsenal go top after statement win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal took another massive step in their quest to compete for a Premier League title in the 2022/23 season as the Gunners registered a statement victory over Chelsea in a frenzied London derby at Stamford Bridge. Gabriel’s second-half winner from a Bukayo Saka corner was the only difference between the two sides, but Arsenal dominated the entirety of the 90 minutes on enemy territory to restore their lead at the top of the Premier League table over Manchester City.

On a rainy Sunday afternoon in West London, Arsenal made one change to their line-up, Oleksandr Zinchenko returning from injury to replace Takehiro Tomiyasu at left-back. Graham Potter’s Chelsea side had been ravaged by injury in the lead-up to this fixture, with Ben Chilwell the latest Blues player facing a spell on the sidelines following his hamstring injury in the Champions League in mid-week.

Marc Cucurella started at left-back for Chelsea in the absence of Chilwell, and the Spaniard immediately found himself in a battle with Arsenal right-winger Bukayo Saka. The two players engaged in a physical tussle in an all-action but non-eventful first 45 minutes that was dominated by the away side. Ben White had two early sights on the goal for the North London side, but the best Arsenal chance came at the half-hour mark through the two Gabriel’s.

The Gunners quickly turned defence into attack with some zipping build-up play before Gabriel Martinelli curled in a cross for Gabriel Jesus, whose header glanced wide off the post. Barring that Jesus effort, Arsenal couldn’t convert their territory into meaningful chances, and were occasionally threatened on the break by the speed of the Chelsea forwards, with Sterling and Havertz getting into some promising positions behind Zinchenko.

Arsenal continued to control the proceedings in the second period. Their first shot on target came just after the hour mark, with Jesus dispossessing his countryman Thiago Silva on the edge of the area before forcing Edouard Mendy into a save at the near post. The winning goal came from the resulting corner. Bukayo Saka’s inswinging delivery was left completely unchallenged by the Chelsea defence, allowing Brazilian centre-back Gabriel to tap into an empty net and put Arsenal in front.

Former Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was anonymous for large parts of the game and managed just eight touches in 64 minutes before being replaced by Armando Broja. The Albanian’s introduction made little difference to the Arsenal backline as the Gunners saw out the game without any discomfort in the lashing rain to hand Chelsea their second consecutive league defeat.

This win in Mikel Arteta’s 150th game in charge was Arsenal’s third consecutive victory at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League and takes the Gunners to the top of the table after 13 matches, two points ahead of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.