Arsenal bounced back strong to secure a comprehensive 3-1 win over woeful Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday. Martin Odegaard fired Arsenal back to the top of the Premier League table as the Norway midfielder’s double inspired a comfortable win against the Blues. With this victory, the Gunners have kept their Premier League title hopes alive. Earlier, Mikel Arteta’s men lost control of the title race with a humiliating 4-1 defeat at the hands of Manchester City.
But Arsenal players showed their class and intention to push City all the way to the wire with a much-needed first win in five games. Arsenal is now at the top with 78 points and two points clear of City. However, the title holders have two games in hand. Meanwhile, Chelsea is in 12th spot, nine points clear of the relegation zone.
Odegaard scored twice inside the half-hour mark before Gabriel Jesus added a third before the break against the Blues. Noni Madueke scored the consolation goal for Chelsea midway through the second half of the game. Desperate to bring some life into his side, Chelsea’s caretaker manager Frank Lampard added former Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to the playing XI for the first time in six months. But the French striker lasted only 45 minutes before being replaced. Lampard’s changes did not make any desired effect in the game as his men were dominated by the hosts.
It took 18 minutes for Arsenal to bring smiles to their fans’ faces and take a 1-0 lead. Granit Xhaka played a low ball across the face of the penalty area where an unmarked Odegaard was waiting to fire a first-time rising shot off the underside of the crossbar. Three minutes later, the visitors fell victim to an almost identical goal. Again, it was the Swiss midfielder Xhaka who supplied the pass from the left to Odegaard. This time the 24-year-old Norwegian met the ball on the penalty spot, and smashed it low past the Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga to finish it firm.
More relaxation and lethargic Chelsea defending allowed Arsenal to make it 3-0. After missing multiple chances, finally, Jesus found the net in the 34th minute from close range. The Blues managed to find the net in the 65th minute against the run of play. Madueke took a fine pass from Mateo Kovacic and gave enough power on his shot to beat Aaron Ramsdale.
Manchester City will go back into first place if they beat West Ham United at home on Wednesday.
