Arsenal would have been seven points off the top four had they lost to Chelsea
Arsenal earned an important win in a pulsating London derby against Chelsea to keep themselves in the race for the Premier League top four.
The victory moves the Gunners to within three points of fourth-placed Chelsea and back above Manchester United, who had gone fifth by beating Brighton.
Alexandre Lacazette put Arsenal ahead in the 14th minute when he made the most of a poor Hector Bellerin cross with a fine first touch before turning and beating Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga at his near post with a fierce strike.
Arsenal's intense pressing hampered Chelsea's ability to play the ball from the back, particularly in the first half, and the Gunners deservedly added a second through captain Laurent Koscielny in the 39th minute.
Chelsea failed to mark well enough at another set-piece and Koscielny missed a free header but the ball fortuitously looped in off his shoulder.
Maurizio Sarri's Chelsea struggled to create in the first half but did hit the post on the stroke of half-time through Marcos Alonso's header at a corner.
They posed greater threat in the second half but failed to have a shot on target until the 82nd minute as Arsenal's defence, led by the excellent Koscielny, held firm.
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Arsenal and Chelsea both appointed new managers in the summer and both came into the game at the Emirates with questions marks over their progress after difficult recent results.
Arsenal had lost four of their last eight games, having been unbeaten in their previous 22, while Chelsea had only won four of their last seven games.
Defeat to the Blues would have seen a seven-point gap open between the Gunners and the top four but their intensity and work-rate in the early stages put their opponents on the back foot from the outset.
Arsenal seemed to have been set up with a clear plan by manager Unai Emery to press high up the pitch to prevent Chelsea playing from the back.
Their intensity was made clear on two occasions in the first half when striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang twice ran back into his own half to make challenges.
Arsenal should have scored as early as the fourth minute when Bellerin played in Lacazette who then crossed for Aubameyang, but the Gabon international failed to make contact with his finish from inside the area.
Both of Arsenal's goals came from set-pieces, another area that looked to have been worked on pre-match, and Koscielny could have scored earlier than he did but put a free header straight at Arrizabalaga at another.
Aaron Ramsey is set to leave Arsenal on a free transfer in the summer but started as the most attacking player in Arsenal's midfield and he played a key role both going forward and leading the north Londoners' press.
He constantly hassled Chelsea's Jorginho - a key player in the Blues' creativity - and no player had covered more ground than the Welshman when he was substituted in the 67th minute.
Chelsea's need for a central striker laid bare
For Chelsea the problems are familiar ones which have been apparent in the Blues' matches in recent weeks.
Sarri's side scored 27 times in their opening 11 league matches this season but have netted just 13 times in their subsequent 13 outings.
Eden Hazard was again played in a false nine role but dropped deeper and deeper in search of the ball before eventually Olivier Giroud was introduced as a central striker in the 68th minute and the Belgian was able to play from a wider position.
Chelsea had 64% possession but failed to create any clear opportunities from open play with their passing and build-up too slow. Their one shot on target came from Alonso from a tight angle on the left-side of the box and was easily parried away from Bernd Leno.
The Blues often worked the ball into wide areas 30 yards from goal but they had too few players in the box and were crowded out by Arsenal's impressive defence.
Koscielny repeatedly cut out crosses and both he and fellow centre-back Sokratis Papastathopoulos, who had one of his best games since joining Arsenal last summer, headed away any high balls.
Chelsea have been heavily linked with a move for Juventus striker Gonzalo Higuain, currently on loan at Juventus, who Sarri worked with at his former club Napoli and on this evidence some increased attacking potency is clearly needed.
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Arsenal
19Leno
2BellerínSubstituted forElnenyat 72'minutes
5Papastathopoulos
6Koscielny
31Kolasinac
34Xhaka
11Torreira
29Guendouzi
8RamseySubstituted forMaitland-Nilesat 67'minutes
14Aubameyang
9LacazetteSubstituted forIwobiat 68'minutes
Substitutes
1Cech
4Elneny
10Özil
15Maitland-Niles
17Iwobi
18Monreal
20Mustafi
Chelsea
1Arrizabalaga
28Azpilicueta
2Rüdiger
30David LuizBooked at 37mins
3Alonso
7Kanté
5Jorginho
17KovacicSubstituted forBarkleyat 63'minutesBooked at 90mins
11PedroSubstituted forHudson-Odoiat 80'minutes
10E Hazard
22WillianSubstituted forGiroudat 68'minutes
Substitutes
8Barkley
13Caballero
18Giroud
20Hudson-Odoi
27Christensen
33Emerson
44Ampadu
Referee:
Anthony Taylor
Attendance:
59,979
Match Stats
Home TeamArsenalAway TeamChelsea
Possession
Home36%
Away64%
Shots
Home13
Away13
Shots on Target
Home5
Away1
Corners
Home5
Away6
Fouls
Home13
Away15
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Arsenal 2, Chelsea 0.
Full TimePosted at 90'+7'
Second Half ends, Arsenal 2, Chelsea 0.
Posted at 90'+6'
Callum Hudson-Odoi (Chelsea) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 90'+6'
Foul by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal).
BookingPosted at 90'+5'
Ross Barkley (Chelsea) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 90'+4'
Foul by Ross Barkley (Chelsea).
Posted at 90'+4'
Matteo Guendouzi (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 90'+1'
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Posted at 90'
Delay in match Granit Xhaka (Arsenal) because of an injury.
Posted at 90'
Foul by N'Golo Kanté (Chelsea).
Posted at 90'
Granit Xhaka (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 88'
N'Golo Kanté (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 88'
Foul by Granit Xhaka (Arsenal).
Posted at 88'
Callum Hudson-Odoi (Chelsea) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 88'
Foul by Matteo Guendouzi (Arsenal).
Posted at 87'
Foul by Marcos Alonso (Chelsea).
Posted at 87'
Granit Xhaka (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 85'
Attempt missed. Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Alex Iwobi.
Posted at 84'
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Posted at 83'
Delay in match Lucas Torreira (Arsenal) because of an injury.
Posted at 82'
Attempt saved. Marcos Alonso (Chelsea) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Eden Hazard.
Posted at 82'
Ross Barkley (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 82'
Foul by Matteo Guendouzi (Arsenal).
Posted at 81'
Attempt missed. Sead Kolasinac (Arsenal) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Mohamed Elneny.
Posted at 80'
Foul by Antonio Rüdiger (Chelsea).
Posted at 80'
Alex Iwobi (Arsenal) wins a free kick on the left wing.
SubstitutionPosted at 80'
Substitution, Chelsea. Callum Hudson-Odoi replaces Pedro.
Posted at 79'
Foul by Marcos Alonso (Chelsea).
Posted at 79'
Ainsley Maitland-Niles (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 79'
Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Sokratis.
Posted at 78'
Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
Posted at 77'
Attempt missed. Eden Hazard (Chelsea) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Antonio Rüdiger.
Posted at 75'
Eden Hazard (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 75'
Foul by Granit Xhaka (Arsenal).
SubstitutionPosted at 72'
Substitution, Arsenal. Mohamed Elneny replaces Héctor Bellerín because of an injury.
Posted at 72'
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Posted at 69'
Delay in match Héctor Bellerín (Arsenal) because of an injury.
SubstitutionPosted at 68'
Substitution, Chelsea. Olivier Giroud replaces Willian.
SubstitutionPosted at 68'
Substitution, Arsenal. Alex Iwobi replaces Alexandre Lacazette.
SubstitutionPosted at 67'
Substitution, Arsenal. Ainsley Maitland-Niles replaces Aaron Ramsey.
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Source: bbc.com