Football news - Alexandre Lacazette and Laurent Koscielny fire Gunners to victory over Chelsea
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Updated 19/01/2019 at 19:56 GMT
Premier League, Emirates Stadium - Arsenal 2 (Lacazette 14', Koscielny 39') Chelsea 0
Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal celebrates with teammate Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after scoring his sides first goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Chelsea FC at Emirates Stadium on January 19, 2019 in London, United Kingdom.
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Arsenal claimed a 2-0 win over rivals Chelsea to reignite their challenge for a top-four place in the Premier League.
The victory takes the Gunners to within three points of Maurizio Sarri’s side in fourth place, with the visitors looking somewhat toothless at the Emirates Stadium, taking until the 82nd minute to muster a single shot on target.
The hosts set the tone from the start, opening the scoring after 14 minutes following a spell of early pressure. Hector Bellerin’s cross was killed stone dead by Alexandre Lacazette, who turned his marker and fired high into the net at the near post.
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Laurent Koscielny of Arsenal celebrates with Matteo Guendouzi of Arsenal after scoring his sides second goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Chelsea FC at Emirates Stadium on January 19, 2019 in London, United Kingdom.
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Laurent Koscielny doubled Arsenal’s advantage before half-time, finding the back of the net via his shoulder from a Sokratis Papastathopoulos cross into the area. This put the Gunners in a position that they never looked likely to relinquish, coasting to three points against a Chelsea side lacking in the final third.
TALKING POINT - Gonzalo Higuain can’t arrive at Chelsea quick enough
This performance from Chelsea followed a familiar pattern. They saw plenty of the ball. On the basis of possession alone, they dominated large swathes of the match. But in the final third, they were toothless. Gonzalo Higuain is expected to join on loan next week, but the Argentinean can’t arrive quick enough because Sarri’s side are so passive with Hazard having to lead the line as a ‘false nine’ not really suited to the role.
MAN OF THE MATCH - Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal)
There must have been a time when Koscielny must have doubted whether he would ever get back to top form, spending almost the whole second half of 2018 on the sidelines injured. However, the Frenchman was back to his best here, not just because of his goal. Koscielny didn’t give Chelsea an inch, repelling everything they threw at Arsenal alongside rock solid defensive partner Sokratis. The return of Koscielny could be huge for the Gunners.
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Olivier Giroud of Chelsea and Laurent Koscielny of Arsenal embrace after the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Chelsea FC at Emirates Stadium on January 19, 2019 in London, United Kingdom.
Image credit: Getty Images
PLAYER RATINGS
Arsenal: Leno 6, Bellerin 7, Sokratis 8, Koscielny 9, Kolasinac 7, Torreira 6, Xhaka 5, Ramsey 7, Guendouzi 7, Aubameyang 7, Lacazette 8. Subs: Elneny 5, Iwobi 5, Maitland-Niles 5.
Chelsea: Kepa 5, Alonso 5, Rudiger 6, Luiz 6, Azpilicueta 5, Kante 5, Jorginho 5, Kovacic 5, Willian 5, Pedro 6, Hazard 6. Subs: Giroud 6, Barkley 6, Hudson-Odoi 5.
KEY MOMENTS
6’ Big chance, big miss! That might have been the opener for Arsenal. Bellerin plays Lacazette down the right wing, the Frenchman squares for Aubameyang in the middle, who scuffs his shot wide.
13’ Should be 1-0! How didn't that go in? The cross from Torreira was a good one, Koscielny got on the end of it and should score from about five yards out. It hits Kepa's shoulder and goes over!
14’ GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea: What a goal! That goal had been coming. Arsenal have the lead! Bellerin's cross is killed stone dead by Lacazette, who turns Alonso and fires high into the roof of the net at the near post! Fantastic goal from the French striker!
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Arsenal-Chelsea Hazard
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20’ Pedro... just wide! The home fans inside the Emirates held their breath as Pedro took down a pass in behind and lobbed Leno. The ball bounces inches wide of the far post, though.
38’ Aubameyang overhead! That would have been one of the goals of the season! Kolasinic crossed, Aubameyang had his back to goal. But he swivels to direct an overhead kick towards goal. Just wide.
39’ GOAL! Arsenal 2-0 Chelsea: Koscielny doubles Arsenal's lead! Sokratis played a half-volleyed cross into the Chelsea box for his team-mate, who dived to get on the end of it. Koscielny didn't quite get the header right, but the ball finds the back of the net via his shoulder.
45’ Off the post! That would have been a barely warranted lifeline for Chelsea. Alonso got on the end of a corner kick into the Arsenal box, but his header comes back off the woodwork.
65’ Chance for three! That was nice play by Arsenal. Lacazette threaded in Kolasinac, who got to the byline and squared into the six yard box, but the Gunners couldn't bundle it into the net.
67’ Barkley shot blocked! That effort from the Chelsea midfielder was heading towards goal, it would have tested Leno at the very least, but Koscielny gets himself in the way of the ball.
72’ Bellerin injury! Oh dear. This doesn't look good for the Arsenal full back, who has only just returned from injury. His knee seemed to give way and Bellerin will leave the pitch on a stretcher.
KEY STATS
Chelsea have struck the woodwork 16 times in the Premier League this season - four more times than any other side.
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