Arsenal lost to Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium today as the Gunners missed a chance to haul themselves back into top-four contention.
Both teams came into the game in patchy form: Chelsea had lost three of their past four league games including a disappointing 2-0 defeat by Southampton at Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day, while Arsenal were without a win in their past three games.
And it was the Blues who came out on top, turning the game around from a goal down to take away three points from their London rivals.
That win gives Chelsea some breathing space in the top four. They’re four points clear of fifth-placed Manchester United, although Wolves could move to within two points of Lampard’s side if they inflict a first defeat of the season on Liverpool later. That’s a very big if, though.
Arsenal remain in 12th, just six points above the relegation zone. And they’ve now lost four home games in a row, which hasn’t happened in 60 years.
Arsenal 1-2 Chelsea
90+4 minutes
Lacazette cuts the ball back from the byline towards Torreira, who sends a left-footed volley wide. Arsenal haven’t created anywhere near as many chances as they did in the first half.
Arsenal 1-2 Chelsea
90+3 minutes
Abraham wins the ball on the halfway line and has space to run into. He makes his way to the edge of the box before drilling a shot just over the bar. Another Chelsea goal looks more likely than an Arsenal equaliser at the moment.
Arsenal 1-2 Chelsea
90 minutes
There’ll be seven minutes of added time. Can Arsenal lift themselves after the dejection of conceding twice in a few minutes?
Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea
82 minutes
Chelsea are penning Arsenal in. So far, the Gunners have remained resilient at the back. But there’s still time for the visitors.
Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea
80 minutes
The game is being played at a frantic pace now. Chelsea are committing more players forward and Arsenal are finding space on the counter attack as a result.
Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea
78 minutes
Close! Willock almost makes an immediate impact. Aubameyang again wins the ball back deep in Chelsea’s half, allowing the substitute to shoot from the edge of the box. His curling effort flashes agonisingly wide.
Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea
75 minutes
Chelsea are getting closer. Abraham pulls off a clever dummy, allowing Willian to feed Mount. His ball across is hacked behind by Luiz. And from the corner that follows, Abraham sends a header straight at Leno.
Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea
69 minutes
A welcome lull in the game from an Arsenal perspective. Their first half domination hasn’t carried through into the second. But they’re still defending with far more discipline and structure than they’ve shown for most of the season.
Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea
66 minutes
Chance! Lamptey plays a lovely through ball into Abraham, who takes too long to shoot and allows Luiz to block. Then Willian sends a cross towards the back post, which is headed over by Kovacic.
Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea
64 minutes
A sustained spell of Chelsea pressure comes to an end when Kovacic tries an audacious bicycle kick from the edge of the box. It sails over the bar. But the visitors are consistently posing a threat now, having done very little to trouble Arsenal in the first half.
Match preview
Team news
Arsenal defender Calum Chambers is available after serving a suspension on Boxing Day.
Gabriel Martinelli and Hector Bellerin are possibilities but Rob Holding and Dani Ceballos are set to miss out once more.
Chelsea have Mateo Kovacic back in contention after serving a suspension on Boxing Day, while Mason Mount and Christian Pulisic could come back into a team which Frank Lampard has complained lacks creativity.
Reece James and Marcos Alonso are both suffering from small knocks and Alonso could return.
Predicted line-ups
Arsenal: Leno, Maitland-Niles, Sokratis, David Luiz, Saka, Torreira, Xhaka, Nelson, Ozil, Aubameyang, Lacazette
Chelsea: Kepa, Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Tomori, Alonso, Jorginho, Kante, Kovacic, Willian, Pulisic, Abraham
Prediction
Arsenal are still adjusting under Mikel Arteta but there were some positive signs against Bournemouth and the home crowd will push them through here. Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea.
When does the game start?
Arsenal vs Chelsea kicks off at 2pm GMT.
Which TV channel is it on?
The game is being shown in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event.
How do I stream online?
The match can be watched via the Sky Go app.
Odds
Arsenal 13/10
Draw 11/4
Chelsea 7/4
