20 January 2019
Alexandre Lacazette and Laurent Koscielny scored
first-half goals as Arsenal bounced back from
defeat at West Ham to beat Chelsea.
Arsenal returned to winning ways and reignited
their bid for a top-four place in the Premier League
with a glorious 2-0 triumph over Chelsea.
Alexandre Lacazette designed wonderful 14th-
minute opener as Maurizio Sarri’s side, not for the
first time this season, wilted under the pressure of
a London derby.
Club captain Laurent Koscielny’s attempt to head
Sokratis Papastathopoulos’s volleyed pass six
minutes before half-time spun off his shoulder and
beat Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.
It was the former France defender’s first goal since
rupturing an Achilles tendon last season and
Chelsea were unable to respond.
Sokratis powered wide unmarked from an eighth-
minute corner before centre-back partner Koscielny
forced a point-blank save from Kepa, who was
grasping at air when Lacazette turned sharply and
clipped past him at his near post.
Sead Kolasinac played Pedro haphazardly onside
to almost loft an 18th-minute equaliser for
Chelsea, although the left-back made himself more
useful in attack with a delicate cross that Pierre-
Emerick Aubameyang nearly converted with a
wonderful overhead kick.
Koscielny’s fortuitous conversion off his shoulder
was not so picturesque but it was nevertheless
rapturously received at Emirates Stadium.
Slack set-piece marking at the other end saw
Marcos Alonso head against the post, pursuing a
lifeline Chelsea scarcely deserved.
Chelsea enjoyed sustained possession in the
Arsenal half early in the second period but created
little, with Koscielny in particular defending
impeccably.
Aaron Ramsey tried to prod the goal his
endeavours deserved in the 64th minute after
Kolasinac raided into the Chelsea box.
Blues substitute Ross Barkley had a rasping strike
blocked before Arsenal made an enforced change
due to Hector Bellerin collapsing with a seemingly
serious knee injury – a rare blot on an outing far
removed from last weekend’s loss at West Ham.
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