Arsenal 2-0 Chelsea: Hits and Flops | Premier League 2018-19

Arsenal kept their top-four hopes alive
Arsenal kept their top-four hopes alive

Arsenal breezed past Chelsea at the Emirates stadium to hand themselves a lifeline in the race for the top-four.

For a change, Arsenal raced off the blocks and put Chelsea under the cosh at the outset. The home side pressed relentlessly and harried the latter’s defense and midfield into mistakes. Several Chelsea players were culpable of starting the game shakily and the Gunners were rewarded for their perseverance in the 14th minute.

After a corner was cleared, Bellerin whipped a cross into Lacazette’s feet. The Frenchman expertly turned his man in the box and smashed the ball past a hapless Kepa to give Arsenal the lead.

Chelsea got a foothold later in the half and threatened through Pedro yet the Spaniard was guilty of chipping the ball wide when through on goal.

Towards the end of the half, Arsenal pounced on another cheap free-kick the visitors gave away. After Kolasinac won the ball on the edge of the penalty area, Sokratis launched a hopeful ball which was turned into the net by Koscielny.

In the second half, Chelsea enjoyed the lion’s share of possession but rarely threatened the Arsenal goal.

The win means that the Gunners are now only three points adrift of the fourth spot while Chelsea were left to rue the opportunity to go nine points clear of their hosts.

Here is a look at the players that shone brightly at the Emirates and those that turned in insipid displays:


#5 Hit: Aaron Ramsey

Ramsey put in a complete performance
Ramsey put in a complete performance

Before kick-off, Ramsey was surprisingly given the nod over Iwobi. The change worked a charm as the Welshman put in an accomplished display at the offensive tip of the midfield.

Ramsey was a bundle of energy throughout and covered nearly every blade of grass at the Emirates. The midfielder seemed to enjoy the freedom he was accorded as the ‘No.10’ and was at the heart of everything good the Gunners did in the final third.

Yet, his most important contribution was the nullification of Jorginho. Ramsey was entrusted with stopping the Italian from dictating the play and the former ensured that Jorginho failed to create an impact. A majority of Chelsea’s moves revolve around the Italian and thus, with their supply line effectively cut out, they found it extremely hard to muster anything worthwhile.

Ramsey came up with one of his most complete performances this season and it is just a shame that Emery doesn’t find the midfielder’s skill-set suitable enough for his system.

#4 Flop: Eden Hazard

Hazard endured a disappointing night
Hazard endured a disappointing night

The Belgian was again tasked with leading the line as Chelsea’s search for a reliable striker carried over into the 3rd weekend of January. To pile on their misery, Eden Hazard endured a torrid time up top and failed to get any change out of Sokratis and Koscielny.

For large parts of the first half, the forward was anonymous with Chelsea unable to bring him into the game. Moreover, the visitors’ tactics of crossing the ball didn’t really help the diminutive Belgian.

Frustrated with not having the ball, Hazard tried to drop deep and create something on his own. However, he wasn’t successful there either with one of Arsenal’s midfielders constantly shadowing him.

Though he saw a lot more of the ball in the second period, he rarely threatened and uncharacteristically looked bereft of ideas in the attacking third.

At times this season, Hazard has been unplayable. His brand of trickery and creativity in the final third has left many a defense bamboozled. Yet, on Saturday evening, he was rarely accorded a chance to showcase his talents.

#3 Hit: Alexandre Lacazette

Lacazette rifled home the opener
Lacazette rifled home the opener

The Frenchman started alongside his best friend Aubameyang in a strike partnership as Emery flirted with the idea of a 4-4-2 system. The 4-4-2 system worked a treat on Saturday and if Emery plans on using the modus operandi more often, the Spaniard certainly has the ideal strikers to pull it off week in, week out.

Though Aubameyang failed to get on the score-sheet, his French counterpart scored a sublime goal.

After being found by Bellerin, Lacazette shifted the ball swiftly out of his feet and rifled a shot into the roof of the net.

Apart from the goal, Lacazette was a constant menace throughout the game and caused the Chelsea defense all sorts of problems. The visitors couldn’t deal with his strength and his ability to twist and turn in tight spaces.

Moreover, he linked up the play extremely well and showed Chelsea exactly what they were missing: a focal point.

#2 Flop: Jorginho

Jorginho was barely given time on the ball
Jorginho was barely given time on the ball

The Italian has hit the ground running since his summer move from Napoli. However, whenever Chelsea has struggled in the league, it has coincided with Jorginho being off-color.

And at the Emirates, it became painfully clear that Chelsea just aren’t the same force without the midfielder exerting his influence.

Arsenal arrived with a game plan to starve Jorginho of possession in midfield and executed it to perfection. Ramsey adroitly man-marked the Italian out of the game and made sure that Chelsea struggled to make the transition from defense to attack.

Though the midfielder racked up 81 passes, most of them were either sideways or backward, thus, completely ridding the team of attacking impetus.

The last time Chelsea arrived in North London, they were swept aside by Spurs with Jorginho having a poor game. And on Saturday, they arguably scaled greater depths with the Italian putting in his worst display of the campaign.

#1 Hit: Laurent Koscielny

Koscielny was a rock at the back for Arsenal
Koscielny was a rock at the back for Arsenal

Laurent Koscielny missed the better part of 2018 after rupturing his Achilles tendon in April. The Frenchman harshly missed out on his country’s World Cup success and failed to inspire in his first few games back. Hence, many argued that the centre-back was now a spent force. Yet, against Chelsea, the Arsenal captain produced a vintage display to answer his critics.

Koscielny was a colossus at the back for Arsenal and barely allowed Hazard & Co. a sniff at goal. He was invariably in the right place at the right time and made an astounding 13 clearances throughout the game.

Additionally, he marshaled the defense brilliantly and earned a much-needed clean sheet for his troubles.

To cap off his immense display, he even popped up in the offensive third to score the Gunners’ second goal. Though he failed to make proper contact, the Frenchman somehow made a decent enough connection to nestle the ball in the back of the net.

At 33 years of age, Koscielny isn’t getting any younger but if Saturday’s performance is any indicator, the Frenchman is surely far from being finished.

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Edited by Sujith M