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Arsenal FC gave their coach Mikel Arteta the best Christmas present!
On Boxing Day, the crisis-stricken Gunners defeated Chelsea 3-1 (2-0) in the city derby of all venues and celebrated their first win since November 1, 2020.
“We knew we had to get up. We had to do what made us strong again. Act as a team,” said Granit Xhaka. Sky. “The goals we scored came in great moments.”
Archrival London got off to a much better start and created some chances, but Tammy Abraham (9th) and Timo Werner (20th) gave up for the Blues.
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In the 13th minute of the game there was also bad luck: Mason Mount circled a free kick wonderfully over the wall, but only hit the outside post. (Schedule / Premier League Results)
Arsenal lead after a controversial penalty
Then all of a sudden Arsenal came out of nowhere, only table 15 before the match day. He was leading thanks to a controversial penalty.
Kieran Tierney fell after a light touch from Chelsea’s Reece James (34.) – the VAR was consulted – and Alexandre Lacazette converted the penalty to 1-0.
And less than nine minutes later, Arteta’s team rose to 2-0! Former Gladbacher Xhaka hit a right-angle free kick from a good 20 yards. A dream target – unsustainable – and the best response to your criticism.
“There was a lot of talk, there was a lot of criticism after the red cards. Today I showed that no one can take me down,” Xhaka said. “I showed my character. The most important thing is that I help the team.”
Curious side note: Arsenal shot twice on goal and scored twice in the first half.
After the break, Frank Lampard added new strength with Jorginho and Callum Hudson-Odoi for Mateo Kovacic and Werner, who are 651 minutes without goals in the competitive game, but the result remains the same.
Saka and Xhaka with dream goals – Leno has a penalty
With the Blues, nothing wanted to be successful on Boxing Day, while the Gunners somehow achieved it all.
Bukayo Saka’s 3-0 victory (56th) was a good example: the England international is sent straight into the penalty area by Emile Smith Rowe, Saka looks to the center and strokes the ball with his weaker right foot in a high arc over Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy to the left inside post, from where the ball bounces into the goal. 3-0 for Arsenal!
Abraham’s 1: 3 in the 85th minute came too late. Furthermore, German national goalkeeper Bernd Leno saved a Jorginho penalty at 90 + 1. Kai Havertz came in 16 minutes before the end, but remained pale. Antonio Rüdiger was not used on the Blues.
Arsenal (17 points) gained some air in the basement of the table with all three, while Chelsea (25) fell to sixth place. (Premier League table)
Leader Liverpool FC (31) is the favorite in their home game against penultimate West Bromwich Albion on Sunday. (Premier League: Liverpool FC – West Bromwich Albion on December 27, 2020 starting at 5.30pm LIVETICKER)
