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LONDON: Arsenal eased their relegation fears and eased the pressure on embattled coach Mikel Arteta with a much-needed 3-1 win against Chelsea on Saturday (December 26).
Arteta’s team sat just three points above the relegation zone before kickoff at Emirates Stadium after their worst start to the season since 1974-75.
But the Gunners put up their best performance this quarter to beat their London rivals.
A controversial penalty from Alexandre Lacazette opened the scoring before a superb free-kick from Granit Xhaka increased Arsenal’s lead before the break.
Bukayo Saka scored Arsenal’s third goal after the break when they won in the Premier League for the first time in eight games since November 1.
Tammy Abraham’s late goal did not console the woeful Chelsea, who missed a penalty through Jorginho in the final moments.
Moving six points above the last three will give Arteta some breathing room after speaking out that he was in danger of being fired after just a year in charge.
Arsenal have only dropped from the top flight once in their history, in 1912-13.
With upcoming matches against Brighton and West Brom on their Christmas schedule, Arsenal have a chance to climb to a healthy position in the league heading into 2021.
Having won the FA Cup final against Chelsea in August, Arteta has delivered two major blows to Blues manager Frank Lampard this year.
Chelsea would have come second with a win, but instead remain six points behind leaders Liverpool after a third loss in their last four league games.
Lackluster in attack, short of oomph in midfield and devoid of a leading edge up front, Chelsea’s pre-season review of £ 200 million ($ 267 million) has yet to pay off.
Lampard has just 48 hours to lift Chelsea’s spirits before they return to action against Aston Villa on Monday.
VIBRATING ARSENAL
Arteta suffered a pre-match blow when Gabriel was ruled out for three matches as he self-isolates under coronavirus protocols.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang started on the bench as he struggled with a calf injury and a losing streak of form, but Arsenal did not miss their captain or Brazilian defender Gabriel.
Although Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount took a free kick against the outside of the post, there was no question who was up.
Arsenal made the breakthrough in the 35th minute when Kieran Tierney crossed Reece James into the Chelsea area and fell to the slightest touch from the panicked defender.
Michael Oliver’s controversial decision to award a penalty survived a VAR review and Lacazette sent Edouard Mendy down the wrong path from the penalty spot for his sixth goal of the season.
It was no more than Arsenal deserved for a vibrant first half and Arteta was back to celebrate in the 44th minute.
Xhaka has been widely maligned at Arsenal, with the Swiss midfielder’s most recent misstep being sent off in a loss to Burnley.
N’Golo Kante fouled Saka and Xhaka did his part to regain the favor when he launched a brilliant 20-yard free kick over the Chelsea wall and into the top corner.
Lampard sent Jorginho and Callum Hudson-Odoi for Timo Werner, whose goal drought now extends to 10 games, and Mateo Kovacic.
But the changes did not bring the lethargic Chelsea to life and Arsenal struck again in the 56th minute.
Hector Bellerin and Emile Smith Rowe combined to send Saka into the penalty area and her cross shot went over Mendy to the far corner.
Abraham converted a cross from Hudson Odoi from close range in the 85th minute to provoke a late wobble from Arsenal.
Pablo Mari’s lack at Mount gave Chelsea a penalty in stoppage time, but Jorginho missed for the third time this season as Bernd Leno kept the Italian’s weak effort out.
