Arsenal have secured its first league win over Chelsea in five years by crushing the Blues 3-0 victory at Emirates in a blockbuster match that was supposed to be keenly contested but ended up being decided with only fourteen minutes played.
Alexis Sanchez, on his 100th cap, made sure Gary Cahill paid for his error for Arsenal’s first goal in the 11th minute. Cahill had fumbled unnecessarily too long with the ball, Sanchez like lightning raced away with the ball for a fabulous finish. Emirates went on fire.
Theo Walcott, playing his 350th game for the Gunners, doubled the lead three minutes later after a sublime move, typical of Arsenal beautiful football, which saw Chelsea defence collapse. It is the type of champagne football that makes Arsenal supporters love the club.
In the 40th minute German international Mesut Ozil broke away from N’Golo Kante around the penalty area. He finds Sanchez, who found him back with a cross to the back post over Cahill. Ozil finishes off with a superb volley. It is 3-0 Arsenal.
Chelsea were already in tatters at halftime. It was the biggest halftime lead for Arsenal over Chelsea in the Premier League era.
And it remained so throughout the second half, which saw Chelsea suffer a back to back Premier League defeat after the loss midweek to Liverpool at Stamford Bridge. It could have been worse for Chelsea if Walcott and Sanchez took the chances that came their way in the second half.
The first league win over the Blues since October 2011 takes Arsene Wenger’s team to third in the table behind Manchester City and Tottenham, with Antonio Conte’s Chelsea pushed down to eight position, leaving the Italian with much work to do early in his reign at Stamford Bridge.
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