Golovima Leandra Trosarda, Kaija Havertza (2) i Bena Vajta (2) Arsenal je pobedio Čelsi sa 5-0 na Emiratesu u Premijer ligi. Pobeda otvara tri boda prednosti za Tobdžije Mikela Artete na vrhu tabele. Arsenal ima 77 bodova, Liverpul 74 i Mančester siti 73. Tobdžije su odigrale jednu utakmicu više od Liverpula i dve više od Sitija. Arsenal je ojačao svoju poziciju na vrhu tabele pošto je savladao Čelsi sa 5-0 na stadionu Emirates u meču u utorak uveče u severnom Londonu.
Leandro Trosard je rano postigao gol i stavio Arsenal na pravi put, ali su šanse išle na obe strane u ostatku prvog poluvremena visoke klase.
Međutim, golovi su tekli za Tobdžije posle pauze, a bivši igrač Čelsija Kai Haverc postigao je dva gola za lidere lige kako bi pomogao Plavcima da oduvaju. U duelu sa Benom Vajtom, Arsenal je povećao rezultat, dodatno povećavši njihovu gol-razliku prednosti u odnosu na rivale za titulu Liverpula i Mančester Sitija, a lako je moglo biti i više da su Gabrijel Martineli i Fabio Vijeira iskoristili kasne šanse.
Razočarani Čelsi će im polizati rane, dok Arsenal sada može da gleda napred u svoje preostale četiri utakmice u run-in.
Pobeda Arsenala vraća im prednost na vrhu tabele, tri boda više od Liverpula i četiri ispred Mančester sitija, pri čemu ti klubovi imaju jednu, odnosno dve utakmice u zaostatku.
Ali priroda i margina pobede su se mogli pokazati posebno važnim. Arsenalova pobeda od pet golova znači da sada imaju značajno vođstvo u gol-razlici, 12 više od Sitija i 13 više od Liverpula, što bi se moglo pokazati presudnim u konačnom plasmanu.
IGRAČ UTAKMICE – MARTIN ØDEGAARD (ARSENAL)
Arsenalov plejmejker je bio apsolutno sjajan cele večeri, vukao je konce i nadmašio skupo sastavljeni Čelsijev defanzivni vezni red.
Postizanje golova Havertza i Vajta moglo bi da ugrabi većinu naslova, ali Ødegaard je bio taj koji je orkestrirao Arsenalov veličanstveni prikaz.
OCENE IGRAČA
Arsenal: Raja 8; Vajt 9, Saliba 7, Gabrijel 6, Tomijasu 7; Ødegaard 9, Partei 7, Rice 8; Saka 8, Haverc 8, Trosar 8. Zamene: Zinčenko 7, Žoržinjo 7, Martineli 6, Hesus 7, Vijera 6
Čelsi: Petrović 7; Gilchrest 5, Disasi 6, Badiashile 5, Cucurella 5; Caicedo 4, Enzo 4; Madueke 5, Gallagher 5, Mudrik 4; Džekson 5. Zamene: Sterling 6, Čaloba 5, Silva 6, Kasadei 6
4’ – GOAL! ARSENAL 1-0 CHELSEA (TROSSARD)
Arsenal have the lead and it’s Trossard who’s scored it. It’s a lovely flowing move as Chelsea are opened up, with Rice driving to the edge of the box and then teeing up Trossard, who blasts through the keeper from a low angle. That’s huge for the title race.
52’ – GOAL! ARSENAL 2-0 CHELSEA (WHITE)
Arsenal have the goal that their start to the half deserves, and it’s Ben White who wheels away in celebration. A corner was deflected only as far as Rice on the edge of the box, whose shot deflected straight to an unmarked White, who finished low into the far corner. 2-0!
57’ – GOAL! ARSENAL 3-0 CHELSEA (HAVERTZ)
It’s three and Arsenal are rampant. Havertz bursts clear, holds off the challenge of Cucurella, and pings a lofted shot over the onrushing keeper. It looked a bit like there was a foul right at the start of the move, but the video officials disagree and the goal stands. 3-0!
65’ – GOAL! ARSENAL 4-0 CHELSEA (HAVERTZ)
It’s party time at the Emirates as Chelsea’s former man bags his second of the night. Saka jinks across from the right who rolls it to Havertz, who takes his time before finishing low off the inside of the post. A short offside check is cleared and the goal stands. This is a big night for Arsenal, and exactly what they needed after the disappointment of last week.
70’ – GOAL! ARSENAL 5-0 CHELSEA (WHITE)
It’s five for Arsenal and it’s Ben White again… not that he meant it. A beautiful chipped pass over the top from Odegaard picks out White in the box, who looks to volley the ball across the face of goal with Arsenal teammates in space in the middle, but he miscues it and picks out the far top corner. His face says that it was certainly not intentional, but they all count.