Chelsea got back on track in the Premier League yesterday with a deserved 2-0 win over our rivals Arsenal. This means we are now unbeaten against Arsenal in the Premier League in 8 games.
We won the game through two second half goals from Kurt Zouma and Eden Hazard. The visitors finished the game with 9 men after Gabriel Paulista and Santi Cazorla both received red cards.
Matic and Ivanovic both missed Maccabi Tel Aviv earlier this week but both were welcomed back into the side. Branislav Ivanovic captained the side due to absence of John Terry. Mourinho tactically dropped Terry as he wanted Kurt Zouma and Gary Cahill to counter Arsenal’s pace. Pedro and Oscar were both doubts before the game but both started. Falcao was another doubt however he only made the bench.
Cech, meanwhile, returned to Stamford Bridge for the first time since moving to Arsenal over the summer.
First half
The first threat of the game came from Cesc Fabregas, he had a shot from outside the box but it was comfortable for Cech to save. He received a great reception from the Chelsea supporters before and after the game.
The game started of as a fierce tough tackling London derby and ended in the same way. Both Oscar and Gary Cahill made some excellent tackles and won the ball back for us. Especially Oscar who harassed the opposition in the opening minutes of the game.
Costa, Fabregas and Hazard kept linking up well and our next chance of the game came from a low shot from Costa on the edge of the area but again Cech saved it easily. It wasn’t until the 28th minute until Asmir Begovic was tested, Mesut Ozil found Theo Walcott out wide and he drove into the box. His side-footed shot was saved by our new number 1.
Arsenal’s captain Santi Cazorla then became the first player to get a yellow card after he fouled his national team mate, Pedro.
Hazard then collected the ball from inside our own half a few minutes later and drove into the Arsenal penalty area. Gabriel wrestled him to the ground and it looked a clear penalty, but in the referee’s defence, Hazard was also holding on to Gabriel.
The tackle of the game came from man of the match Kurt Zouma, Walcott picked up the ball in his own half and drove at the Chelsea defence, he looked to have got past the Frenchmen but a stunning lunge which was timed perfectly meant Zooooooouuuuuma won the ball back for us.
Arguably the best chance of the half fell to Pedro, his powerful shot from just inside the box on the right side of the goal was parried away by Chelsea legend Petr Cech.
The big talking point of the game then happened. Arsenal were reduced to 10 men. There was a tussle between Koscielny and Costa in the box. Costa appeared to hand him off in the face and the pair went chest to chest resulting in Koscielny falling to the ground. This then meant Gabriel got involved pushing and arguing with Costa. Their dispute was separated by members of both sides. Gabriel and Costa both received a yellow card.
It didn’t stop there though. The pair were both stood in the centre circle waiting for Cech to kick the ball. Costa whispered something in the ear of Gabriel which stupidly caused him to ball heel Costa’s shin. Mike Dean then gave him a straight red. This resulted in another push and shove contest between the two sides at the close of the first half.
Second half
Chelsea started the second half the better side, something which remained through until the end of the game. Pedro hit a volley a few minutes in which was inches wide. Cech watched it go wide comfortably however.
The deadlock was then broken! Chelsea had a free kick from a long way out which Fabregas whipped into the back post, Zouma ran round the back of the Arsenal defence and freely headed the ball into the back of the net, beating Cech.
The goal was Zouma’s first in the Premier League.
Chelsea then mounted the pressure and Eden’s powerful strike from the edge of the area was again parried by Cech for the Arsenal defence to clear up the pitch.
Arsenal then had a good chance to level the score but Sanchez couldn’t connect with it cleanly. A long ball was hit up the field for the Chilean to run on to, the bounce caused both Zouma and Cahill problems and Sanchez somehow found himself past the pair. His shot went wide however.
Another penalty shout then went against Chelsea again. Diego was running down the wing before cutting inside, he then turned again and Santi Cazorla softly pulled his shoulder back. Costa could of stayed on his feet but went down. No penalty given.
Minutes after Arsenal were reduced to 9 men, a late tackle on Fabregas resulted in Cazorla’s second yellow.
As expected Chelsea dominated the game even more against the 9 men of Arsenal.
Hazard had been fantastic throughout the game and in the 90th minute he got what his performance deserved, a goal. Both Remy and Pedro were unable to fire a shot at goal inside the box, this meant the ball fell to Hazard. His shot hit Chambers and went in, sending Cech the wrong way. Despite the big deflection the goal was Hazard’s as his initial shot was on target.
Chelsea held on to the 2-0 lead easily in the remaining moments meaning it was 2 wins on the bounce. Our next game is Wednesday night away to Walsall in the 3rd round of the Capital One Cup.
Chelsea: Begovic, Ivanovic (c), Zouma, Cahill, Azpilicueta, Matic, Fabregas ( Mikel 90), Pedro, Oscar ( Ramires 67), Hazard, Diego Costa (Remy 80).Â
Unused subs: Blackman, Terry , Loftus-Cheek, Falcao.
Arsenal: Cech, Bellerin, Gabriel, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Cazorla (c), Ramsey, Ozil (Giroud 74), Sanchez (Oxlade-Chamberlain 74), Walcott.
Unused subs: Ospina, Debuchy, Gibbs, Arteta.