Arsenal returned to the top of the Premier League after an impressive 3-1 victory over Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.
Norwegian midfielder Martin Odegaard was the star of the show, scoring twice in an impressive first-half display. Gabriel Jesus added a third goal before the break, while Noni Meduki scored a consolation goal for Chelsea in the second half.
Arsenal’s win moves them two points clear of Manchester City, who have two games in hand. The Gunners had lost their previous game against City and drawn their last three matches, raising doubts about their ability to challenge for the title. However, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta remained confident his side could still win the league, and his players responded with a strong performance against Chelsea.
The defeat leaves Chelsea 12th in the table, with just one win in their last nine games in all competitions.
Odegaard opened the scoring for Arsenal in the 18th minute, slotting past Kepa Arrizabalaga with a superb finish from just inside the penalty area. The hosts doubled their lead in the 31st minute, with Odegaard getting on the scoresheet once again to put Capa through from 12 yards. Jesus took advantage of sluggish defending by Chelsea to score a third just three minutes later.
The visitors improved in the second half, with Maduke scoring a fine goal in the 65th minute. However, it was too little, too late for Chelsea, who were beaten by Arsenal.
After the game, Arteta praised his team’s performance, saying, “In the first 60 minutes, I thought we played really well. That’s everything I want to see from my team. Speed, quality, movement, two beautiful goals. , we built a crowd that stuck with us and an incredible atmosphere. We wanted to earn the right to be at the top of the league. We were happy to be there.”
Arsenal will hope to maintain their lead at the top when they take on Newcastle on Sunday. Meanwhile, Chelsea will look to turn their form around when they host Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge.
