Chelsea 2-4 Arsenal: The Gunners end losing streak to rekindle hopes of a top four finish
The Premier League’s Champions League race remains alive as ever, with Arsenal pulling level with North London rivals Tottenham on 57 points with a memorable 4-2 win away at Chelsea on Wednesday night.
Chelsea, who sit third, had looked nailed on to finish in the top four, but their loss leaves them looking over their shoulders now as both North London sides are just five points behind them.
It was Mikel Arteta’s side who took an early lead in what would go on to be a chaotic, goal-filled night at Stamford Bridge. Eddie Nketiah got the first of his two goals by capitalising on a mishit backpass from Andreas Christensen.
The lead was short lived though and Timo Werner levelled just four minutes later. Ruben Loftus-Cheek won the ball back off Arsenal’s goalscorer, and he laid off to Werner to finish.
But Emile Smith Rowe soon had the visitors back in front, putting the finishing touches on a classic Arsenal move. Starting from the back, Arteta’s Gunners played the ball out nicely before Martin Odegaard squared for Smith Rowe to finish from the edge of the area.
As they had earlier, Chelsea levelled inside five minutes through an unlikely source in Spaniard Cesar Azpilicueta. Mason Mount delivered a perfect cross and no Arsenal defender had noticed Azpilicueta arriving, allowing the defender to finish and draw things level again.
Nketiah restored Arsenal’s advantage slightly before the hour mark and Bukayo Saka made sure of the points when he converted a stoppage-time penalty.
