Post-Match Report

Match report: Chelsea 0-1 Arsenal

Smith Rowe

Chelsea -

Stamford Bridge
Premier League
Premier League
  Chelsea
   crest
Chelsea
0 - 1
  Arsenal
      
                  Smith Rowe (16)
            
   crest
Arsenal
Smith Rowe (16)

WHAT HAPPENED 

Emile Smith Rowe capitalised on a Chelsea mistake to score the only goal of the game, and extend our winning run in the league to three games.

Having scored his first ever Premier League goal at the weekend against West Brom,  he netted again in the derby to set us on the way to a hard-earned three points.

This goal owed a bit more to good fortune though, as he stroked home from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's pass, once Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga had scrambled back to prevent an own goal.

For much of the rest of the game it was about resolute defending, right from the front back to our five-man defence.

That was the system Mikel Arteta went for from the start, but it was the most central of those three centre backs - Pablo Mari - who was caught in possession early on to gift Chelsea the first chance of the game. Kai Havertz nicked the ball off the Spaniards toes to race away on goal, but he blazed over when one-on-one.

It was Chelsea's turn to hand out the gifts next though, and it led to Smith Rowe scoring the only goal of the game.

Jorginho's wayward backpass put Kepa in difficulty. The keeper managed to palm away from his own goalline, but Aubameyang was lurking to pull the loose ball back to Smith Rowe in front of goal, and his low shot squirmed in off the post.

Rob Holding made a superb close-range block from Mason Mount's shot to keep us ahead, but Chelsea kept knocking on the door for the remainder of the half, drawing two smart stops from Bernd Leno.

The hosts continued to pin us back at the start of the second half, and we had to remain organised in and around our own penalty box.

Christian Pulisic did have the ball in the net, but the goal was disallowed for a clear offside after VAR intervened.

Hector Bellerin was introduced and immediately had a sight of goal, but shot tamely after good build up play involving Martin Odegaard.

We were certainly coming out of our shells as an attacking threat now, with Odegaard himself blazing over from a promising position.

Chelsea - three days before their FA Cup final appointment with Leicester City - piled forward late on and hit the woodwork twice in succession in injury time.

But we were rewarded for an excellent defensive effort with a 1-0 win, securing our first double over Chelsea since 2003/04.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Click here for our enhanced play-by-play coverage of the game at Stamford Bridge.

WHAT IT MEANS

Premier League table

TEAM NEWS

Mikel Arteta made five changes to the side that beat West Brom at the weekend. In came Kieran Tierney and Pablo Mari as we shifted to a back five, with Bukayo Saka operating at right wing back. Thomas Partey returned in midfield with Martin Odegaard also recalled behind centre forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

With fans being allowed back into stadiums from next week, this was hopefully our last game behind closed doors for the foreseeable future. 

Our record in BCD games since the pandemic hit last March is P61 W32 D11 L18 F96 A64. It means Mikel Arteta has taken charge of only 15 games in full stadiums.

WHAT'S NEXT

Our last away game of the season is another London derby, away to Crystal Palace next Wednesday. This was pushed back from the original date of May 15 to allow Palace to welcome home fans in to Selhurst Park, so we are set to play in front of 6,500, which would be the biggest crowd since we hosted West Ham in March 2020.

Then we'll finish the season at home to Brighton on May 23, when 10,000 are expected to be inside Emirates Stadium.