Chelsea were beaten in a tight London derby at Stamford Bridge, with Gabriel Magalhaes the match-winner for the visitors.
Chelsea vs Arsenal result
The only goal of the game came just after the hour mark in a match that had few clear-cut opportunities, particularly for the hosts. Gabriel got on the end of Bukayo Saka’s inswinging corner, which had evaded everyone on its way through a crowded box, to poke in on the goal-line.
It proved enough to settle the contest, which was played in relentless rain through much of the second half, and hand Arsenal their third straight home league win at the Bridge for the first time since 1974.
The selection
There were three changes from the side that beat Dinamo Zagreb in midweek as Marc Cucurella, Thiago Silva and Ruben Loftus-Cheek returned to the starting 11, the latter partnering Jorginho in central midfield.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang led the line against his former club supported by Mason Mount, Raheem Sterling and Kai Havertz, while Cesar Azpilicueta skippered the side on his 334th Premier League appearance for the club, taking him clear as our third-highest appearance maker in the competition.
Meanwhile, Arsenal named a familiar line-up with just one alteration from last weekend’s big win over Nottingham Forest which saw Oleksandr Zinchenko return at left-back.
The Gunners have been notoriously fast starters this term, scoring more goals in the opening half hour of league games than any other side and the only team not to concede in the first 30 minutes.
It was another bright beginning for the visitors under grey south-west London skies, the relentless rain having abated in time for the pre-match commemorations on our dedicated Remembrance fixture, which featured Chelsea Pensioners and the Last Post prior to kick-off.
Once the action got underway, Mikel Arteta’s men settled quickest and fashioned the contest’s first opportunities, both falling to England defender Ben White, who shot over and then wide in the opening 10 minutes.
Moments of promise in the Chelsea final third were few and far between. Sterling conjured our most enterprising chance as he raced away down the inside-right channel but White was across in timely fashion to clear his England colleague’s low centre away from danger.
That was the most likely we came to an equaliser on another disappointing day against our London rivals.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1) Mendy; Azpilicueta (c), Chalobah, Thiago Silva, Cucurella; Jorginho, Loftus-Cheek (Kovacic 78); Sterling, Havertz (Gallagher 64), Mount (Pulisic 78), Aubameyang (Broja 64)
Unused subs Bettinelli, Koulibaly, Hall, Zakaria, Ziyech
Booked Aubameyang 27; Azpilicueta 51; Chalobah 60; Gallagher 85; Sterling 89
Arsenal (4-2-3-1) Ramsdale; White, Gabriel, Saliba, Zinchenko (Tierney 78); Partey, Xhaka; Saka, Odegaard (c) (Elneny 87), Martinelli (Holding 90+4); Gabriel Jesus,
Unused subs Turner, Cedric, Lokonga, Vieira, Nelson, Nketiah