Arsenal 1-2 Chelsea, Premier League: Post-match reaction, ratings

After Thursday’s terrible home performance, Chelsea started even worse at the Emirates today and were lucky to be behind just 1-0 at half time, conceding from a set piece once again while giving up several opportunities in open play, all which Arsenal wasted.

An absolutely toothless 30 minutes into the game, Lampard changed things, going 4-3-3 after yet another failed 3-4-3 experiment.

A few minutes later, Chelsea should’ve had a penalty and Arsenal should’ve been down to 10 men after Guendouzi pulled back Abraham inside (or just on the edge) of the penalty area. Neither the referee nor VAR were compelled into action, hilariously, sadly.

Chelsea’s second half effort was much better as we pushed for the equalizer, but as it has been the case in recent weeks, the final ball was just not coming off.

And then Bernd Leno gifted an equalizer to Chelsea by completely missing an inswinging free kick, leaving Jorginho with a simple tap-in at the far post. Jorginho escaped a second yellow not long prior for pulling back Guendouzi, but Guendouzi himself should’ve been off long before then, so perhaps it all equals out (it doesn’t of course, but that’s refereeing for you, especially from Craig “poor, son” Pawson).

Chelsea had been building momentum all half, and after that lucky moment, got the goal that had been coming since the change in formation. A counter through Abraham and Willian saw the former turn and finish with aplomb after the latter’s cutback.

Chelsea saw out the rest of the time remaining with relative ease for our first comeback win of the season!

The pattern holds: W-L-W-D-W-L-D-L-W-L-W-L-W-L-W.

Carefree.

• Just a couple changes from Thursday, with Kovačić back from suspension and in for Jorginho, and Mason Mount replacing Hudson-Odoi in the front three.
• Lampard changed the clearly ineffective system on 34 minutes, switching to 4-3-3 with Jorginho replacing Emerson, Azpilicueta going to left back, Tomori to right back.
• Tomori replaced by Lamptey on the hour-mark, as Lampard gives a debut to yet another Academy youngster. Even more attacking impetus introduced for the final 20 minutes, with Hudson-Odoi replacing Kovačić and Chelsea going 4-2-3-1.
• 9 yellow cars in the game, most in the Premier League this season. Still no control or consistency from Pawson.
• Spurs dropping 2 points means that Chelsea consolidate 4th place, 4 points ahead of Manchester United and 5 ahead of Spurs.
• Next up: Brighton at home away on Wednesday
• KTBFFH

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