Mikel Arteta, in his first home game as the manager for Gunners, ended on a bad note. Even though his side went on to lead the game for 80 and odd minutes, Frank Lampard’s Chelsea made a stunning comeback to over a one-goal deficit to 2-1 and register a victory.
Arsenal started their first home game under Mikel Arteta on a good note. Arsenal started with presumably 4-4-1-1 formation with captain Auba leading the line for Gunners. Arsenal were pressing high by making key interceptions in Chelsea half itself.
Soon after the goal, there were exchanges from both sides. When everything seemed to go in Arsenal’s way, Frank Lampard got in Jorginho into the play. The formation of Chelsea changed from 3-4-3 to 4-3-3. Jorginho not only made the key interceptions but also broke down any attack from Gunners’ side.
However, the game was 1-0 till the 83rd minute until Bernd Leno made a mistake. Bernd Leno couldn’t parry away a simple free-kick and spilled up the ball to Jorginho. Jorginho tapped the ball into the net and scored the equaliser for Blues. When everything looked done and dusted and he fixture heading to a draw, Tammy Abraham scored a goal on a counter assisted by Willian to net his 12th goal of the season and 1st against the traditional “Top 6” to give a shock to Arteta and Arsenal.
Asked about the comeback, Tammy Abraham replied;
“In the first 30 minutes they dominated the ball… then this man [Jorginho] comes on and it’s a whole different ball game. Him coming on lifted us as a team.”
Post defeat, Mikel Arteta opined regarding Granit Xhaka who is linked with Hertha Berlin;
“He played well at Bournemouth and after he started to feel ill, and the last two days he’s been in bed,”
“I hope he doesn’t leave.”
Scoreline: Chelsea 2- Arsenal 1
Goalscorers: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (13′), Jorginho (83′), Tammy Abraham (87′)
