Arsenal reclaimed the top spot in the Premier League table with a commanding 3-1 victory over Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday. Norwegian midfielder Martin Odegaard was the star of the show, scoring two goals in the first half to set up the Gunners’ impressive win.
Gabriel Jesus added a third goal just before halftime, while Noni Madueke scored a consolation goal for Chelsea in the second half. The result puts Arsenal two points clear of Manchester City, who have two games in hand.
Before the match, there were doubts about Arsenal’s title credentials after a recent draw and a loss to Manchester City. However, the Gunners responded with a dominant performance against Chelsea, one of their biggest rivals.
Odegaard opened the scoring in the 18th minute with a superb curling finish past Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga. He doubled Arsenal’s lead from 12 yards in the 31st minute, before Jesus scored the third goal just three minutes later.
Chelsea improved in the second half and managed to pull one back through Madueke in the 65th minute, but it was too little, too late for the visitors. Arsenal’s defense held firm, and the Gunners were deservedly crowned victors.
Speaking after the match, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta praised his team’s performance, saying, “The first 60 minutes, I thought we played really well. That was everything I want to see from our team. Speed, quality, movement, two beautiful goals, we connected with our crowd and created an incredible atmosphere. We wanted to earn the right to be top of the league. We are happy to be there.”
The result leaves Chelsea languishing in 12th place in the table, with just one win in their last nine games in all competitions. Manager Thomas Tuchel will be hoping to turn his team’s fortunes around soon, as they face a tough run of fixtures in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, Arsenal will be looking to maintain their lead at the top of the table when they travel to face Newcastle on Sunday. The Gunners will be hoping to continue their impressive form and build on their recent success, as they aim to challenge for the Premier League title.
