Chelsea were beaten 3-2 by Arsenal at Stamford Bridge, but remain in the tie with a second leg at the Emirates still to come.
The Blues started about as badly as you could hope. They were timid and nervy in possession, then conceded the softest goal possible from a corner. Everyone knows this is Arsenal’s big strength – Liam Rosenior was asked about it in the press conference before the game. Yet with just 6 minutes on the clock Robert Sanchez flapped at a corner and Ben White was on hand to nod into an empty net.
The rest of the first half was intense but interesting, with Estevao the only real threat in Blue. Robert Sanchez and his defenders looked very shaky as they tried to keep Arsenal at bay, and at the start of the second period the goalkeeper made a major error to let a ball slip between his hands into the path of Viktor Gyokeres, who made it 2-0.
Just when it looked like Arsenal were about to turn the screw and make it 3 or 4 nil, Chelsea were back in it. A great cross from Pedro Neto found Alejandro Garnacho at the back post, and he controlled the ball and slammed it in.
That hope didn’t last long. Martin Zubimendi left defenders trailing in his wake as he added a third with a shift and finish. But somehow, a Chelsea team who never really looked in this game, resisted getting kicked out of it. Garnacho scored another volley after a loose ball dropped to him from a corner, keeping it at 3-2, keeping Chelsea’s hope alive.
MOTM – Alejandro Garnacho
Analysis
Chelsea and Arsenal players compete for the ball.
Chelsea and Arsenal players compete for the ball. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Chelsea’s late goal made this look a kinder score – at 3-1 things were looking very bleak, and the crowd were not happy. At 3-2 we’re still in this at the Emirates, but on the evidence of this game, we’ve got no real chance.
Teams
Chelsea
Robert Sanchez
Josh Acheampong
Trevoh Chalobah
Wesley Fofana
Marc Cucurella
Andrey Santos
Enzo Fernandez
Estevao
Joao Pedro
Pedro Neto
Marc Guiu
Substitutes
Filip Jorgensen
Benoit Badiashile (s 53′)
Tosin Adarabioyo (s 81′)
Jorrel Hato (s 75′)
Dario Essugo
Facundo Buonanotte
Alejandro Garnacho (s 53′)
Tyrique George
Shumaira Mheuka (s 81′)
Arsenal
Kepa Arrizabalaga
Ben White
William Saliba
Magalhaes Gabriel
Jurrien Timber
Martin Odegaard
Martin Zubimendi
Declan Rice
Bukayo Saka
Viktor Gyokeres
Leandro Trossard
Substitutes
David Raya
Fernando Gabriel Jesus (s 82′)
Eberechi Eze
Gabriel Martinelli (s 67′)
Christian Norgaard
Noni Madueke
Mikel Merino (s 68′)
Kai Havertz (s 82′)
Stats
Statistic Arsenal Chelsea
Ball possession 58% 42%
Expected goals (xG) 2.84 1.0
Total shots 17 5
Shots on target 6 1
Big chances 4 0
Big chances missed 2 0
Accurate passes 422 (85%) 294 (83%)
Fouls committed 12 14
Corners 6 9