Defensive
errors proved costly for Arsenal as Chelsea ran out 2-1 winners in a
competitive preseason friendly at the Emirates Stadium.
Following Arsenal Women's 2-1 win over Chelsea, it was the turn of the men
and it was the visitors who took the lead through Kai Havertz's 26th-minute
strike.
Emile Smith Rowe hit the woodwork as Arsenal pushed for an equaliser, while
Hakim Ziyech also struck the post as Chelsea went in at the break with the
lead.
The Gunners, who handed a debut to £50m signing Ben White at the start of
the second half, eventually found a response through Granit Xhaka's header
but just four minutes later Hector Bellerin gifted possession to Tammy
Abraham and the striker, who has been linked with a move to Arsenal this
summer, restored Chelsea's lead.
Mikel Arteta's side thought they'd grabbed an equaliser when Joe Willock's
shot crashed down off the underside of the crossbar and across the line, but
the goal wasn't given as Chelsea held on for a confidence-boosting win ahead
of the new campaign.
How Chelsea secured victory at Arsenal...
The Arsenal fans were off their seats early as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's
flick released Kieran Tierney, but the Scot's cross was just out of the
reach of Alexandre Lacazette at the near post.
The game was being played at a fast pace and despite dominating the ball, it
was Arsenal who went behind following a devastating counter-attack from
Chelsea.
The starting XIs…
Arsenal: Leno, Chambers, Holding, Mari, Tierney, Elneny,
Partey, Smith Rowe, Pepe, Lacazette, Aubameyang
Chelsea: Mendy, Chalobah, Zouma, Rudiger, Hudson-Odoi,
Loftus-Cheek, Kovacic, Pulisic, Ziyech, Havertz, Werner.
Timo Werner was left one on one with Pablo Mari and the German had support
in Havertz, whose finish picked out the top corner to give the visitors the
lead.
Moments later, Arsenal were caught napping as Werner got in behind again,
but on this occasion, the striker poked his shot wide of the near post.
It was Chelsea's turn to gift Arsenal possession and it almost resulted in
an equaliser as Smith Rowe's shot struck the foot of the post.
The Gunners, who brought on Xhaka, lost Thomas Partey to injury before
Ziyech went close to doubling Thomas Tuchel's side's lead. His drilled
effort beat Bernd Leno, but the woodwork came to Arsenal's rescue.
The Gunners brought on White at half-time for his debut and it didn't take
long for him to impress as his superb goal line clearance denied Ziyech.
Lacazette then went close with a free-kick, Edouard Mendy making a smart
save to deny the French striker, but the equaliser eventually came.
Xhaka, who has been linked with a move to Roma this summer, lost his marker
at a corner before powering a header into the corner.
There was a renewed energy from the Arsenal supporters but that quickly
disappeared as a moment of madness helped restore Chelsea's lead.
Bellerin's poor pass played in Abraham, and the Chelsea striker didn't need
a second invitation, calmly slotting the ball past Leno and into the bottom
corner.
Arsenal pushed again for another equaliser and Aubameyang should have
grabbed it, but after being picked out by Nuno Tavares' superb cross, the
Arsenal skipper headed wide.
The Gunners did think they had an equaliser when Willock's shot hit the
underside of the crossbar and bounced down, but despite replays suggesting
the ball had crossed the line, the goal was not given by referee Andre
Marriner and his team of officials as Chelsea held on for victory.
Analysis: White shows worth, but Arsenal's
defensive frailties remain
Sky Sports' Oliver Yew at the Emirates Stadium:
There have been plenty of eyebrows raised at the £50m spent by Arsenal to
secure the services of Ben White, but minutes into his debut he showed his
worth with a superb goal line clearance to deny Hakim Ziyech.
Late on in the piece too he was once again back on the goal line to hack the
ball clear to once again deny Chelsea a goal, but they were the only real
positives in what was a worrying defensive display from the Gunners with
their Premier League opener at Brentford under two weeks away.
During the first half, Rob Holding and Pablo Mari were continually left
exposed by Chelsea's threat on the counter. Mari did well on one occasion to
stop Timo Werner, but he couldn't do it a second time as the German picked
out Kai Havertz for the opener.
Arsenal did get themselves level through Granit Xhaka in the second half but
moments after the equaliser, Hector Bellerin's woeful pass gifted Tammy
Abraham the winner in what was another worrying example of Arsenal's
attempts to play out from the back.
As early as the second minute Holding's sloppy pass gifted possession to
Chelsea and it was a theme throughout that ultimately ended in Bellerin's
gift to Abraham.
This is not a new problem for Arsenal but one that plagued them throughout
last season. For sure, Ben White should help that, and he needs time to
settle, but the signs will be worrying for Arteta with the new season just
around the corner.
Analysis: Should it have been easier for
Chelsea at Arsenal?
Sky Sports' Oliver Yew at the Emirates Stadium:
"Thomas Tuchel will be delighted with the workout Chelsea got as they
secured a hard-fought victory at Arsenal.
"In the end, the European champions were gifted victory after Hector
Bellerin's error gifted Tammy Abraham the winner, but Chelsea could have
been home and dry earlier had they taken any of a number of chances that
fell their way.
"Timo Werner, who did provide the assist for Kai Havertz's opener, snatched
at a first-half opportunity, while Hakim Ziyech should have scored despite
the heroic efforts of Ben White's goal-line clearance.
"It is still early days as players look to get their sharpness back ahead of
the Premier League's return, but just as Arsenal's defensive frailties will
be a concern for Mikel Arteta, Tuchel will surely still have concerns about
his forward line.
"When asked about his side’s need to be more clinical in front of goal, the
German boss said: "It was a concern of the whole team. It's very hard after
just 45 minutes to play at that kind of level. There were some chances were
he [Werner] could be more decisive but he assisted."
"This is not a new problem for Chelsea, and it is one that will have been at
the forefront of Tuchel's mind this summer. Speculation regarding a new
striker at Stamford Bridge has been rife and it would not be a surprise to
see that area of the squad bolstered ahead of the new campaign."
What's next?
Arsenal's final preseason fixture before the start of the Premier League
season is next Sunday (August 8) against north London rivals Tottenham at
the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium; kick-off 2pm.
Meanwhile, Chelsea also play Tottenham next. They host Spurs on Wednesday at
Stamford Bridge; kick-off 7.45pm.
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