Well what can you say about this game, definitely a lot more exciting than the Man City game! It started quite similarly to our pre-season friendly with Chelsea going for all out attack and their pressure paid off in just 9 minutes as just after Arsenal got their first chance when Ozil shot past the post, Pedro was straight down the other end and got his shot perfectly in Cech’s bottom corner.
Everyone was complaining about Iwobi being in the starting line-up but he is playing with confidence and aplomb and trying to run past Chelsea players but it finally goes out for an Arsenal throw. It results in a great chance for Aubameyang who inexplicably shoots it miles over the bar! Yet again the Blues get it straight down the other end, and Morata shows Auba how to finish and suddenly Arsenal were 2-0 behind and looking like getting a drubbing.
The possession is all Chelsea’s but Arsenal look like they have finally woken up (or Chelsea start siting back) and within 10 minutes Mkhitaryan gets a great chance but shoots well over the bar. Pedro had another great chance 5 minutes later but but an excellent save from Cech denied him and it was Arsenal’s turn to fly down the other end. Mkhitaryan got another chance and made no mistake this time and got a standing ovation for an excellent finish. Arsenal were baack in the game! 2-1.
Both teams were really going for it and it carried on end-to-end until suddenly Mkhitaryan gave the ball to Iwobi, who smashed it into the net for 2-2 with just four minutes to half-time. And Arsenal nearly even took the lead when Aubameyang got another chance in the 44th minute but fluffed it again. It’s not the Gabonese hitman’s day up til then.
After watching that first half the crowd will be looking for another treat in the second half and they are not disappointed as both teams keep going on hammer and tongs, but Chelsea are still the team with most of the possession. With 20 minutes to go Emery surprisingly takes off Ozil for Ramsey but Hazard is on and Emery puts on Giroud for Morata. With ten mins to go Kante sends a bullet header just over the bar but a minute later Hazard makes his mark by slipping a ball to Alonso who has no trouble slipping it past Cech and Chelsea are back in front.. The last ten minutes are all Chelsea looking for another one but in the last minute Ramsey gets a great chance but alas it was not to be, and Giroud had a great chance to make it four….
At least we tried…
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