PRESSURE P POINTS s find their shooting boots
Arteta gets some breathing space as Gunners
WALLKOVER Granit Xhaka beats the wall for Arsenal’s second
BUK IN THE GAME Saka makes it three
MIKEL ARTETA was in jubilant mood last night, celebrating a year in the Arsenal hotseat with a priceless victory.
For the under-pressure Spanish boss, his struggling outfit showed real defiance and resilience while condemning Chelsea to a third defeat in four games.
Strikes from Granit Xhaka and Bukayo Saka either side of the interval, along with Alexandre Lacazette’s early penalty, produced a Boxing Day shock.
This was only Arsenal’s second victory in 11 league outings – and may well have spared their rookie manager the festive sack.
Arteta, 365 days into the job, could not have wished for a better present, with his previously underachieving bunch proving they are still fighting for him.
The Emirates supremo, without unwell trio Willian, David Luiz and Gabriel, said: “I sensed on the coach to the game everybody was brighter and how much they wanted to win.
“There is nothing better than a Boxing Day London derby. To put in such a good performance made it very special – for the players and our fans. Everyone was outstanding. We had a good mix of experience and youth and have shown we can compete. We needed the result and points.”
Opposite number Frank Lampard could scarcely believe how poor his team were as they blew the opportunity to go second.
The Stamford Bridge supremo said: “Not good enough! When you attack a game like we did you deserve nothing.
“I don’t know why we were off the pace. That’s one for the players. If you play at 60 to 70 per cent you don’t win any game.
“I’m angry. We were playing a team having a hard time but we were lazy, giving away the penalty and the free-kick.”
With so much at stake for his own future, facing Chelsea seemed a nightmare fixture for Arteta – even if Arsenal had beaten them in last term’s FA Cup final.
What a twist in fortunes. You had to rewind to early November to find the last Gunners domestic win.
And to think their 1-0 win at Manchester United promised so
To put in such a performance in a Boxing Day London derby made it very special for the players and our fans. Everyone was outstanding
W ea had seemingl behind them
It was Arte
the brighter start when Brazilian striker Gabriel Martinelli could have scored inside 60 seconds.
If Mason Mount’s free-kick 10 minutes later had not clipped the post it might have been different.
Instead though, Arsenal kept pressing, and were rewarded with a penalty after Reece James tripped Kieran Tierney.
Replays indicated it was soft at best, yet VAR decided otherwise and Lacazette rifled in his fifth goal of the season.
Crucially, Arsenal then doubled their lead on the stroke of halftime after N’Golo Kante checked Saka’s fine run. If that was much clearer than Reece’s foul, Xhaka’s free-kick was every bit as deadly as Lacazette’s penalty – only his shot rocketed in from 25 yards.
Blues keeper Edouard Mendy stood no chance, and it was the same on 56 minutes as Saka put the Gunners out of sight.
It was a bizarre goal by the England youngster as he looked up and clipped an angled effort in off the post – but Arteta didn’t care.
Tammy Abraham’s late effort sparked a Chelsea rally, which almost became a tense finale when Pablo Mari brought down Mount – but Bernd Leno saved sub Jorginho’s penalty.