Arsenal revive top-4 hopes with triumph over Chelsea
LONDON: Arsenal revived their hopes of a top-four finish with first-half goals by Alexandre Lacazette and Laurent Koscielny securing a comfortable 2-0 derby win at home to toothless Chelsea on Saturday.
Chelsea’s lack of punch in the final third of the pitch was evident again as they enjoyed 64 percent of possession without ever really threatening to unlock Arsenal’s defence.
Arsenal were far sharper as an attacking force and deserved more than Lacazette’s superb 14th-minute effort and skipper Koscielny’s scruffy second in a scintillating opening period.
But those goals, and a resolute defensive display after the break proved enough to give Arsenal only their third home league win against Chelsea in 10 years. It also meant that, having begun the match in sixth spot after Manchester United’s win over Brighton and Hove Albion, they moved back into fifth place on goal difference with 44 points, three behind fourth-placed Chelsea.
“Today we needed to win. We made a mistake last week (at West Ham) so today’s game was a sixpointer,” Koscielny said. “If we lose we will be nine points (off Chelsea) and if we win the gap will be just three points.”
SARRI FURIOUS
Angry Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri accused his players of lacking determination and being “difficult to motivate” after watching their lacklustre 2-0 defeat away to London rivals Arsenal in the Premier League. “I’m extremely angry because this defeat was due to our mentality,” the 60-year-old said.
MAN CITY VICTORIOUS
Manchester City barely got out of second gear as they easily beat bottom club Huddersfield Town to close the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool to four points on Sunday. Danilo, Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane made it 3-0 for the winners.
VIETNAM, CHINA WIN
DUBAI: China flirted with disaster before mounting a second-half revival as they fought back to defeat Thailand 2-1 and reach the Asian Cup quarter-finals in Al-ain on Sunday. In Dubai, Vietnam also entered the last-8 with a 4-2 victory over Jordan in penalties after the game ended 1-1.