Chelsea fluent even without Hazard
ARSENAL’S RUN COMES TO AN END WITH A DRAW AS THAI CAVE BOYS WATCH UNITED WIN
Chelsea went second in the Premier League with a comfortable 4-0 win at Burnley yesterday, which maintained their unbeaten start to the season.
The London club are two points behind leaders Liverpool and one point ahead of champions Manchester City, who play away to Tottenham Hotspur today.
Maurizio Sarri’s side barely noticed the absence of Eden Hazard as Willian, starting in the Belgian’s normal position on the left, scored and hit a post.
Spanish striker Alvaro Morata gave Chelsea the lead midway through a first half in which he might have netted three times.
England midfielder Ross Barkley set him up for that goal and added the second himself from outside the penalty area early in the second half.
Brazilian Willian curled the third past Burnley goalkeeper Joe Hart five minutes later and substitute Ruben Loftus-Cheek completed the scoring in stoppage-time.
Arsenal’s 11-match winning run came to a dramatic end as Luka Milivojevic’s late penalty rescued Crystal Palace in a contentious 2-2 draw.
Unai Emery’s side failed to win a 12th successive match in all competitions as they fell short of the club’s record of 14 victories in a row. Arsenal fell behind to the first of two Milivojevic penalties just before half-time at Selhurst Park.
Granit Xhaka equalised with a sublime free-kick before PierreEmerick Aubameyang poked in his ninth goal of the season in controversial circumstances. Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette flicked the ball to Aubameyang with his hand, but officials failed to spot the offence.
Angered by that blow, Palace felt justice was done when Wilfried Zaha won a second penalty with seven minutes left and Milivojevic slotted home again.
It was a frustrating afternoon for Emery, whose captain Mesut Ozil reacted angrily when he was substituted in the 68th minute, the German throwing his gloves ■ 4 2 1
0 2 1
to the floor after stomping past the Arsenal manager.
It was the latest flare-up between the pair after Ozil was reportedly angered by Emery’s demand that he work harder in matches earlier this season.
Arsenal remain fourth in the Premier League, but missed the chance to keep pace with ■ leaders Liverpool, who are four points clear of the north Londoners. Emery’s team had made a habit of getting off to slow starts this season before flourishing in the second half and another sluggish opening left them creaking under intense Palace pressure.
The team of young Thai footballers, who captured the world’s attention when trapped in an underground cave for more than two weeks this summer enjoyed a day to remember at Manchester United’s Old Trafford yesterday. They were guests of honour as the Red Devils beat Everton 2-1.