ARSENAL 3

Lacazette (pen, 34), Xhaka (44), Saka (56)

CHELSEA 1 Abraham (85)

Arsenal ended a seven-game winless Premier League run with a thrilling Boxing Day London derby victory over Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners went into the game as outsiders having taken just two points from their last seven, but manager Mikel Arteta shuffled his pack and found a winning combination as they secured a 3-1 success.

Arsenal were without Gabriel Magalhaes, the Brazilian defender now missing the next three games after coming into close contact with someone who tested positive for Covid.

His absence was not felt, however, as Arteta handed a start to Emile Smith Rowe, his first in the league in a year.

Chelsea boss Frank Lampard was able to call on both Reece James and Ben Chilwell as the England full-backs passed fitness tests to feature.

Arsenal have been sluggish at the start of games of late but were the quicker out of the blocks here, Martinelli skewing an early difficult chance wide.

The Gunners managed to break in behind as Thiago Silva fouled Saka and Hector Bellerin burst through on to the loose ball, crossing for Smith Rowe who could not quite make contact on the penalty spot.

But they would take the lead from the penalty spot after James tripped Kieran Tierney and Lacazette was on hand to dispatch the penalty 10 minutes before the break.

There was still time for Arteta’s men to double their lead before the interval, Xhaka scoring a fine free-kick for his first goal since July after N’golo Kante had tripped Saka.

Arsenal caught Chelsea on the break after the break, scored a third through a cross-shot from Saka which left Edouard Mendy stranded.

The confidence that has been missing from Arsenal for so long started to exude before Chelsea – too late – pulled a goal back through Abraham.

“It is a really big win for us,” under pressure Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said. “Hopefully this is a turning point and will elevate the confidence of the team as I know that they can play at this level.”