Lacazzete scored from the spot to keep Arsenal ahead in the 34th minutes
What a way to finish the year 2020 and perhaps celebrate the Yueltide in style and perhaps, again, indicate what is in the plate with resumption of play in the new year.
After a seven-game winless run in the Premier League, Arsenal secured an emphatic victory against Chelsea on Saturday to ease the pressure on boss Mikel Arteta.
In the 34th min, Alexandre Lacazette took a perfect penalty that sent goalkeeper Edouard Mendy the wrong way and 10th minutes later Granit Xhaka swept in a superb free-kick that made Chelsea see red.
In the early minutes of resumption of play in the second half, the fired Arsenal boys took the game to Chelsea resulting in Bukayo Saka’s cross that dropped into the top corner to put the game beyond the Blues, who played as if they had nothing at stake. Even a chance to make a mark after Tammy Abraham scored a consolation, was missed Jorginho who took such a weak penalty that goalie Bernd Leno found it easy to save.
But it was an otherwise lacklustre performance by Frank Lampard’s side, who missed the chance to go second.
It was a well-deserved victory for Arsenal, who climb to 14th and will hope any talk of a relegation battle is now behind them.
Arteta, who had been the talk of the town in a possible sack making his former boss at ManCity Pep Guadiola to plead for his stay, listened to advice as he made six changes to the side beaten by Everton last time out in the league and trusted in youth with 19-year-old pair Saka and Gabriel Martinelli and 20-year-old Emile Smith Rowe.
All talk about possible relegation for Arsenal should go up in smoke now with this renewed energized performance put up by the boys today and with Arteta finding the winning formula.
Leicester vs Man U and Aston Villa vs Crytal Palace
In other two matches early Saturday, Manchester United were held to a 2-2 draw by a late goal from Vardy, while a 10-man Aston Villa trashed Crystal Palace 3-0
