Lacazette and Koscielny gave the 'Gunners' control at the interval

In a commanding first half showing from the hosts saw them put London rivals Chelsea to the sword. In a very intense performance, Unai Emery's side pressed their visitors high up the park, not allowing them to play their customary passing style from the back. In the opening exchanges, the Arsenal front line forced Chelsea into numerous mistakes when in possession, earning themselves countless set plays in the process. 

It was to be from two set plays that the home side would get their rewards. First, a well worked corner routine from the right hand side of the pitch; a short pass from Torreira to Bellerin, set the full back up to deliver a low cross into the box. The Spaniard obliged, driving the ball low into the feet of forward Alexandre Lacazette, but from then on, the goal was solely down to excellent individual play from the Frenchman. 

Upon receiving the ball, Lacazette immediately spun to face goal, and shimmied past two Chelsea defenders, before rifling a shot high into the near top corner of the net. 

 

January 19, 2019

After having taken the lead, the home side pushed further forward in search of another goal. And sure enough, just before the interval, it arrived. The most unlikeliest of scorers, Laurent Koscielny, capped a great first half display by converting an unorthodox effort past Chelsea stopper Kepa.

The second phase of a corner ball fell to the feet of Sokratis on the edge of the penalty area, and like a pair of strikers, the Arsenal centre- halves combined with exquisite accuracy. Sokratis floated a ball over the top of the Chelsea defence, and Koscielny timed his run perfectly to flick the ball into the far top corner. Replays showed that the move may not have been entirely elegant however, as the Frenchman had indeed managed to convert the chance with a combination of his neck and shoulder.

Nevertheless, the 'Gunners' had found their scoring form, to give themselves a two-goal cushion in a must win match. Maurizzio Sarri's Chelsea would have some work to do after the interval. 

 

January 19, 2019