Chelsea 2-4 Arsenal: Kay Talking Points As The Gunners Land A Thumping Victory At Stamford Bridge

In a real showdown between two Premier League giants on Wednesday night, Arsenal managed to pick up what was a shock 4-2 romp away at Stamford Bridge.

Despite enduring what was a worrying blip when returning from March’s international break, the Gunners stormed their way to just their first top-flight victory in west London since 2011.

With Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe and an Eddie Nketiah brace wrapping up maximum points on the road, Arsenal now have their sights firmly set on clinching a Champions League return this season.

In a contest where Chelsea once again struggled to find top gear on home soil, we have taken a look at the main talking points after an action-packed meeting at Stamford Bridge.

Arsenal get their perfect response

Heading into March’s final international break of the season enjoying a real purple patch, it was no secret that Arsenal had largely came crashing back down to earth over recent weeks.

Making the trip to Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night coming off the back of a worrying 1-0 loss away at Southampton, Mikel Arteta has made it clear that he was calling on his side to find a perfect response.

Despite suffering three straight Premier League defeats against the Saints, Brighton and Crystal Palace ahead of kick-off here, Pep Guardiola’s former right-hand man deserves plenty of praise for his tactical decisions.

Electing to go with a back-five and bringing in Rob Holding, Wednesday’s shock 4-2 romp is the first time that the Gunners have claimed a Premier League victory at Stamford Bridge in over a decade.

Watching both West Ham and Tottenham drop points over the weekend, Arsenal will feel like they once again sit in pole position to claim a Champions League return this season.

Now sat with just their goal difference keeping them behind bitter rivals Spurs and that lucrative fourth-spot, all eyes will firmly be on a mouth-watering north London derby on May 12th.

Chelsea’s hometown issues continue

Making the trip to Wembley last weekend and booking their spot in the final of this year’s FA Cup thanks to a routine 2-0 victory against Crystal Palace, Chelsea would have been desperate to keep up that momentum here.

However, eventually watching their Champions League adventure come to an end last week after a remarkable 5-4 aggregate defeat against Spanish giants Real Madrid, Thomas Tuchel will have a growing headache over his side’s struggles in west London.

Once again showing some real issues at the back on Wednesday night and on the wrong end of a 4-2 drumming, Chelsea have now lost three straight contests across all formats at Stamford Bridge since 1993.

While it might appear that the now-former European champions are cruising their way towards another top-four finish this season, they do shockingly hold just the eighth-best home record throughout the 2021/22 campaign.

With their recent problems at Stamford Bridge highlighted by a shock 4-1 defeat against Premier League debutants Brentford on April 2nd, the one-time Borussia Dortmund boss is calling on his side to find some much-needed stability.

With the FA Cup now their only chance of claiming another piece of silverware this season, the Blues will be next seen when they host another London rival in West Ham this weekend.

Nketiah 2-0 Lukaku

Making a cameo second-half appearance at Wembley last weekend, one of the big stories prior to kick-off on Wednesday night was a rare start for the struggling Romelu Lukaku up top.

However, while Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah might have bagged himself a brace in arguably his best performance for the Gunners, it was another night to forget for the Belgian superstar.

Recently dealing with an Achilles tendon injury, the 28-year-old failed to gain any real foothold in proceedings at Stamford Bridge and there will only be more questions surrounding his future this summer.

Really struggling to find a place under Tuchel after making a club-record £96million return to west London ahead of the 2021/22 campaign, the one-time Manchester United striker is yet to bag a single Premier League strike since December 29th.

Only managing 59 minutes here before being replaced by German international Kai Havertz, could Lukaku’s second stint at Chelsea already be coming to an end?

Speaking back in January about how keen he would be on a return to Inter Milan one day, there has been growing reports over the past week that PSG are keen on handing the 28-year-old an escape route this summer.

Match Report:

Chelsea: Mendy, James, Christensen, Sarr, Alonso, Kante, Loftus-Cheek, Azpilicueta, Mount, Lukaku, Werner

Subs: Ziyech, Silva, Havertz

Arsenal: Ramsdale, White, Holding, Gabriel, Tavares, Xhaka, Elneny, Saka, Odegaard, Smith Rowe, Nketiah

Subs: Lacazette, Martinelli, Cedric

Goals: Chelsea: Werner 17′, Azpilicueta 32′ – Arsenal: Nketiah 13′, 57′, Smith Rowe 27′, Saka 90+2 (pen)’

Yellow Cards: Chelsea: Sarr, Mount, Azpilicueta – Arsenal: Gabriel

Red Cards: N/A

Referee: Jon Moss