Arsenal v Chelsea - Story of the match

24 September 2016 18:52

Arsene Wenger reaches 20 years as Arsenal manager on Friday and during that time he will not have enjoyed many victories more than the beating his side doled out to Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday evening.

The 66-year-old saw the Gunners completely out-run their London rivals and they fully deserved the 3-0 win that lifts them to third in the Premier League.

Alexis Sanchez got the ball rolling as he marked his 100th Arsenal appearance with the opening goal, stealing in to rob Gary Cahill of possession before finishing well. Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil also struck in a fine first half for the hosts.

TWEET OF THE MATCH

"BOOOOOOOM! (They're back) 3-0. Now THIS is more like it Arsenal. Wonderful football. #afc" - Good Morning Britain presenter and Arsenal fan Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan)

STAR MAN

Alexis Sanchez - The Chilean was at his barnstorming best here, scoring one with a delightful chipped finish over Thibaut Courtois and setting up another when his dinked cross invited Ozil to volley home. He went off to a standing ovation in the second half. A mention also should go to Hector Bellerin. The full-back was superb going forward and saved his side an almost certain goal with a brilliant covering challenge on Pedro in the second half.

DAY TO FORGET

Gary Cahill - The England centre-back gifted the ball to Sanchez for the opening goal and then allowed Ozil to run free for the second. No team in the top half of the table has now conceded more goals than Chelsea and if that record is to improve, they will need Cahill to rediscover his best form, and fast.

VIEW FROM THE BENCH

Since their opening day defeat to Liverpool, Arsenal have taken 13 from a possible 15 points and this result proved, that at their best, the Gunners are a match for anyone. The test will be repeating this sort of performance against the league's lesser lights, starting at Burnley next weekend. Antonio Conte meanwhile is enduring a difficult start to life as Chelsea manager. The Italian is now winless in three in the league.

RATINGS

Arsenal

Petr Cech 6

Hector Bellerin 8

Shkodran Mustafi 7

Laurent Koscielny 6

Nacho Monreal 6

Santi Cazorla 7

Francis Coquelin 5

Theo Walcott 8

Mesut Ozil 8

Alex Iwobi 8

Alexis Sanchez 9

Substitutes

Granit Xhaka (for Coquelin) 6

Kieran Gibbs (for Iwobi) 6

Olivier Giroud (for Sanchez) 5

Chelsea

Thibaut Courtois 5

Branislav Ivanovic: 4

Gary Cahill: 3

David Luiz: 4

Cesar Azpilicueta: 4

N'Golo Kante: 5

Nemanja Matic: 5

Cesc Fabregas: 5

Eden Hazard: 7

Willian: 6

Diego Costa: 6

Substitutes

Marcos Alonso (for Fabregas) 5

Michy Batshuayi (for Hazard) 4

Pedro (for Willian) 5

WHO'S UP NEXT?

Arsenal v Basel (Champions League Group A, September 28)

Hull v Chelsea (Premier League, October 27)

Source: PA-WIRE