Eden Hazard and Mateo Kovacic make difference as Chelsea get grade C and Arsenal a D

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  • Eden Hazard set up the decisive goal for Marcos Alonso as Chelsea beat Arsenal 3-2 in a frenetic London derby.

    For 20 minutes Chelsea were so good it looked like it would be a rout, with goals from Pedro and Alvaro Morata their reward.

    But Arsenal roared back to level through Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Alex Iwobi within five first-half minutes.

    Both sides had chances to earn the Premier League points before substitute Hazard, apparently staying put for now after a summer flirtation with Real Madrid, crossed for Alonso to net the winner nine minutes from time.

    Here is our Report Card from an entertaining clash at Stamford Bridge.

    THE GOOD

    Hazard’s energy – The Belgian only entered proceedings just after the hour mark, but he made all the difference. He buzzed and bullied, making the most final-third passes (19 from 21 attempted) and set-up Alonso for the winner.

    Guendouzi’s grace – Arsenal played some scintillating football at times. Head coach Unai Emery will be disappointed with the defeat and two opening losses will paint an ugly picture, but they have unearthed a bit of an artist in Matteo Guendouzi. The midfielder gracefully stroked the ball about the pitch and decorated their attacking play with poise.

    THE BAD

    No case for either defence – Arsenal pushed up so high their defenders were closer to goalkeeper Kepa than they were Petr Cech. Any clipped ball over the top and the Gunners looked vulnerable. But Chelsea were just as bad. There was more slicing than a slasher movie and the visitors should have scored more when they exploited the space between full-back and centre-back.

    18 08 post card

    KEY MOMENTS

    First Half

    9th min GOAL Chelsea 1-0: Hector Bellerin farcically chases the ball high up the pitch and Mkhitaryan is left scrambling to cover the run of Marcos Alonso on the left. The Spaniard has time and space to easily lay it on for Pedro to finish.

    19th min CHANCE Arsenal: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has had a shocker. Guendouzi slips the ball into the right channel for Bellerin. He composes himself, cuts the ball back into the centre of the box and Aubameyang launches the ball over the bar with the goal gaping.

    20th min GOAL Chelsea 2-0: Morata is just inside his own half but Arsenal’s backline is ludicrously high and Cesar Azpilicueta pings a ball into the space over for the No9. He accelerates away from Shkodran Mustafi, cuts inside onto his left foot and slips his strike home.

    30th min CHANCE Arsenal: Another huge opportunity is wasted by the visitors. This time on the opposite side, Nacho Monreal slides the ball through to Iwobi and his cut-back falls to Mkhitaryan who impersonates Aubameyang by skying it over the bar as well.

    37th min GOAL Arsenal 1-2: Mkhitaryan makes amends for his earlier miss by smashing home a left-footed strike from the edge of the area. Kepa dives to his right and should do better as he failed to parry away.

    41st min GOAL Arsenal 2-2: Four chances from exactly the same ploy and a second goal. Mkhitaryan turns providers as he exploits the space in between centre-back and full-back to find Iwobi who slams the ball home.

    Second Half

    78th min CHANCE Arsenal: Best chance of the second half for Arsenal. Alexandre Lacazette coming into the fold has made a big difference and fellow substitute Aaron Ramsey finds space in the channel and Kepa almost spills his cross-shot.

    81st min GOAL Chelsea 3-2: Poor pass from Lacazette and Chelsea are able to break. The Frenchman’s defending is dreadful and Hazard sprints to the byline and crosses for Alonso to turn home the low cross.

    18 08 report card

    KEY TACTICS

    Sarri’s substitutions – Mateo Kovacic and Hazard’s introduction on the hour ultimately decided this game. Arsenal couldn’t get near the class of the Croatian and there are few scarier sights for already stretched defenders when Hazard enters to tear you apart.

    Emery spots the gap – Emery will need to take a long hard look in the mirror when he thinks about his defence. Ex-manager Arsene Wenger will probably be staring right back at him. However, credit to the Spaniard for the way he set up his side to attack Chelsea, because he clearly spotted their weakness in the wide areas and the Gunners repeatedly opened them up on both wings.

    STANDOUT STAR

    Marcos Alonso

    Considering there were five goals scored and atrocious examples of defending from both sides, picking a member of Chelsea’s backline might seem a little odd.

    However, for all his defensive deficiencies, Alonso proved yet again why he is one of the most lethal attacking full-backs in world football.

    He had a hand in Chelsea’s first, scored the winner and displayed super movement in and around the box with threatening deliveries from out wide.

    VERDICT

    Chelsea

    Ultimately, the hosts were more cohesive and more clinical when it mattered. Chelsea just about deserved the three points but once again, they look dreadfully exposed at times. Still, it’s certainly entertaining and a complete contrast to last season.

    Grade: C

    Arsenal

    In parts, the Gunners looked really good. In others, they looked awful. A high line with Mustafi and Sokratis always seemed suicidal and it proved to be the case. Had Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan been more clinical when they carved open the hosts, it might have been a different story.

    Grade: D

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