Out of trials and tribulations, Arsenal rose to triumph over Chelsea

It is written in the stars that when a team is going through poor form, give them Chelsea and they will turn it around. Whether Arsenal have turned this around is yet to be seen but at least they got some daylight and a massive confidence boost going forward.

Arsenal rose out of their turbulent season so far to beat Chelsea 3-1 in the London derby on Boxing Day, a defeat that leaves a sour taste on Frank Lampard’s mouth and leaves Chelsea wondering what the season would look like after a massive recruitment in the summer.

Alexandre Lacazette opened the scoring from the spot after Reece James fouled Kieran Tierney in the box. Granit Xhaka doubled the advantage before the break with an audacious freekick from 25yards out.

Lampard introduced Jorginho and Callum Hudson-Odoi for Mateo Kovacic and Timo Werner [who continued his goalless run] after the break but Bukayo Saka scored the third with an inadvertent cross that beat goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.

Chelsea came back from three goals down to draw West Brom 3-3 this season and hoped to do the same but unsuccessful. Abraham pulled one back from a Hudson-Odoi cross, a fraction onside.

Chelsea’s hopes of a comeback were firmly dented after German goalkeeper Bernd Leno saved Jorginho’s poor effort right on 90 after Pablo Mari fouled Mason Mount.

The additional five minutes was back and forth with Chelsea trying to come back and at the same time not trying to concede and Arsenal moving around to frustrate their neighbors.

Mikel Arteta who turned to youngsters Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith-Rowe and Gabriel Martinelli to lead the attack would hope that win is a turnaround for their season.

Frank Lampard would return to the drawing board and hope Roman Abrahamovic doesn’t run out of patience soon and draw the hammer.