Arsenal had a resounding victory against their city rivals, Chelsea, in the rescheduled match of Premier League round 29, which took place early this morning.
Playing at their home ground, the Emirates Stadium, the Gunners quickly dominated the game and promptly translated that into a goal in the 4th minute by Leandro Trossard. It seemed that an early goal would lead to a flamboyant performance by the hosts, as they’ve often done since the beginning of 2024.
However, despite creating numerous opportunities, Arsenal only managed to leave the pitch at halftime with a slim 1-0 lead against Chelsea’s resilient defense. On the opposite end, Nicolas Jackson remained lively, threatening the home team’s goal, but unfortunately, none of his attempts found the net.
Moving into the second half, things truly heated up for Arsenal fans as their players unleashed a flurry of goals. Ben White and Kai Havertz each scored a brace, helping the Gunners to a resounding victory over their city rivals with a final score of 5-0.
Kai Havertz contributed a brace in Arsenal’s comprehensive victory.
The three points earned from this London derby have helped Arsenal solidify their position at the top of the table with 77 points, maintaining a 3-point lead over Liverpool and a 4-point lead over Manchester City. However, Arsenal have played more matches than both of their rivals, with one and two games more respectively.
Here are the players from Arsenal considered to have performed the best and the worst against Chelsea.
BEST
Ben White – 10/10
White had a perfect game against Chelsea.
The former Brighton player emerged as the standout performer in this match, delivering a flawless display. It can be said that White is progressively refining his skills in the right-back role, and it would be a real pity for English fans if the 26-year-old star maintains his stance of not serving the Three Lions in EURO 2024.
Returning to the game against Chelsea, Ben White resembled a monster in the home team’s right flank. He was solid defensively but also highly effective in joining the attack. He created numerous problems for The Blues’ defense and brilliantly scored two goals in the 52nd and 70th minutes, sealing a perfect match for himself.
Martin Odegaard – 9/10
Arsenal’s captain seemed quite fatigued at the start of the match. He didn’t seem to have the best touch on the ball, and his passes often lacked accuracy. However, everything changed in the second half. Perhaps Odegaard received instructions from Mikel Arteta in the dressing room.
Returning to the pitch after the break between halves, the Norwegian star returned to his usual high level of performance. His passes looked much crisper and more precise. By the end of the game, Odegaard had provided two assists for Kai Havertz and Ben White to score.
WORST
William Saliba – 6/10
The French center-back seemed to encounter a lot of difficulties in marking Jackson, as he was often beaten by the Senegalese striker. Things only improved slightly in the second half when Arsenal scored more goals to break Chelsea’s spirit. Overall, Arteta should consider resting Saliba in the next match as the player seems to be quite fatigued.