Three glaring defensive errors proved costly for Chelsea against rivals Arsenal, who came away from Stamford Bridge with three points yet again.
Thomas Tuchel’s post-match assessment was simple: Chelsea “scored” five yet lost 4-2. The defeat, their third home loss in a row, came against a struggling Arsenal and was one that now threatens to drag the Blues down into the top four race late in the season.
The Blues started well, dominating possession early on and pinning their opponents inside their own half. But, a long ball over the top in the 13th minute proved to be their undoing, as Andreas Christensen’s weak pass back to Edouard Mendy was intercepted by Eddie Nketiah, who confidently slotted the ball in the corner.
Chelsea equalized four minutes later through Timo Werner, however. The German’s shot from outside the box took a huge deflection off Granit Xhaka and crept past Aaron Ramsdale.
Arsenal retook the lead in the 27th minute after Xhaka dribbled away to safety inside his box before springing a counter-attack that was finished by Emile Smith-Rowe. Chelsea, again, got back into the game almost instantaneously as, five minutes later, Cesar Azpilicueta touched Mason Mount’s cross past Ramsdale from the centre of the box.
A second defensive error allowed Nketiah to collect his brace in the 57th minute; the former Chelsea academy boy poked the ball past Mendy from close range after the Blues had failed to deal with the danger. Bukayo Saka added a fourth in stoppage time from the spot after Azpilicueta was adjudged to have hauled him down inside the box.
Elsewhere, Brighton & Hove Albion, fresh from their wins over Arsenal and Tottenham, took on the challenge of frustrating champions Manchester City – which they were achieving up until the 53rd minute.
However, Riyad Mahrez eased the nerves of those present inside the Etihad – knowing that anything other than a win would allow Liverpool to end the week on top – when he scored the opener via a huge deflection off Joel Veltman.
Phil Foden put City in the driving seat in the 65th minute with a goal from distance that, again, hit a Brighton player and wrong-footed Robert Sanchez. Bernardo Silva added gloss to the scoreline in the 82nd minute with a splendid finish from just inside the box – and took City back to the top of the table.
