TheCable

Arsenal defeated Chelsea, their London rivals, 3-1 in their English Premier League (EPL) encounter at the Emirates Stadium on Boxing Day.

The Gunners, without a win in seven EPL matches, finally ended the embarrassing run with two first-half goals from Alexandre Lacazette and Granit Xhaka, while Bukayo Saka added the third in the second half to consign Chelsea to a third loss in four league matches.

It was the first league win since a 1-0 victory over Manchester United on November 1.

In the 202nd meeting between both clubs, it was the Gunners who triumphed for their 79th victory to ease some pressure off Mikel Arteta, their manager.

Arteta fielded a hungry-looking youthful side and they helped ensure an end to the awful run, handing Chelsea only their third defeat in 18 EPL meetings against the North London side.

Both clubs traded chances in an attacking encounter and it was a beleaguered Arsenal side who took the lead on 33 minutes through Lacazette’s penalty awarded for a Reece James foul on Kieran Tierney.

Xhaka doubled the lead with an unstoppable, well-taken free-kick from just outside the area that brilliantly swerved into the top corner and left Edouard Mendy, Chelsea goalkeeper, with no chance.

Two became three 11 minutes after the restart through Saka, the English midfielder of Nigerian heritage, who saw his cross-shot loop over Mendy and cannoned into the back of the net.

Chelsea mounted a late mini-revival with Tammy Abraham steering in a Callum Hudson-Odoi cutback with his chest for 3-1 in the 85th minute. The comeback was, however, halted when Jorginho missed a penalty two minutes later.

Arsenal moved up a place to 14th position on the EPL log with 17points while Chelsea drop to sixth, still on 25 points from 15 matches.

RESULTS

• Aston Villa 3-0 Crystal Palace
• Leicester City 2-2 Manchester United
• Fulham 0-0 Southampton
• Arsenal 3-1 Chelsea