Romelu Lukaku’s purpose was his 114th within the Premier League, taking him above Ian Wright into the highest 20 on the goalscoring checklist
Romelu Lukaku scored his first ever Chelsea purpose – nearly a decade after his debut – as Thomas Tuchel’s crew deservedly beat Arsenal.
Lukaku, who was at Chelsea as a young person, began on the Emirates after his £97.5m signing from Inter Milan and appears to have given the Blues an ominous new dimension.
His hold-up and link-up play precipitated Arsenal issues all day – and the Belgian duly gave them the lead.
Lukaku was concerned within the build-up after which completed the transfer from shut vary into an empty internet from Reece James’ cross.
James received the second himself as he slammed the ball into the roof of the web from Mason Mount’s cross to make it two wins from two within the league.
Lukaku nearly made it 3-0 however his header was tipped onto the bar by Bernd Leno.
Arsenal, lacking centre-back Ben White by Covid, have now misplaced extra London derbies within the Premier League this season than final – after simply two video games.
It’s only the third time Arsenal have misplaced their opening two Premier League matches in a season.
Has Lukaku made Chelsea the whole package deal?
European champions Chelsea had been already being tipped as main title contenders, having been the most effective groups round since Tuchel’s arrival in January.
The one factor they lacked final season was a prolific goalscorer – however they now have that in Lukaku.
5 days in need of a decade after his Chelsea debut, this was his sixteenth look for the membership – having been at West Brom, Everton, Manchester United and Inter Milan within the interim.
And he provides the Blues a focus up high and the scientific finisher that they’ve missed.
The 28-year-old opened the scoring when he held the ball up earlier than taking part in it to Kovacic after which leaving Pablo Mari on the turf as he raced into the six-yard field to complete from James’ cross.
He was additionally tackled by Granit Xhaka within the build-up to the second purpose.
Chelsea might have had extra objectives – with Lukaku having eight of their 22 efforts himself – together with the one Leno tipped onto the woodwork.
Kai Havertz went near a 3rd as effectively from Lukaku’s cross however Leno stopped his shot along with his legs.
The fear for Chelsea’s title rivals will probably be in looking for any weaknesses.
Their defence is sort of unbreachable at instances, midfielders N’Golo Kante – who was a second-half substitute – and Jorginho are two-thirds of the shortlist for the Uefa participant of the yr award, and Mount and Kai Havertz assist Lukaku up entrance.
Subsequent up will probably be their largest take a look at of the season but, away to Liverpool – who’re additionally on six factors – on Saturday.
Arsenal make undesirable piece of historical past
Arsenal had by no means opened a league marketing campaign with two defeats and no objectives of their earlier 117 seasons of existence – till now.
The Gunners, who misplaced 2-0 to Brentford within the season opener, began the sport effectively in entrance of their largest residence crowd in nearly 18 months.
Bukayo Saka laid the ball off for Emile Smith Rowe, whose 25-yard shot was saved early on.
The followers had been on their toes cheering a very good Nicolas Pepe run, however it will definitely led to nothing – they usually regarded crushed from the second Lukaku scored.
Their left aspect was uncovered by James for each objectives.
James was concerned on the different finish too – Arsenal felt they need to have had a penalty when he shoved over England team-mate Saka. After an extended video assistant referee evaluation, the referee’s determination to not give the penalty stood.
If Rob Holding had scored with a header from eight yards out within the second half, that would have sparked a comeback however he headed broad.
Arsenal have damage and sickness issues – with £50m centre-back White out with Covid, Alexandre Lacazette recovering from the sickness and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang solely match for the bench after catching the virus too.
However all indicators are already pointing to a different season of battle. After two eighth-placed finishes in a row, might it get even worse?
August 1992 was the primary month of the Premier League. That was the final time prior to now Arsenal had been within the relegation zone on the finish of a day with a couple of sport performed.
Mikel Arteta’s aspect play West Brom within the EFL Cup on Wednesday, and their subsequent league sport is at champions Manchester Metropolis subsequent Sunday.
Find out how to play
Fee gamers out of 10 all through or after the sport. The rater will shut half-hour after the ultimate whistle.
Score vary key = Give it up = Pure perfection
Arsenal
Squad quantity14Participant titleAubameyang
Squad quantity20Participant titleTavaresSquad quantity26Participant titleBalogun
Chelsea
Squad quantity16Participant titleMendy
Squad quantity28Participant titleAzpilicueta
Squad quantity4Participant titleChristensen
Squad quantity2Participant titleRüdiger
Squad quantity24Participant titleJames
Squad quantity5Participant titleJorginho
Squad quantity8Participant titleKovacic
Squad quantity3Participant titleAlonso
Squad quantity19Participant titleMount
Squad quantity29Participant titleHavertz
Squad quantity9Participant titleLukaku
Squad quantity7Participant titleKanté
Squad quantity11Participant titleWerner
Squad quantity22Participant titleZiyech
Line-ups
Arsenal
Formation 4-2-3-1
1Leno
17Cédric Soares16Holding22Marí3Tierney
23Sambi Lokonga34Xhaka
19Pépé10Smith Rowe7Saka
35Martinelli
1Leno17Cédric Soares16HoldingBooked at 45mins22MaríBooked at 34mins3TierneySubstituted forTavaresat 66′minutes23Sambi LokongaBooked at 67mins34Xhaka19Pépé10Smith Rowe7SakaSubstituted forAubameyangat 61′minutes35MartinelliSubstituted forBalogunat 79′minutes
Substitutes
14Aubameyang15Maitland-Niles20Tavares21Chambers24Nelson25Elneny26Balogun31Kolasinac32Ramsdale
Chelsea
Formation 3-4-2-1
16Mendy
28Azpilicueta4Christensen2Rüdiger
24James5Jorginho8Kovacic3Alonso
19Mount29Havertz
9Lukaku
16Mendy28Azpilicueta4Christensen2Rüdiger24James5Jorginho8KovacicSubstituted forKantéat 72′minutes3Alonso19MountSubstituted forZiyechat 82′minutes29HavertzSubstituted forWernerat 90′minutes9Lukaku
Substitutes
1Arrizabalaga6Thiago Silva7Kanté11Werner14Chalobah15Zouma20Hudson-Odoi21Chilwell22Ziyech
Referee:Paul Tierney
Attendance:58,729
Stay Textual content
Match ends, Arsenal 0, Chelsea 2.
Second Half ends, Arsenal 0, Chelsea 2.
N’Golo Kanté (Chelsea) wins a free kick within the defensive half.
Foul by Granit Xhaka (Arsenal).
Reece James (Chelsea) wins a free kick within the defensive half.
Foul by Granit Xhaka (Arsenal).
Try missed. Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea) header from the centre of the field misses to the suitable. Assisted by Marcos Alonso.
Substitution, Chelsea. Timo Werner replaces Kai Havertz.
Nook, Chelsea. Conceded by Folarin Balogun.
Nook, Chelsea. Conceded by Rob Holding.
Try blocked. Hakim Ziyech (Chelsea) left footed shot from exterior the field is blocked. Assisted by Jorginho.
Try saved. Kai Havertz (Chelsea) proper footed shot from the suitable aspect of the six yard field is saved within the backside proper nook. Assisted by Romelu Lukaku.
Nook, Arsenal. Conceded by Reece James.
Substitution, Chelsea. Hakim Ziyech replaces Mason Mount.
Reece James (Chelsea) wins a free kick within the defensive half.
Foul by Granit Xhaka (Arsenal).
Try blocked. Reece James (Chelsea) proper footed shot from the left aspect of the field is blocked.
Substitution, Arsenal. Folarin Balogun replaces Gabriel Martinelli due to an damage.
Nook, Chelsea. Conceded by Rob Holding.
Try saved. Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea) header from the centre of the field is saved within the high proper nook. Assisted by Mason Mount.
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