English Premier League: Chelsea down Arsenal to cement top spot
Chelsea cemented their position on top of the Premier League as Juan Mata inspired a 2-1 victory over London rivals Arsenal yesterday.
Roberto di Matteo’s side won against the Gunners, thanks to Mata’s second half winner after Gervinho had cancelled out Fernando Torres’s opener. Inevitably, Chelsea captain John Terry had to endure taunts from Arsenal fans after this week’s FA verdict that he was guilty of racially abusing QPR’s Anton Ferdinand in a Premier League match last October. But Terry had the last laugh as Chelsea, unbeaten in the league this season, secured their first win at the Emirates Stadium since November 2009 and handed the Gunners their first league defeat of the campaign.
“It was a big challenge to play against a quality side,” said Chelsea manager di Matteo. “We are very pleased, we were excellent today and deserved the win. Fernando Torres was excellent, his contribution was very good.
“We pressed Arsenal and didn’t allow them to find their rhythm. We have one of the best goalkeepers in the world and (Petr Cech) that is why he is with us. He made two saves. We didn’t just come and sit back we took the initiative and took the game forward. We have a few knocks and bruises but we will assess them all before the Champions League game.”
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was unhappy with the way his side conceded the goals.
“I believe that we were a bit nervous at the start but after the first 20 minutes when we got into the game we shouldn’t have lost,” said Wenger. “It’s sad because we have a good team and we gave this game away the way we did it today. We played at home, we conceded two soft goals from set-pieces. At home you cannot concede goals like we did today. It’s a shame because the team gave a lot and I think the least we deserved was a draw. But we have to keep face and continue to play like we play.”
The Blues took the lead in the 20th minute when Spain forward Torres produced an instinctive close-range volley from Mata’s free-kick. After a slow start, Arsenal finally found some momentum towards the end of the half and equalised in the 42nd minute. When Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain whipped in a low cross from the right flank, Chelsea’s defenders were caught too deep and Ivory Coast striker Gervinho took advantage of the space with a quick turn and blistering finish into the roof of the net.
But Mata put the European champions back in front as the Spanish midfielder’s 53rd minute free-kick curled across the penalty area and glanced in off Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny.
Stunning Suarez seals first Liverpool win
Meanwhile, Liverpool recorded their first league win at the sixth attempt with an emphatic 5-2 victory at Norwich City with Luis Suarez scoring a hat-trick after also scoring three at Carrow Road in April. Nuri Sahin and Steven Gerrard scored Liverpool’s other goals.
Elsewhere, Everton maintained their good start to the campaign, coming from behind to beat Southampton 3-1 with all their three goals coming in 13 first-half minutes. Champions Manchester City, without a win in any competition for four games, came from behind to win 2-1 at Fulham with a late goal from Edin Dzeko.
In other games, Stoke City sent Swansea City to a third successive defeat with Peter Crouch scoring both in their 2-0 win, Sunderland beat 10-man Wigan Athletic 1-0 for their first win and Reading and Newcastle United drew 2-2.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 30th, 2012.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ