Chelsea and Lukaku turn off Arsenal / Premier League / J2 / Arsenal-Chelsea (0-2) / SOFOOT.com – SO FOOT

Arsenal 0-2 Chelsea

Goals: Lukaku (15^e) and James (35^e)

A good job back to the goal, a call that wins everything in its path, starting with Pablo Marí, then a recovery with the flat of the right foot to convert this caviar from James at close range. If Chelsea have this summer spat 115 sticks to repatriate Romelu Lukaku, it is obviously for his sense of goal, but also for his ability to weigh on the defenses and to serve as an anchor. In one action, from a quarter of an hour of play, the Blues had all three, and that was enough for them to split the Arsenal rearguard for the first time, mastered at home in the London derby by the reigning European champions (0-2), after having already cracked in opening at another neighbor, Brentford.

James everywhere, Arsenal nowhere

Masters of the entry ball but well contained in the first quarter of an hour by Gunners urgent and enterprising, Thomas Tuchel’s men therefore found the opening on their first opportunity thanks to Lukaku, found in support at twenty-five meters by Kovačić, then in front of the goal by James, launched by the Croatian (0-1, 15^e). One goal – the 114^e of the Belgian in the Premier League – which extinguishes the initial tendencies of Arsenal, symbolized by this shot from Smith-Rowe captured on his left by Mendy (2^e), these dangerous centers of Martinelli and Saka or this rush on the right side of Pépé (12^e), and completely frees the Blues.

Found this time by a laser pass from Havertz, James is very close to offering himself a double of dice passes. But Mount, served in the background by the English side while Lukaku claimed the ball, is countered (23^e). In all the good moves, like this fleeing center which does not find a taker (31^e), James offers himself a pawn, the second of his career in the championship only, at the end of a marvel of collective action initiated on the left side by the duo Alonso-Havertz and relayed full axis by Mount (0-2, 35^e).

All roads lead to Rom

So in the red for twenty minutes, Arsenal even borders on 0-3, on this number in the area of ​​Mount which does not benefit either Havertz or Lukaku (39^e), before lifting your head a little and believing in 1-2. But Paul Tierney remains despite the marble VAR after this contact between Saka and James (43^e), and Holding does not manage to take back this corner of Pépé put away by Soares (44^e). We must therefore wait for the 52^e minute and this scud of Saka to finally see Mendy, author of a superb tap dance. Not enough, however, to stop the control of the visitors, again dangerous on this shot next to Mount, served in withdrawal by a Lukaku omnipresent in the game of Blues.

Not sharp enough in the surface (63^e), the Belgian, on the other hand, puts everything he needs in this ball slammed on his bar by Leno (77^e), then decisive in front of Havertz, shifted into the box by … Lukaku (87^e). Apart from this head of Holding just next to the hour mark, Arsenal has not much to offer, despite the entry with Aubameyang’s armband and the Gabonese shot in the niche de Mendy in the wake. It will probably go better with Lacazette, Partey, Ødegaard or White, but in the meantime, here are the Gunners on the penultimate step of the ranking. And Chelsea already in the lead, tied especially with Liverpool, whom they will face on the next day. We salivate in advance.

Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Leno – Soares, Holding, Pablo Marí, Tierney (Tavares, 66^e) – Sambi, Xhaka – Pépé, Smith-Rowe, Saka (Aubameyang, 61^e) – Martinelli (Balogun, 79^e). Coach: Mikel Arteta.

Chelsea (3-4-2-1): Mendy – Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rüdiger – James, Jorginho, Kovačić (Kanté, 72^e), Alonso – Mount (Ziyech, 82^e), Havertz (Werner, 90^e) – Lukaku. Coach: Thomas Tuchel.