Full-Time: Chelsea 3-0 Arsenal
Chelsea produced a bang in their pre-season tour to Asia, defeating London rivals Arsenal 3-0 earlier in the day.
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte named a full-strength starting XI, featuing all his regulars from last season, that won the title, with Michy Batshuayi leading the line. Diego Costa, Eden Hazard and Nemaja Matic were the notable absentees.
Arsene Wenger fielded a fairly experienced side as well, with just Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Cohen Brammall being the youngsters in the line-up. New signing Alexandre Lacazette started at the top of the attack.
It was the Premier League champions who were quickly out of the blocks, despite this being their second pre-season game, compared to the Gunners’ fourth. There were a few half-chances for Chelsea in the opening few minutes, but they could not capitalize. They were forced into making a change after Pedro collided with Arsenal goalie David Ospina, with Jeremie Boga replacing the Spaniard.
Ospina then made a double save from Willian and Victor Moses, before Batshuayi saw a goal wrongly ruled out for offside, a little after the half-hour mark. However, Chelsea deservedly took the lead through Willian in the 40th minute, after the Brazilian made a smart run and hit a low curling finish into the net. Arsenal were hit once again just two minutes later as Batshuayi found the back of the net with a delightful left-footed finish to put his team 2-0 up as half-time arrived.
There were a flurry of substitutions at half-time, but that didn’t affect Chelsea’s rhythm as Batshuayi doubled his tally just four minutes after the restart, hitting a rocketing first-time effort, after some fine work by Marcos Alonso down the left-hand side. Ozil tried to make things happen in the attacking third, but wasn’t ably supported, while at the other end, Willian had a fierce effort saved by Ospina.
With the game in the bag, Conte introduced a whole bunch of youngsters onto the pitch for Chelsea, while Arsenal too enjoyed a decent spell in the closing stages with Donyell Malen hitting the outside of the post. However, they couldn’t break the Chelsea defence as the Blues won the game 3-0.
Cesc Fabregas and Willian looked really sharp for the Blues while Batshuayi too scored two blistering goals on either side of the half-time. Arsenal, on the other hand, looked a little rusty and arguably played their worst football so far in the pre-season.
Here is how both sets of supporters reacted on Twitter, following the friendly:
Arsenal getting stuffed by Chelsea in China.
Lacazette gone missing.
Sanchez off any day now.
Can't wait for the new season! #afc— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) July 22, 2017
https://twitter.com/iamgading/status/888755950370160640
https://twitter.com/Joshskeetskeet/status/888758322970546177
No need to mention the fact that they're playing an almost full strength team whereas ours is full of u23s
— Sam (@Ozil2021) July 22, 2017
No one would believe this is Arsenal's 4th pre-season game and Chelsea's 2nd. Arsenal up to their old trick again lol
— KSE (@kerwinsellis) July 22, 2017
Disappointing result but arguably the reality check we needed. Squad not quite there, we lack creativity & are still need 2/3 players #AFC
— Patrick Timmons (@PatrickTimmons1) July 22, 2017
Why are Chelsea looking up for it and we arent? Thats because weve been dressing up as jacky fucking chan all week! #afc
— John (@johnh1886) July 22, 2017
https://twitter.com/thearsenal49ers/status/888739143760699392
Forget about the scores, formation or style of play. What really worries me is the level of fitness, Chelsea on a different level. #afc
— Tunde (@Tund3_) July 22, 2017