Arsenal bounce back to beat Chelsea, Man Utd denied by Leicester

Mikel Arteta led Arsenal to win the FA Cup the final time they confronted Chelsea in August, however lower than 5 months on the Spaniard was underneath intense strain after a run of 1 win in 10 league video games.

Arteta had bemoaned his facet’s fortune in latest weeks, however the Gunners’ luck turned on an evening when he gave children Gabriel Martinelli and Emile Smith Rowe the prospect to shine within the absence of extra skilled figures resembling David Luiz, Willian and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Kieran Tierney received a delicate penalty for a push by Reece James and Alexandre Lacazette slotted residence the spot-kick to open the scoring on 34 minutes.

Granit Xhaka then answered his critics after being stupidly despatched off in a 1-Zero defeat to Burnley earlier this month with a superb free-kick to double Arsenal’s lead simply earlier than half-time.

A 3rd consecutive away defeat for Chelsea additional damages their possibilities of competing for the title and there was no means again for Frank Lampard’s males as soon as Bukayo Saka chipped in off the within of the submit 11 minutes after the break.

Tammy Abraham did pull a aim again 5 minutes from time and Chelsea may have arrange a grandstand end in stoppage time, however Jorginho’s penalty was saved by Bernd Leno.

Victory lifts Arsenal as much as 14th, six factors away from the relegation zone, whereas Chelsea drop right down to sixth on aim distinction.

Man Utd miss out

In earlier Boxing Day motion, Manchester United missed out on equalling a Premier League report of 11 immediately wins as for as soon as this season they paid for not ending strongly.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s males had come from behind in every of their earlier away league video games this season, however twice went in entrance on the King Energy Stadium by Marcus Rashford halfway by the primary half and Bruno Fernandes 11 minutes from time.

“One level isn’t the worst outcome however we’re upset we did not get away with three,” mentioned Solskjaer.

“We had a great deal of large probabilities and we may’ve completed it off. They’re a really harmful facet.”

Harvey Barnes’s blistering strike levelled for Leicester earlier than half-time and United had been undone by Jamie Vardy’s motion within the field because the veteran striker latched onto Ayoze Perez’s cross and noticed his shot deflect in off the unlucky Axel Tuanzebe.

“It is vital for the event of us as a crew and as a squad that we will come from behind in opposition to a extremely, actually good facet, a high facet, and get the outcome,” mentioned Leicester supervisor Brendan Rodgers.

A share of the spoils between the perimeters in second and third offers Everton the prospect to maneuver into second behind Merseyside rivals Liverpool once they go to winless Sheffield United afterward Sunday.

Villa soar into high six

Aston Villa are one other unlikely challenger for the highest 4 as they eased previous Crystal Palace Three-Zero regardless of taking part in the total second half a person down after Tryone Mings’ pink card.

Bertrand Traore gave Villa the proper begin by turning within the rebound after Vicente Guaita saved Ollie Watkins’s first effort.

A tussle between Mings and Wilfried Zaha resulted in a yellow card for each. Moments later Mings blocked off Zaha and the England worldwide was dismissed in first-half stoppage time.

Nonetheless, Villa soaked up the strain and the 10 males prolonged their lead when Kortney Hause compelled the ball residence from shut vary after Watkins’s header got here off the bar.

Watkins additionally performed an element within the third as he teed up Anwar El Ghazi to fireside in off the far submit for his fourth aim in 4 video games.

Fulham edged to inside some extent of security with a Zero-Zero draw at residence with Southampton.

Twice the guests had been denied a late winner as Shane Lengthy and Theo Walcott had efforts dominated out for offside.

Manchester Metropolis are additionally in motion later at residence to Newcastle, with Pep Guardiola’s facet badly needing a win to maintain their title hopes alive as they path Liverpool by eight factors with a sport in hand.

kca/jc/gj