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No team provides entertainment like Arsenal. From a calamitous mistake in defense or losing to a relegation-threatened team to a barnstorming win over a title contender or beautiful team goal, the Gunners are going to do something worth talking about. On Wednesday, Arsenal turned a bit of the former into a bit of the latter, going from near farce in defense to a wonderfully worked counterattack resulting in the Emile Smith Rowe goal vs. Chelsea.
Arsenal and Chelsea produced one of the most fascinating first halves of Premier League soccer in years at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, the teams sharing a four-goal haul before the Gunners went on to win 4-2. The highlight of the match was the Smith Rowe goal in the 27th minute.
The play began with Arsenal’s defenders looking like they’d concede the type of embarrassing goal Chelsea conceded to Eddie Nketiah 14 minutes earlier, only for Granit Xhaka to finally clear his own 18 with a fortunate nutmeg of Marcos Alonso. That turned into a counter that ended with a clean finish from ESR.
Emile Smith Rowe Goal vs Chelsea
Lovely team goal by Arsenal!
It starts with a Saka nutmeg and ends with a great finish by Emile Smith Rowe! Arsenal lead 2-1 at the Bridge.: @USA_Network & @NBCUniverso #CHEARS pic.twitter.com/mGMpsWfZbB
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) April 20, 2022
Smith Rowe’s goal was the third of a four-goal first half. Nketiah opened the scoring in the 13th minute thanks to some calamitous defending from Chelsea. Andreas Christensen decided to try to pass the ball back to his keeper with his knee, but the striker only playing because Alexandre Lacazette has Covid-19 swooped in for an easy steal and goal.
A gift for Arsenal!
Christensen's back pass falls short and Nketiah picks it up and puts it home.: @USA_Network & @NBCUniverso #CHEARS pic.twitter.com/6FEytLPTCB
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) April 20, 2022
The lead lasted just four minutes as Timo Werner, finally finding his Chelsea form, found the back of the net by way of a deflected shot.
Timooooo!
Timo Werner's shot takes a deflection to beat Ramsdale and we're level once again.: @USA_Network & @NBCUniverso #CHEARS pic.twitter.com/jc2tF1lWXt
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) April 20, 2022
After Smith Rowe again gave the Gunners the lead, César Azpilicueta equalized once more by beating his man to the ball on a cross from Mason Mount.
It's 2-2!
We have a great match on our hands! This time it's Cesar Azpillicueta with the goal for Chelsea.: @USA_Network & @NBCUniverso #CHEARS pic.twitter.com/rjDzr3Y11Y
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) April 20, 2022
In the second half, Nketiah again pounced on some fortunate (or unfortunate, depending on your perspective) bounces to make it 3-2.
A brace for Nketiah!
Arsenal take a 3-2 lead. THIS MATCH!!: @USA_Network & @NBCUniverso #CHEARS pic.twitter.com/zKV2T1ELOH
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) April 20, 2022
Bukayo Saka then finished things off with a well-taken penalty kick he himself had earned. Azpilicueta was ruled to have hauled Saka down in the box, though replays suggested it was Saka who may have initiated the contact, but the VAR upheld the decision and Arsenal converted in stoppage time to secure the three points.
Saka buries the stoppage time penalty and Arsenal take a 4-2 lead! #CHEARS pic.twitter.com/fAep1A1Jmi
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) April 20, 2022
The win moved Arsenal level on points for fourth place with rival Tottenham, which remained in fourth with superior goal difference. Chelsea remains in third place, five points ahead of Spurs and with a game in hand.
