Arsenal 5-0 Chelsea – By The Numbers

ARSENAL 5–0 CHELSEA: BY THE VISUALS

ARSENAL 5–0 CHELSEA: BY THE NUMBERS

Chelsea arrived at the Emirates on Tuesday night with only one win in their last seven Premier League matches against Arsenal. They were also coming off an FA Cup semi-final loss against Man City and were without their talisman, Cole Palmer, due to illness.

Arsenal had secured a much-needed three points in their previous league fixture against Wolves but suffered a damaging 0-2 loss to Aston Villa in their last home game. However, a win would put us four points clear of Man City, despite having played two more games.

The surprise inclusion in the Arsenal lineup was Thomas Partey, making his first start since the Luton match at the beginning of the month, but only his fifth start of the season.

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Just four minutes into the game, Declan Rice had all the time in the world to advance before slipping the ball to Trossard, who, from a tight angle, fired Arsenal into an early lead (0.13 xG). Despite the back-and-forth action and chances for both teams, the first half concluded with only one goal.

262 – Successful passes were made by Chelsea in the first half, 70 more than Arsenal, although just 35% of them were in Arsenal’s half. Whereas 62% (120) of Arsenal’s passes were in the Chelsea’s half.

25 – Touches in the box for Arsenal during the first half compared to Chelsea’s 16.

17 – Tackles and interceptions for Arsenal during the first half compared to Chelsea’s 5.

29 – Duels won for Arsenal during the first half compared to Chelsea’s 17 (37%).

1 – Lucky Nicolas Jackson, who somehow avoided an eight-minute red card after planting his studs into Tomiyasu’s ankle.

If the first half was a close encounter, the second half was a different story altogether. Arsenal were superb as they controlled the game with precision and penetration.

Just seven minutes in, Rice was denied by Gallagher, only for Ben White to sweep in the loose ball (0.24 xG) and double Arsenal’s lead.

Five minutes later, an utterly sensational Ødegaard pass found Havertz, who held off Cucurella to lift the ball over Petrovic (0.39 xG) and celebrate against his former club.

Kai Havertz doubled his tally in the 65th minute, finishing smartly via the right post (0.09 xG) after a pass from Saka.

With around twenty minutes remaining, White’s attempted volley across the goal from an Ødegaard dinked pass flew into the top left corner (0.07 xG) to cap off a wonderfully humiliating night for Chelsea.

27 – Shots for Arsenal. The most an Arsenal team has ever registered against Chelsea in the Premier League within the Opta database (since 2003). The only time we’ve mustered more in a League game this season was the 0-2 defeat against West Ham.

5+ – Goals for Arsenal in seven different games this season, our most ever in a single campaign and also our biggest ever win against Chelsea.

10 – Shots on target for Arsenal. The only two games we’ve managed more were the 6-0 win over West Ham (12) and the 2-2 draw at home to Fulham (11).

4 – Big chances for Arsenal (all during the second half).

10 – Touches in the box for Kai Havertz (first overall). The German also received 11 progressive passes (second overall) and won four aerial duels (first overall).

His movement was fantastic throughout, and his footballing intelligence is exceptional. At times, he opted for shots when passing might have been better, and vice versa. However, we look much better with him leading the line, and he’s become increasingly effective as the season has progressed. In his last ten matches, he has notched seven goals and provided four assists. Furthermore, in the eight games where he started up front, he’s scored seven goals.

77 – Touches for Benjamin White (joint first with Martin Ødegaard for Arsenal, but joint fourth overall).

I thoroughly enjoyed the way he simply picked up Cucurella and dumped him into the goal. He was clearly nursing an injury earlier in the season but has now returned to his very best.

It’s worth noting that White has now matched Trent Alexander-Arnold’s season-best goal-scoring tally (4), and his eight goal contributions surpass any season by Kyle Walker.

MARTIN ØDEGAARD’S GAME BY NUMBERS

60/69 completed passes (87%), most key passes (8), most progressive passes (13), most final third passes (34), most passes into the penalty area (11), most completed crossed into the penalty area (2), most assists (2), highest expected assists (1.4), highest expected threat (1.33), most successful take-ons (3), won eight duels, possession five times, made two tackles, and took two shots.

Martin Ødegaard is a special player, and his quality simply shines through. His talent and technical level sometimes appear a level above everyone else, yet his work rate is also top-notch; he is the first to press and the last to slow down.

8 – Chances created from open-play against Chelsea by Martin Ødegaard, the most by an Arsenal player in a Premier League game since Mesut Özil against Everton in October 2017.

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All we can do now is keep winning our games. While the title isn’t in our hands, performances like that will not harm our chances. City face a tough match at Brighton tonight, while we prepare for White Hart Lane on Sunday. Even if City pick up three points, we’ll remain at the top of the table, despite having played an extra game.

Until next time.

Follow me on Twitter @jonollington

Sources: Opta, fbref, @Orbinho twitter feed