Arsenal: 5 talking points from 2-0 Chelsea defeat

Two Premier League games played and two defeats for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal. A 2-0 home loss to Chelsea courtesy of first-half goals from Romelu Lukaku and Reece James sent the Blues on their way to a rampant and dominate three points.

The result heaps pressure on Arteta, although in his defence, he was missing five first-team players for the visit of Chelsea with Ben White, Gabriel, Alexandre Lacazette, Thomas Partey and Martin Odegaard all out.

Meanwhile, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was only fit enough for a spot on the bench in a fixture where there were further concerns with injuries to Kieran Tierney and Gabriel Martinelli.

The result leaves Arsenal in 19th in the Premier League table having not scored a goal from its opening two games – all of which was met with a chorus of boos rang both at the half-time and full-time whistles.

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Arsenal: 5 talking points from Chelsea defeat as Romelu Lukaku and Reece James net in miserable Premier League night for Mikel Arteta

It was a ruthless and effective performance from Thomas Tuchel’s side as they registered their second win from as many games to start the season. 64.9% to 35.1% possession and 22 shots to six tells its own story as Arsenal never really looked threatening to their rivals.

An opening half hour in which the Gunners were all at sea and Chelsea asserted their superiority effectively ended the game as a contest.

While Arsenal will feel they should have had a penalty when Bukayo Saka and Reece James collided, it was nonetheless waved away. It is all doom and gloom around the Emirates and with Manchester City up next, it doesn’t get any easier.

Here are the talking points.

1. Albert Sambi Lokonga Continues to Impress

The young Belgian again had a very serviceable game in the middle of the park. Cool and calm, he distributed the ball brilliantly with the cleanness of touch he has demonstrated in all his performances thus far.

While he did show that he is still very raw with several positional errors, the 21-year-old acquitted himself well yet again in an Arsenal shirt. He was, and it is no contest, the best player on the pitch in red and white.

Constantly looked to play in the likes of Nicolas Pepe and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang when he came on, and always having his head up looking to get his side forward, Sambi has been Arsenal’s shining light in the first two league games.

Thomas Partey is due back after the international break by which point he looks set to take the midfielder’s place in the team, but, in truth, the pair might be the duo Arsenal need to help avert this slippery side.