Chelsea 2-4 Arsenal: 4 massive positives from top four revival

‘Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in’. Yes indeed, going full Al Pacino in The Godfather: Part III, Arsenal successfully reeled a reeling fanbase back into the cause with a stunning 4-2 win over Chelsea.

When the lineup was announced and the task of keeping their Champions League bid alive was being placed in the hands of Eddie Nketiah, Rob Holding and Mohamed Elnenypr, it was almost worth a chuckle.

Every now and then you come across a picture of a team lineup with a caption saying something along the lines of ‘remember when [team] took this side to the FA Cup semi-finals?’. At some point in the future this very team will be looked back on.

Fortunately, with nothing but fond memories.

Chelsea 2-4 Arsenal: 4 massive positives as Gunners keep Premier League top four dreams alive with magnificent victory at Stamford Bridge

Predatory instincts and composure from Eddie Nketiah came either side of a beautifully taken Emile Smith Rowe goal where he elegantly cushioned the ball into the bottom corner beyond Edouard Mendy, although nerves weren’t truly settled until the very final moments.

A contentious penalty call – contentious as it has really split the field – ended with Bukayo Saka calmly smashing the ball across goal to send an already jubilant away support into raptures.

Near enough every side has a bogey team and, somehow, Arsenal are Chelsea’s. That’s now three in a row unbeaten at Stamford Bridge, and only three wins in the last 16 meetings between these sides in all competitions for the Blues.

What has partially been lost amid the chase for a top four place is that this was a London derby. As beneficial as it is to the cause, just beating Chelsea at any time or at any place is a feeling worth cherishing. A special night for all involved was understandably littered with positive notes.

1. Mikel Arteta’s Changes Work

As is so often the case one hour before kick-off, there was a Springfield Nuclear Power Plant scale meltdown when it was announced that two changes had been made from the Southampton defeat, with Rob Holding and Mohamed Elneny coming into the fold.

Would it be a back three? Would White be a right-back? It turned out to be a combination of the two, before eventually shifting to a back five.

It would be a lie to say the majority were filled with confidence. But the changes worked superbly, even if Holding tried his very best to unravel them in the opening 30 or so minutes.

Having the alterations prove successful is one thing. Having them work under the circumstances surrounding the manager is another. There were some already saving the drafts of their #ArtetaOut tirades. After coming under such heat for the past three games, while Arteta will never, and has never, put himself ahead of the club in any way, this victory will mean as much for him as it does the team.

He isn’t afraid to make the big calls. We’ve seen them work for him as well as be detrimental to the team. It was absolutely the latter on this occasion. For the sake of success and narrative these changes couldn’t result in a fourth straight defeat. They just couldn’t and…they didn’t.

Leaning on experience, aerial ability, calmness and structure with his tweaks, Arteta asked a lot of his players, and they delivered.

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