Koscielny clears a late free-kick from Hazard and the referee blows the full-time whistle.
FULL-TIME: ARSENAL 2-0 CHELSEA
90' +5
R. Barkley gets yellow.
Barkley goes into the book for a late challenge on Guendouzi.
90' +4
Hazard sends a long ball into the box for Giroud to attack, but Koscielny and Sokratis edge the forward out, allowing Leno to gather the cross.
90' +2
Another Chelsea attack comes to an end as Jorginho floats a simple ball out of play for a goal-kick. Hudson-Odoi had space on the right flank, but the midfielder failed to pick him out.
90'
There will be six minutes of added time.
88'
David Luiz sends a long ball over the top for Hudson-Odoi. The winger has to stretch to keep the ball alive and he does enough to knock it across the face of goal, but once again there's no blue shirt in the box to challenge Leno as he gathers.
87'
The Blues have run out of steam in the second half. They've not been able to carve out a clear-cut opening, which will infuriate Sarri on the bench. Chelsea have not been at it today.
85'
Iwobi runs at the Chelsea defence and slides an offload towards Elneny on the edge of the box. The midfielder lines up a strike, but he blazes his attempt over the bar.
81'
Elneny lifts the ball over the top for Kolasinac on the left flank, who tries to drive the ball across the face of goal, but Azpilicueta is there to make the block.
80'
C. Hudson-Odoi enters the game and replaces Pedro.
Hudson-Odoi replaces Pedro for the visitors for the final 10 minutes.
Minute
Description
77'
Hazard goes on the surge at the Arsenal backline before he cuts inside to shoot on his left foot, but he skews his effort well over the bar. It has been that sort of day for Chelsea.
76'
Pedro tries to get on the outside of Sokratis down the left flank, but the defender holds firm to guide the ball out for a goal-kick.
74'
Barkley plays a reverse pass to Hazard in space in the left inside channel. The Belgian blasts the ball across the face of goal, but there's no one there to convert in the middle or at the back stick.
72'
Mohamed Elneny enters the game and replaces Héctor Bellerín.
Bellerin is carried off the field on a stretcher and replaced by Elneny. Maitland-Niles will likely drop back into Bellerin's position and Elneny will move into the midfield.
68'
O. Giroud enters the game and replaces Willian.
A. Iwobi enters the game and replaces A. Lacazette.
Giroud finally comes on to the pitch for Willian.
Lacazette is withdrawn for Iwobi.
67'
A. Maitland-Niles enters the game and replaces A. Ramsey.
Maitland-Niles replaces Ramsey for the home side.
66'
BLOCK! Kosciely puts his body on the line for the home side at the back. Willian's cutback towards Barkely was met by a rasping drive from the midfielder, but the Frenchman was there to make the block.
65'
Bellerin is released into acres of space down the right flank and he surges forward. The Spaniard has Lacazette in support in the middle, but he fails to pick out his team-mate as David Luiz makes the interception.
63'
R. Barkley enters the game and replaces M. Kovačić.
Kovacic is withdrawn for Barkley for the visitors.
Torreira floats the ball to the back post from the resulting free-kick. Aubameyang peels off his man, but he fails to square his offload across the face of goal.
62'
Lacazette draws a foul from Jorginho to alleviate the pressure on his side's backline. Let's see if the Gunners can threaten once again from a set-piece.
61'
The Blues are enjoying a lot more possession than they did in the first half, but they're still struggling to carve out a clear-cut opening.
56'
Chelsea try to work the space in and around the box, but are unable to find a way through. Pedro goes for goal from distance and can only hammer his effort over the bar.
55'
Chelsea work the ball with speed from left to right, but Azpilicueta's low ball into the box is cleared by the Arsenal backline with ease. There are not enough blue shirts getting into the box.
53'
BLOCK! Alonso does a fine job in blocking a strike from the left inside channel. Unfortunately for the Blues, he gets in the way of Willian's effort that looked to be heading towards the net.
50'
An attack from the visitors breaks down in the final third as a cross from Hazard goes astray. Giroud could be required from the bench.
48'
Chelsea are trying to get their foot on the ball at the start of the second period, but their lack of a focal point is affecting their approach.
46'
We're back underway at the Emirates Stadium.
45' +2
Willian is released into space down the left flank and he cuts back to shoot on his right. However, unlike his strike against Newcastle, he scuffs this attempt out for a throw-in. Not the Brazilian's best effort.
HALF-TIME: ARSENAL 2-0 CHELSEA
45' +1
Sokratis brings down Rudiger on the edge of the box on the left flank. Willian takes the free-kick and tries to hammer his effort towards goal, but the Gunners have men deployed in the six-yard box to head it clear.
45'
There will be two minutes of added time.
44'
Koscielny takes matters into his own hands to stop Hazard's cross from the right flank ahead of Leno. Chelsea have a corner before the break.
Rudiger connects with the corner, but he cannot make solid contact with his effort. The Blues recycle possession and are able to win a second set-piece.
43'
Lacazette makes a break towards the edge of the box and he tries to roll the ball towards Ramsey, but his offload just lacks the pace and David Luiz makes the interception.
41'
Chelsea have to find a response before the break. They've been bullied at the back by the Gunners, which is a stark contrast from past meetings between the sides.
39'
L. Koscielny has scored a goal for Arsenal! Assist by S. Papastathopoulos.
Sokratis picks out Koscielny in the middle, who supplies the finish with his shoulder.
GOALLLLLLLLLLLL!!!! KOSCIELNY DOUBLES ARSENAL'S LEAD!!! 2-0!!! The Gunners extend their advantage over the visitors with a huge slice of fortune. Chelsea fail to clear their lines from the free-kick and Sokratis sends a follow-up into the six-yard box. Koscielny has acres of space and meets the cross. However, he connects with his shoulder rather than his head, but it spins favourably for Arsenal away from Arrizabalaga and towards the top corner to find the net.
37'
David Luiz gets yellow.
David Luiz flies into a challenge with Ramsey and goes into the book. The Brazilian hands Arsenal another set-piece to threaten from in the Chelsea half.
35'
Kante and Kovacic almost bundle their way through the Arsenal defence, but the ball goes not fall for either of the blue shirts in a shooting position. The frustration continues for the visitors.
32'
Torreira has another chance to send a free-kick into the box, but on this occasion Arrizabalaga comes off his line to punch the ball to safety.
29'
Ramsey seizes on a loose ball in the final third and goes for a drive from distance, which stings the hands of Arrizabalaga, who holds the ball at the second attempt.
28'
The Blues have stemmed the early tide somewhat, but are still searching for answers in the final third where their passing has to be so precise.
26'
Chelsea play their way through the Arsenal defence with a neat pattern of play, but there's no space for a shot from the edge of the box from Kante.
24'
OVER! Alonso raids down the left flank and fires a low ball into the area. Willian and Kante are unable to bring it under control, although Jorginho lines up a drive from 20 yards, only to blast the ball over the bar.
22'
Lacazette runs down the right flank and he tries to dig out a cross into the box. It comes off his boot at an awkward angle and flies towards goal, but Arrizabalaga watches it safely over his bar.
21'
Koscielny is alert at the near post to clear his lines for the home side. Hazard was able to find space and drive the ball low towards the near post, but the Frenchman was there to guide it to safety.
20'
It has been a frenetic start to the game. Arsenal have dominated, although Chelsea are starting to come to life in the final third.
16'
Chelsea have been on the back foot since the opening whistle and have not been able to cope with the Gunners in the final third. Sarri will be concerned on the bench.
14'
A. Lacazette has scored a goal for Arsenal! Assist by Héctor Bellerín.
GOALLLLLLLLLLL!!!! LACAZETTE BREAKS THE DEADLOCK!! 1-0 ARSENAL!! The pressure from the home side pays off and Lacazette displays a clinical edge to find the back of the net. Bellerin fired a low cross into the box and the Frenchman took a great first touch to create space for a strike. From a tight angle he fired his effort between Arrizabalaga and the post to put his team ahead.
Bellerin sends a low cross into the box for Lacazette to control and score.
12'
Pedro clips Lacazette's ankles and the Gunners have an opportunity to lift a cross into the box from the free-kick on the left wing.
6'
Arsenal have made a strong start to the game and are moving Chelsea around at the back, winning a corner as Azpilicueta is forced to clear behind.
3'
Xhaka is fortunate to escape a yellow card as he pulls back Kante on the charge in the Chelsea half. The Frenchman's position in the field may have saved the Arsenal man from a booking.
2'
Torreira wins a free-kick on the right flank, but the resulting delivery from Xhaka is too close to Arrizabalaga, who beats the ball away with ease.
1'
We're underway at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal put the pressure on immediately and Jorginho puts his team in trouble at the back. Fortunately for him, Ramsey cannot create space for a strike at goal.
Hello and welcome to the live commentary of the Premier League clash between Arsenal and Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal head into the clash with Chelsea in need of a victory to dispell negative feelings that have emerged from the club over the last week. Unai Emery's men suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of West Ham last week, and are now behind Manchester United in the Premier League table following the Red Devils' win over Brighton. The Gunners will not be able to strengthen their squad in January, placing the onus on the current crop of players to prove a point against the Blues.
Chelsea will also be feeling the pressure of United's resurgence under Ole Gunnar Solksjaer. They're are only three points ahead of the Red Devils now in fourth place and will be looking agonisingly over their shoulders. Maurizio Sarri's men have still been picking up positive results, although their play in the final third has not been as fluid as it was earlier in the campaign. He and his team will be looking to make a statement at the Emirates Stadium.
SUBS: Petr Cech, Mohamed Elneny, Mesut Ozil, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Alex Iwobi, Nacho Monreal, Shkodran Mustafi.
CHELSEA (4-3-3): Kepa Arrizabalaga; Cesar Azpilicueta, Antonio Rudiger, David Luiz, Marcos Alonso; N'Golo Kante, Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic; Pedro, Eden Hazard, Willian.
SUBS: Ross Barkley, Willy Caballero, Olivier Giroud, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Andreas Christensen, Emerson, Ethan Ampadu.
Arsenal hold a two-goal lead over Chelsea at the break at the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners enjoyed a fast start to the contest and put the visitors under immediate pressure. They spurned openings before Alexandre Lacazette put them ahead with a fine finish from close range. Their second goal came with the aid of fortune as Laurent Koscielny directed his effort beyond Kepa Arrizabalaga with his shoulder rather than his head. Chelsea had a chance to get a goal back just before half-time, but Marcos Alonso was denied by the post. It has been an entertaining game, although the Blues will have to respond in the second half.
Maurizio Sarri cut a frustrated figure on the sideline as the half ended. Alonso's near miss will not have improved his mood after seeing his team outplayed for the majority of the opening period. Worryingly for Sarri, Chelsea have been bullied in their own box by the Gunners. That cannot be allowed to continue if they want to get back on level terms. At the other end, Arsenal have to remain clinical to see out the three points.
Thanks for joining our commentary this evening. Until next time, goodbye.
Arsenal are next in action in the FA Cup against Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium next Friday, while Chelsea play Tottenham in the second leg of their EFL Cup semi-final clash at Stamford Bridge on Thursday.
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