Arsenal’s bid for a top-four finish in the Premier League was boosted by Eddie Nketiah’s double in a thrilling 4-2 win over Chelsea on Wednesday.
Nketiah was dismissed by Chelsea as a 16-year-old in 2015, and he got some retribution this season with his first league goals.
At Stamford Bridge, the 22-year-old put Arsenal ahead early on until Timo Werner equalized.
Mikel Arteta’s team took the lead through Emile Smith Rowe, only for Cesar Azpilicueta to equalize for Chelsea.
Nketiah resolved a tense London derby in the second half when he punished sloppy Chelsea defending, and Bukayo Saka added a fourth with a stoppage-time penalty.
After losing their previous three games, Nketiah’s key contribution propelled Arsenal back into contention for a top-four finish in the Champions League next season.
With six games remaining, the Gunners are in fifth place, a goal difference behind fourth-placed Tottenham.
Arsenal’s dreams of returning to the Champions League for the first time since 2017 will be put to the test again on Saturday when they face sixth-placed Manchester United.
Finalists in the FA Cup Chelsea is still in third place, but they are only five points ahead of Arsenal, and a top-four finish is no longer guaranteed.
For the first time, Stamford Bridge was slightly less than full when ticket limitations, enforced by British government sanctions against Roman Abramovich, took effect.
Those who were permitted to enter were treated to a thrilling first half, with Romelu Lukaku’s woes continuing as the Chelsea striker scuffed a fine chance wide early on.
Chelsea’s defending was woeful without Thiago Silva and Antonio Rudiger, and Arsenal took the lead in the 13th minute.
Shambolic Chelsea
Andreas Christensen botched his back-pass, allowing Nketiah to gallop clear and plant a composed finish beyond Edouard Mendy from the outskirts of the area, with Malang Sarr caught out of position.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek intercepted Nketiah’s pass and teed up Werner, whose 20-yard effort deflected off Granit Xhaka and looped past Aaron Ramsdale to draw Chelsea level just four minutes later.
In the 27th minute, Chelsea were caught off guard when Xhaka and Saka led a swift counter from a Blues corner, with Martin Odegaard teeing up Smith Rowe for a low effort past Mendy.
Arsenal’s defence, like Chelsea’s, was shaky, and the visitors conceded again five minutes later.
Mason Mount sent over a fantastic cross for Azpilicueta to slam in from close range, despite Ben White’s claims for a foul by Werner.
As he wriggled past three defenders and blasted just wide, Smith Rowe came within inches of restoring Arsenal’s lead.
At halftime, Tuchel substituted Silva for Christensen, but the Brazilian’s introduction had no effect on Chelsea’s shambolic defence.
Silva’s tackle redirected the ball towards Sarr and N’Golo Kante in the 57th minute, but none of them moved quickly enough to clear the ball before Nketiah pushed his effort beyond Mendy.
Lukaku hasn’t scored in the Premier League since December’s match against Brighton, and his only goals since then have come against weaker opponents like as Chesterfield, Al Hilal, Palmeiras, Luton Town, and Middlesbrough.
Chelsea’s £97 million club record signing remained virtually unknown until he was replaced by Kai Havertz.
When Ramsdale mishandled Reece James’ cross, Marcos Alonso almost snatched an equaliser, but his goalbound shot was blocked.
Saka struck the ultimate blow when he calmly converted a penalty after Azpilicueta was brought down by the Arsenal striker.
Chelsea had conceded 11 goals in their last three home games, and Azpilicueta’s rage spilled over in a furious encounter with a fan after the game.
