Premier League: Arsenal close the gap as Chelsea drop points

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Arsenal 2 Everton 0 Premier League

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored Arsenal’s second goal against Everton

(Image credit: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

published 24 September 2018

After a 2-0 victory at home against Everton yesterday, Arsenal moved above Manchester United into sixth spot in the Premier League table, level on points with rivals Tottenham.

Arsenal transfer news: Ever Banega, Cristian Pavon, Petr Cech

Chelsea’s goalless draw at West Ham earlier in the day means that the Gunners are four points shy of the Blues, whose 100% start to the season came to an end in a flat fixture at the London Stadium.

“We could have done better in the first half as we moved the ball slowly,” conceded Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri after a result that leaves his side third, two points behind leaders Liverpool and level on points with Manchester City.

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“This was not our best performance. I knew West Ham are a very good team and they were confident after their win at Everton.”

Alvaro Morata and Ross Barkley had the best chances for the visitors but West Ham should have scored in the second-half when Andriy Yarmolenko headed wide at point-blank range.

Toffees come unstuck

Opportunities were also squandered at the Emirates Stadium, mostly by Everton, who dominated Arsenal in the first period but couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Theo Walcott were especially wasteful and their profligacy was punished after the break when the Gunners grabbed two goals in three minutes.

Alexandre Lacazette got the first, curling in a delightful shot from Aaron Ramsey’s pass on 56 minutes. Shortly afterwards Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang stroked the ball home after assists from Mesut Ozil and Ramsey.

TV replays show that the Gabon striker was a yard offside but that summed up Everton’s frustrating afternoon – who were also denied on several occasions by Petr Cech saves – as they suffered their second defeat on the bounce to leave them in 12th position.

What they said about the Emirates encounter

Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech: “We had two difficult games to start with, and having lost both you need to find a way to pick yourself up, but now we have four wins in a row which is creating a momentum, and I think it helped us to get through the game.”

Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: “We are improving every day and feeling good and better, so when we win it is better for the team. It is going well and we are enjoying training at the training ground.”

Aubameyang on his partnership with Alexandre Lacazette: “We are close off the pitch, we go for dinner – not every night! We have had a good relationship since day one and enjoy playing together.”

Aubameyang on his goal: “I just heard that I was offside like last season against Everton, but I have to say that it’s a great job from Mesut and Aaron.”

Everton manager Marco Silva: “The result didn’t reflect the match. During the match we had four or five chances to score. Our team came to play and press high, but their goalkeeper is the best player on the pitch, and I think it reflects our performance.”

Silva on the second Arsenal goal: “It is a clear offside for their second goal and it is a decision at an important stage, because at 1-0, we would have kept creating problems for them.”

Arsenal manager Unai Emery on the win: “We didn’t control the match like we wanted to in the first half, but our goalkeeper had a good performance to keep us in it. We controlled the match better in the second half.”