By Daily Sports on February 5, 2017
English premier League leaders Chelsea on Saturday thrashed neighbours Arsenal 3-1 in a Week 24 London derby of the English Premier League (EPL).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Chelsea tightened their grip on the Premier League title race and delivered a blow to Arsenal’s aspirations with a convincing victory at Stamford Bridge.
Manager Arsene Wenger, watching from the stands as he served the third of a four-match touchline ban, was hoping Arsenal could respond to Tuesday’s shock home defeat by Watford.
But Chelsea exerted their authority to leave the Gunners 12 points behind the leaders.
Marcos Alonso gave Chelsea the lead after 13 minutes, heading home after Diego Costa’s header came back off the bar.
Arsenal were unhappy with Alonso’s challenge on Hector Bellerin that saw the defender take a heavy blow to the head which forced his substitution, but referee Martin Atkinson saw nothing wrong.
Eden Hazard made the decisive contribution with a magnificent solo goal eight minutes after half-time, leaving a trail of Arsenal players in his wake in a run from the halfway line before beating Petr Cech.
The goalkeeper’s poor clearance gifted substitute Cesc Fabregas Chelsea’s third, five minutes from time, and Olivier Giroud’s late goal barely counted as consolation for Arsenal.
The visitors had chances but saw Thibaut Courtois save well from Gabriel, Mesut Ozil and Danny Welbeck.
Chelsea’s lead at the top of the Premier League was 12 points at the conclusion of this victory.
In other EPL matches played on Saturday, Alfred N’Diaye and Oumar Niasse scored in each half as lowly Hull City stunned Liverpool 2-0 at the KCOM Stadium.
Also, Sunderland’s Jermain Defoe heaped misery on Crystal Palace as Sam Allardyce’s side conceded three goals in six minutes just before half-time; two of them scored by Defoe to give Sunderland a 4-0 victory.
Romelu Lukaku also hit four goals as Everton saw off a brave Bournemouth fight at Goodison Park.
Bournemouth fought hard after Everton raced into a three-goal lead, but Lukaku eventually hit four goals to seal a 6-3 win for the host.
Elsewhere, Andy Carroll inspired West Ham’s fight back to shock Southampton 3-1, while Watford M’baye Niang and Troy Deeney both scored headers to give Watford a 2-1 home victory over 10-man Burnley.
In all, there were a total of 23 goals scored in six EPL matches played on Saturday. (Victor Okoye/NAN)
Source Daily Sports
Posted February 5, 2017
You may also like...
World Cup 2022 Qualifiers: Wales Face Austria While...
Reps demand immediate payment of Amodu Shuaibu and...
Soludo Commits To Sports Development As 2nd Anambra...
APFAN U17, U13 & U10 Soccer League Kick...
Zverev dazes Djokovic to claim ATP Finals title...
Germany Suffer Shock World Cup Quarter-Final Exit To...

Super Eagles Train in Marrakech, Osimhen, Lookman, Akor Vow Algeria Will Fall
Eric Chelle's Super Eagles get major boost as Arsenal-trained defender returns to training
AFCON: ‘Good job’ – Calvin Bassey hails three Super Eagles players for organizing everyone
NWFL fines Ibom Angels N2.5m after Uyo violence
Lagos Assembly confirms Oshodi as LSSTF chairman
Lookman top-rated as AFCON quarter-finals begin today
Joshua posts emotional tribute to late friends
Troost-Ekong proud of Eagles’ AFCON run
Eagles must remain focus to win AFCON — Lawal
Ndidi vows to pay Eagles bonuses as FG fast-tracks payment
AIRPORT POLICE COMMAND ARRESTS INTERNATIONAL ROMANCE FRAUD SUSPECT INVOLVED IN OVER N1 BILLION SCAM
AFCON 2025: Super Eagles get one huge advantage ahead of Algeria quarterfinal tie
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,454 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (54,741 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (52,643 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,309 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,239 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,153 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,009 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,570 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (50,754 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,281 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (47,669 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,139 views)