Chelsea produced a stunning late comeback to beat Arsenal 2-1 in the Premier League yesterday, consigning Mikel Arteta to defeat on his home debut as coach of the north London side, even as a controversial Sadio Mane goal was enough for Liverpool to secure a nervy 1-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers and open up a 13-point cushion over their nearest challengers.
Manchester City remain 14 points adrift of the runaway league leaders, but closed the gap on second-placed Leicester thanks to second-half goals from Sergio Aguero and Kevin de Bruyne to beat Sheffield United 2-0.
Mane, in his 150th game for the club, netted three minutes before the break only for Adam Lallana to be penalised for handball in the build-up. However, a lengthy VAR review deemed the ball hit the midfielder’s shoulder and the goal stood.
Liverpool have 55 points from 19 games, while Wolves are seventh in the table five points behind Chelsea in fourth.
Liverpool, sporting gold World Champions badges on their shirts after their Club World Cup triumph, were rarely at their brilliant best but showed once again that they appear to have the mettle to claim a first domestic league title in 30 years.
The only goal of the game caused a flurry of controversy.
Referee Anthony Taylor had blown for handball as Lallana brought down Virgil van Dijk’s long ball before Mane swept in a half-volley. A lengthy VAR stoppage ensued before the decision was overturned much to the fury of the Wolves players and bench.
The visitors were then left seething when denied an immediate riposte after Pedro Neto’s effort was disallowed — again following a VAR review — following the most marginal of offside decisions against Jonny Otto.
Joao Moutinho and Romain Saiss blasted over presentable opportunities for Wolves, who pressed hard for an equaliser but failed to find the net.
At Emirates, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang gave the hosts the lead in the 13th minute but Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno’s howler handed Jorginho an equaliser on a plate after 83 minutes.
Four minutes later, Tammy Abraham settled a bad-tempered London derby when he turned in the box and drilled through the hapless Leno’s legs.
Arsenal, 12th, started with great intensity, forcing Frank Lampard’s tired-looking Chelsea back, until Aubameyang broke the deadlock after 13 minutes with an acrobatic header.
Lampard brought on Jorginho after 34 minutes and changed from a 3-4-3 formation to 4-3-3, as he did on Boxing Day against Southampton, and it helped the visitors find a foothold.
Fourth-place Chelsea, who lost five of their previous seven league games, had the better of the second half and when Leno blundered they quickly turned the screw to leave Arteta still hunting for his first win, following a draw at Bournemouth.
After Aubameyang’s opener, Alexandre Lacazette came close to adding a second but N’Golo Kante made a vital interception in front of goal.
The hosts showed more spark than in recent weeks but could not capitalise and Jorginho’s presence helped Chelsea turn the game around after the break.
“I give credit to the boys, credit to Jorginho,” said Chelsea striker Abraham. “In the first 30 minutes they dominated the ball... then this man (Jorginho) comes on and it’s a whole different ball game. Him coming on lifted us as a team.”
Abraham saw one effort blocked and another saved by Leno in the second half, while Arsenal substitute Joe Willock fired narrowly wide.
Arsenal complained when Jorginho, already booked, brought down Lucas Torreira, but referee Craig Pawson did not issue a second yellow card.
Then with the clock ticking down Leno missed his punch as he tried to reach Mason Mount’s free kick, allowing Jorginho a simple tap-in at the far post.
Abraham and Willian broke at lightning pace and combined for the English striker to net the second against a shell-shocked Arsenal, his 12th league goal of the campaign.
For the first time since 1959, Arsenal suffered a fourth consecutive home defeat, across all competitions.
“I’m really disappointed with the result and the way we conceded the goals and the timing of it as well,” said Arteta.
“I’m pleased with a lot of things we trained on and saw in the game, but disappointed with the result. We have to move on.”
VAR also had a big role to play at the Etihad where City were again far from convincing but did enough to inflict a first away defeat in nearly a year on Sheffield United.
The Blades had a goal ruled out by a VAR review before half-time for another close offside call against Lys Mousset.
The Frenchman also wasted another good chance when one-on-one with Claudio Bravo and the visitors were punished by a characteristically clinical finish from Aguero as he rifled home De Bruyne’s through ball.
De Bruyne then doubled City’s advantage eight minutes from time with a fine low finish.
RESULTS
n Arsenal 1 (Aubameyang 13) Chelsea 2 (Jorginho 83, Abraham 87)
n Liverpool 1 (Mane 42) Wolves 0
n Manchester City 2 (Aguero 52, De Bruyne 82) Sheffield United 0
Chelsea’s Tammy Abraham (second from right) scores their second goal during the English Premier League match against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in London, United Kingdom, yesterday. (AFP)
