Arsenal vs Chelsea LIVE!

The Emirates Stadium hosted a huge London derby in the Premier League tonight as Arsenal comfortably beat their capital rivals in N7, breathing new life into their title battle with Manchester City. Three successive draws followed by a humbling at the Etihad and City’s latest win at Fulham had left a major dent in the Gunners’ title ambitions, but they responded superbly against Chelsea.

Martin Odegaard bagged two first-half goals, with Gabriel Jesus adding a third before half-time to put Mikel Arteta’s side in firm control at the Emirates. Noni Madueke got a goal back for Chelsea on just his third league start for the club, but it wasn’t enough and Frank Lampard suffered a sixth successive defeat since returning to Stamford Bridge as interim manager last month.

See how the game unfolded below, with expert analysis from Evening Standard reporters Simon Collings and Nizaar Kinsella at the ground, as well as all the reaction after the full-time whistle.

Arsenal vs Chelsea highlights

• GOAL! Madueke pulls one back for Chelsea

• GOAL! Jesus makes it three for Gunners

• GOAL! Odegaard strikes again for 2-0

• GOAL! Odegaard fires home opener

Arsenal FC 3 - 1 Chelsea FC

22:41 , Dominic Booth

That’s all we’ve got for tonight’s live blog. Thanks for joining us.

A reminder of our main post-match content for you to read at your leisure:

• The Arsenal player ratings: Odegaard and Xhaka imperious

• The Chelsea player ratings: Woeful from back four at Emirates

• Big match analysis as ruthless Arsenal stay in title hunt

• Match report: Arsenal inflict more misery on Lampard

• Reaction from Odegaard: Man City ‘pain’ motivated us

Analysis

22:36 , Dominic Booth

Here’s the big match analysis from Simon Collings at the Emirates.

“Arteta said in the build-up to this game that they would fight until the bitter end to win the title, but in all honesty they barely had to throw any punches to knock Chelsea out.”

22:17 , Dominic Booth

This stat sums it all up for Lampard at the moment. He’s having a torrid old time.

Chelsea ratings

22:14 , Dominic Booth

Now time for the Chelsea ratings, as our reporter Nizaar Kinsella assesses a terrible night for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at his former club.

It wasn’t just the striker who suffered, though, with Thiago Silva, Cesar Azpilicueta, Enzo Fernandez and Wesley Fofana also among the strugglers in blue.

You can see the Chelsea player ratings in full here (if you dare)

Odegaard’s reaction

22:09 , Dominic Booth

He was imperious for Arsenal tonight and certainly enjoyed the win.

Arsenal ratings

22:05 , Dominic Booth

Top marks for Odegaard and Xhaka, with solid performances from Saka, Trossard and Jesus for Arsenal tonight.

That’s according to our man Simon Collings who has given his ratings for Mikel Arteta’s players against Chelsea.

Find the ratings in full here

Post match scenes

21:58 , Dominic Booth

It’s all fairly amicable at full-time, despite Chelsea’s frustrations.

Match report

21:57 , Dominic Booth

Here’s the on-the-whistle match report after Martin Odegaard bags a brace to consign Chelsea to a sixth straight defeat under Frank Lampard.

A big result for Arsneal to go back to the top of the Premier League, even if it’s only for a day.

FULL TIME

21:54 , Dominic Booth

It finishes Arsenal 3-1 Chelsea.

Havertz had a late chance, so too did Xhaka at the other end.

It’s a scoreline that actually flatters Frank Lampard’s side, who were outplated pretty much from first whistle to the last. Odegaard bagged a brace, Jesus got the third, Madueke pulled one back in the second half after Arsenal fluffed a few chances to win by an even bigger margin.

Those Gunners’ title hopes are still alive.

Added time

21:49 , Dominic Booth

90 min: The fourth official indicates we’ll have five more minutes at the Emirates tonight.

21:47 , Dominic Booth

88 min: It looks very much like this one is going to just play out without a hitch, from an Arsenal perspective.

A half chance for Azpilicueta but little else for Chelsea to cling onto.

21:46 , Dominic Booth

86 min: Chalobah is on for Fofana for Chelsea.

21:44 , Dominic Booth

84 min: Finally Rob Holding is going to come on for Gabriel. Thomas Partey is being introduced by Arteta as well, replacing Jorginho – who’s had an enjoyable night against his old club.

21:41 , Dominic Booth

82 min: For the third time in the game, Gabriel is down and looking in some discomfort. It’s a surprise he’s stayed on to this point, in all honesty. He stays on again, though.

21:40 , Dominic Booth

80 min: Kovacic goes in the book for a nasty one on Jesus. Weirdly, that’s tonight’s first yellow card.

Arteta looks a bit tetchy on the sideline. He’d have wanted his players to put this game to bed sooner tonight; their play has deserved a bigger margin.

21:38 , Dominic Booth

79 min: Chelsea are getting a few set piece opportunities at the moment. They’re still searching.

Ziyech is on for the goalscorer, Madueke.

21:36 , Dominic Booth

77 min: It’s Arsenal who look the more likely to score this game’s next goal.

Chelsea will have to find the net soon if they want to set up a grandstand finish.

21:32 , Dominic Booth

73 min: The trio of Odegaard, Xhaka and Saka continue to impress and combine for Arsenal. This time their combination play wins a corner.

‘You should have signed for the Arsenal,’ sing the home crowd at Mudryk as he clears a corner away.

Tierney and Nelson are coming on for the Gunners, with Saka and Zinchenko replaced.

21:30 , Dominic Booth

71 min: Fernandez and Sterling are the men Lampard chooses to take off.

21:29 , Dominic Booth

70 min: Mykhailo Mudryk is coming on against the club he almost signed for... the reaction will be interesting.

21:28 , Dominic Booth

69 min: Arsenal increase the intensity levels once more, after conceding that goal.

They’ve been susceptible to squandering leads, lately. Surely they can’t do it again?

Better from Chelsea

21:26 , Dominic Booth

67 min: In Chelsea’s defence, the substitution of Kai Havertz has added a bit more of a focal point and they now have a foothold in the game after Noni Madueke’s first goal for the club.

Credit to the supporters in the away end who have mostly remained to see that moment.

Mudryk and Gallagher are going to come on.

21:24 , Dominic Booth

66 min: More worrying from an Arsenal perspective than that goal is the fact Gabriel is down in pain. Arsenal cannot afford to lose another centre-back.

GOAL! Arsenal 3-1 Chelsea | Madueke ‘65

21:23 , Dominic Booth

Madueke makes amends! He’s scored and Chelsea have a faint glimmer of hope. 3-1.

A great run in behind Arsenal – who have been fairly shambolic at the back in the past few minutes – and a tidy enough finish.

Chelsea should score

21:22 , Dominic Booth

63 min: Azpilicueta is fuming as the officials give Arsenal another corner. He should probably be more angry at his teammates and his own performance.

Chelsea should probably have scored there, after a huge overload on the counter-attack. Kante, and then Madueke, both get it wrong.

21:20 , Dominic Booth

61 min: A rare foray forward for Chelsea, amid some fairly ordinary Arsenal defending. The home side get away with it, though, and they’re pouring forward once more.

21:17 , Dominic Booth

59 min: Martinelli is coming on for Arsenal. He’ll want to get in on the act tonight, you’d presume.

Trossard the man replaced.

21:16 , Dominic Booth

57 min: Champagne football from Arsenal and it gets the ‘Ole’ treatment from the fans. Saka hammers just wide.

It really should be 4-0 or more.

21:15 , Dominic Booth

56 min: Some concern for Arsenal here, as Gabriel appears to be hobbling. This could be a hamstring issue. The Gunners certainly don’t need any more injuries in the centre-back area.

Chelsea, meanwhile, are cut apart once more – their defending has been so poor tonight – but Kepa saves from Saka at the near post.

21:12 , Dominic Booth

54 min: Another corner brings yet another Arsenal chance. This time Trossard’s delivery from the left finds its way to Jesus at the back post, but he volleys over.

That was a big chance.

21:11 , Dominic Booth

52 min: Thiago Silva with the clearance for the Blues. The 38-year-old remains a vital player for his team.

Arsenal put together another flowing move and Xhaka’s shot is just about parried away by Kepa.

21:10 , Dominic Booth

51 min: Gabriel heads from Trossard’s corner and it’s cleared off the line by Chelsea! Not a million miles away from a fourth. Very close, actually.

21:08 , Dominic Booth

49 min: Good pressing by Arsenal but very poor passing from Chelsea... even N’golo Kante is passing it into touch. Azpilicueta piles into Jesus with a very heavy challenge. Naughty that.

21:06 , Dominic Booth

48 min: Frustration for Madueke, whose cross is nowhere near a teammate – although he gets a thumbs-up from his manager, Lampard.

21:05 , Dominic Booth

46 min: Chelsea go straight forward from second half kick off, but there’s not much in the way of a pattern to their attacking play.

SECOND HALF

21:04 , Dominic Booth

Okay, how many more goals can Arsenal pile on in this second half to rub salt into Lampard’s wounds? Or have Chelsea got a comeback of any kind within them?

We’re going to find out. The second half is under way.

Kai Havertz is on for Chelsea, replacing... Aubameyang.

20:58 , Dominic Booth

If ever a team didn’t want to emerge from the dressing room for a second half, it must be this Chelsea team right now...

20:55 , Dominic Booth

A look at Granit Xhaka’s first half stats. He’s been phenomenal for Arsenal.

The Odegaard goals

20:49 , Dominic Booth

It’s well worth having a look at Martin Odegaard’s two very similar goals this evening that got Arsenal’s dream half up and running.

HALF TIME

20:48 , Dominic Booth

Arsenal 3-0 Chelsea at the break. Odegaard’s brace and a goal from Jesus have the Gunners in complete control, with Chelsea at sixes and sevens.

20:46 , Dominic Booth

45 min: Cameras just cut to a very sad looking Mudryk on the Chelsea bench. A penny for his thoughts.

Two added minutes at the end of the first half.

20:45 , Dominic Booth

44 min: Kovacic tries an ambitious ball in behind the Arsenal defence, which doesn’t ever look like coming off. That sums it up for Chelsea right now.

20:43 , Dominic Booth

42 min: Aubameyang has been very, very peripheral tonight.

20:43 , Dominic Booth

41 min: Arsenal fans singing Frank Lampard’s name. He must almost wish he was back at Everton. This will be painful for him.

(Here’s the third goal, for UK readers)

20:41 , Dominic Booth

40 min: Looks like Chelsea’s frustration is beginning to boil over. Fofana and Jesus have a feisty exchange, which leaves both men on the floor.

20:39 , Dominic Booth

38 min: Arsenal cannot believe their luck, coming up against this shell of a Chelsea side at this moment in the title race.

They’re well on course to regain top spot in the league, if only on a temporary basis.

20:36 , Dominic Booth

36 min: Just to put this Chelsea performance into context...

GOAL! Arsenal 3-0 Chelsea | Jesus ‘34

20:35 , Dominic Booth

35 min: Goodness me, it’s 3-0! Jesus from close range after it falls kindly for the Brazilian following Ben White’s cross.

Chelsea’s defenders have absolutely no clue at the moment.

Chelsea all at sea

20:34 , Dominic Booth

33 min: Chelsea’s players arguing among themselves as Thiago, Chilwell and Enzo exchange words.

Chelsea’s game plan seems to be to play a low block but they aren’t engaging Arsenal at all. They are just not competing.

GOAL! Arsenal 2-0 Chelsea | Odegaard ‘31

20:31 , Dominic Booth

Odegaard again! It’s 2-0 to the hosts.

Again it comes from the left, with Xhaka again pulling it across for the midfielder to sweep it home from around 12 yards. Chelsea picked apart once more.

Ashburton Army protest

20:31 , Dominic Booth

30 min: After missing the first 30 minutes by watching the game on TVs in the concourse, the Ashburton Army are back. Sounds like they were protesting at extra ticket checks.

20:30 , Dominic Booth

29 min: Madueke again finds space on the right flank but again his final ball eludes him.

Fofana then concedes a sloppy foul to let Arsenal off the hook. A penny for Frank Lampard’s thoughts right now... he’s staring at a sixth consecutive defeat.

20:28 , Dominic Booth

27 min: Arsenal appeal for a penalty for a potential handball against Fofana but there’s nothing doing, even after a brief VAR check.

20:27 , Dominic Booth

26 min: The resulting corner doesn’t bring much for Chelsea, but they’ll be buoyed by that Chilwell chance.

20:26 , Dominic Booth

24 min: Chilwell comes so close to levelling, somehow finding himself in acres of space, but Ramsdale shows superb reflexes to save.

20:24 , Dominic Booth

23 min: Chelsea’s first genuine spell of attacking football doesn’t last too long... but they’ve at least tried to string some passes together since going behind.

20:22 , Dominic Booth

21 min: More chants of ‘you’re going down’ from the home crowd.

Chelsea are desperately digging in now, although Madueke does superbly to charge down the right to get them out of bother – there’s no option for him at the end of the run, though.

20:20 , Dominic Booth

19 min: Odegaard has struggled recently, not least at Man City last week, so that goal will do him the world of good. Arsenal with their tails up now.

GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea | Odegaard ‘18

20:18 , Dominic Booth

Odegaard opens the scoring! 1-0 to the Arsenal.

It’s worked from the left to the Norwegian lurking on the edge of the box and he curls home with immense composure. The Emirates goes bonkers.

20:17 , Dominic Booth

16 min: Gary Neville isn’t impressed by how Chelsea have started the game...

Kiwior watch

20:16 , Dominic Booth

15 min: Kiwior starting to settle now after looking very shaky early on. He’s being helped by Chelsea sitting so deep and Aubameyang not pressing him.

20:15 , Dominic Booth

14 min: Great pass from Saka into the feet of Jesus in the box, but he can’t control it enough to get a shot away. Kovacic messes up his clearance.

Then it’s Xhaka who gets through down the left and wins a corner. Saka’s header is saved by Kepa.

20:14 , Dominic Booth

13 min: Chelsea aren’t clearing the ball away from danger. Instead they’re conceding fouls, allowing Arsenal to retain control.

Kiwior has enjoyed a fairly comfortable start, getting on the ball a fair amount and making a telling challenge just then.

20:12 , Dominic Booth

11 min: Some sustained pressure from Arsenal, albeit on the edge of the Chelsea box at the moment. Xhaka is getting into some very dangerous positions, roaming from deep.

20:10 , Dominic Booth

9 min: Gleeful chants of ‘you’re going down’ from the Arsenal fans directed at their West London counterparts.

‘You’re gonna win f*** all,’ reply the Chelsea faithful.

It’s a London derby alright.

20:07 , Dominic Booth

7 min: Frank Lampard already looks a bit glum in the Chelsea dugout – his team have started slowly.

There’s 16 goals in Lampard’s Chelsea’s team in all competitions. Saka, by contrast, has 14 by himself. The disparity has never been bigger.

20:06 , Dominic Booth

6 min: Arteta pulls Saka over for a chat. He has started brightly, running at Chilwell whenever he can. That feels like a key area for Arsenal to target.

Back four risk for Blues

20:05 , Dominic Booth

5 min: Chelsea playing in a back four is a major gamble. They’ve not played well in this shape for many months but are trying it against one of the Premier League’s top teams.

Xhaka nearly gets gifted a chance inside the box by Azpilicueta but Chelsea scramble clear. They look panicky already.

20:04 , Dominic Booth

3 min: Great overlap from White to support Saka and curl in a decent cross. Chelsea get it away but they’re up against a determined outfit tonight, it seems.

Now the other question – can they play away from the Arsenal press?

20:02 , Dominic Booth

2 min: Arsenal come flying out of the blocks, with Bukayo Saka running directly at the Chelsea defence.

The crowd are right up for this from the get-go!

KICK OFF!

20:00 , Dominic Booth

We’re under way.

19:59 , Dominic Booth

We’re all set for kick off here at the Emirates. Teams out, let’s do this!

19:52 , Dominic Booth

Arsenal have had the upper hand in this clash lately, they’d love another win tonight.

Dream trio

19:46 , Dominic Booth

A nice moment at the Emirates when Cesc Fabregas did Sky Sports alongside Frank Lampard. The man who replaced the all-time top scorer at Stamford Bridge. Patrick Vieira also featured.

What a midfield three that would have been.

Auba vs Arsenal again

19:45 , Dominic Booth

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang seemingly only starts for Chelsea against Arsenal. His last start for the club was 6 November at home to the Gunners and now he is back trying to ruin Mikel Arteta’s title charge.

Pre-match videos

19:36 , Dominic Boothz

Simon Collings gives his pre-match video verdict, from an Arsenal perspective, on tonight’s contest:

And here’s Nizaar Kinsella on the Chelsea outlook:

19:24 , Dominic Booth

There are certainly two Chelsea forwards in tonight’s team who have a point to prove.

Lampard explains Chelsea team selection

19:14 , Dominic Booth

He says Aubameyang and Madueke have made strong cases to start tonight.

Analysis of starting lineups

19:11 , Dominic Booth

Well, there are certainly surprises on both teamsheets, not least the three changes Mikel Arteta has opted for in his Arsenal XI. He’s answered fans’ calls for Jorginho to start against his former club, while it’s a big night for Jakub Kiwior in central defence, making his first Premier League start. Leandro Trossard freshens up the attack.

Frank Lampard has ditched his 3-5-2 (of sorts) and gone with a far more attacking 4-3-3 tonight, which includes a rare start for Noni Madueke – just a third league start for Chelsea for the 21-year-old. All eyes, as well, will be on Aubameyang against his old side.

Lots of subplots tonight.

Chelsea team news

19:02 , Dominic Booth

Chelsea XI: Kepa; Azpilicueta, W. Fofana, Silva, Chilwell; Kante, Fernandez, Kovacic; Madueke, Aubameyang, Sterling.

Subs: Mendy, Badiashile, Chalobah, Gallagher, Loftus-Cheek, Mudryk, Felix, Ziyech, Havertz

Arsenal team news

19:00 , Dominic Booth

Arsenal XI: Ramsdale; White, Gabriel, Kiwior, Zinchenko; Jorginho, Xhaka, Odegaard; Trossard, Saka, Jesus

Subs: Turner, Holding, Tierney, Partey, Vieira, Smith Rowe, Nelson, Martinelli, Nketiah

18:50 , Dominic Booth

This is your 10-minute warning. Teamsheets from both clubs will be dropping at 7pm BST.

18:39 , Dominic Booth

The Evening Standard’s reporter is in place.

The stage is set

18:35 , Dominic Booth

Calm before the storm at the Emirates Stadium etc etc.

‘Boehly doesn’t understand football'

18:20 , Dominic Booth

Former Chelsea full-back Glen Johnson has told the club’s owner Todd Boehly that he’s shown a lack of understanding about football since acquiring the club a year ago.

This is what Johnson said on behalf of King Casino Bonus:

“Todd Boehly is the face of Chelsea, and when you are at the head of the board you are going to take all the blame regardless. I don’t know what their structure is at the moment, but I do know that Boehly doesn’t have the greatest understanding of football.

The first thing I would do is understand football and its rules, as well as the roles of the managers and responsibilities before I insert myself into the mix. He is certainly a big part of the blame.”

Arteta on Auba reunion

18:08 , Dominic Booth

Changes for Arsenal? Lampard to release shackles?

17:57 , Dominic Booth

In around one hour’s time, we’ll get the official team news from the Emirates Stadium.

There’s been a lot of talk about Jorginho potentially getting a start for Arsenal against his former club. Leandro Trossard could also come back into the reckoning for Mikel Arteta’s men.

Meanwhile, will Frank Lampard continue with his safety-first 3-5-1-1 approach or can he release the shackles and field some of Chelsea’s many forward talents to unsettle the Gunners?

Arsenal vs Chelsea match odds

17:37 , Dominic Booth

These are the odds currently being offered by bookmakers Betway ahead of tonight’s game, with Arsenal big favourites to inflict yet another defeat on Frank Lampard’s beleaguered Blues:

• Arsenal: 1/2

• Draw: 10/3

• Chelsea: 5/1

17:25 , Dominic Booth

Kai Havertz has suggested that Todd Boehly’s overhaul of the Chelsea squad has contributed to their abysmal season this year. Below is a snippet of what he said – find the full comments here.

“We got a lot of new players over the winter who first have to settle in with us in order to be able to show their quality.

“Of course, it’s easy to find excuses. I’m not blaming everything on something. At the end of the day, we’re all professional footballers and we have to win football games.”

17:16 , Dominic Booth

Arsenal might have dropped points in their past four successive matches, but Ian Wright is staying positive (doesn’t he always?) and believes the future is bright for the Gunners.

Arsenal vs Chelsea prediction

17:07 , George Flood

The wheels do appear to be coming off for Arsenal and while it seems strange to back a Chelsea team so low on confidence, they have previous in spoiling it for others.

Chelsea to win, 2-1.

Chelsea team news

17:06 , George Flood

Chelsea’s quest to end their latest dire run of form is boosted by the return to fitness of Kai Havertz after a knee issue.

However, their injury list is otherwise the same, with Reece James and Mason Mount out for the season.

Kalidou Koulibaly and Marc Cucurella are also still sidelined, along with Armando Broja and Marcus Bettinelli.

Predicted Chelsea XI: Kepa; W Fofana, Thiago Silva, Chalobah; Azpilicueta, Enzo, Kante, Kovacic, Chilwell; Havertz, Sterling

Arsenal team news

17:03 , George Flood

Arsenal are still without William Saliba tonight, with the influential French defender not making any progress in recovering from the back issue he sustained against Sporting Lisbon in the Europa League in March.

“Pretty similar,” Gunners boss Mikel Arteta said on Monday when asked for a new update on Saliba.

“He’s not going to be involved against Chelsea. We have to work towards the next game and see where we are but he hasn’t improved this week at all.”

Long-term absentees Takehiro Tomiyasu and Mohamed Elneny are Arsenal's only other known injuries at present, with Rob Holding to continue alongside Gabriel in place of Saliba.

Jorginho could come into midfield against his former club, while Leandro Trossard is pushing for a start up front after impressing off the bench in the 4-1 humbling by Manchester City.

Predicted Arsenal XI: Ramsdale; White, Holding, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Jorginho, Xhaka; Saka, Jesus, Trossard

How to watch Arsenal vs Chelsea

17:01 , George Flood

TV channel: In the UK, tonight’s game will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Ultra HDR.

Live stream: The Sky Go app will allow subscribers to be able to watch on a live stream across mobile devices, laptops, games consoles, tablets and more.

Welcome to Arsenal vs Chelsea live coverage

16:56 , George Flood

Hello and welcome to the Evening Standard's live coverage of Arsenal vs Chelsea in the Premier League.

It's a massive London derby in store at the Emirates Stadium tonight as Mikel Arteta's deposed leaders seek to - temporarily at least - claw back top spot from juggernaut Manchester City and end a hugely damaging run of four matches without a victory.

Looking to deal perhaps a fatal blow to the Gunners' fast-fading title hopes is a troubled Chelsea team that are absolutely desperate for a lift themselves, having lost all five of their games under interim manager Frank Lampard so far to sit 12th in the table and still not actually mathematically safe from relegation.

Kick-off in N7 tonight is at 8pm BST, so stay tuned for all the latest team news, build-up and live updates, including expert analysis from both Simon Collings and Nizaar Kinsella at the Emirates.