Frank Lampard: 'Spirit and desire' saw Chelsea come from behind to beat Arsenal
Frank Lampard says Chelsea’s come from behind victory over Arsenal was ‘nothing to do with tactics, but down to spirit and desire’.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang headed the Gunners in front as the home side dominated the first half, but two goals in less than four minutes late on in the second secured a 2-1 win for the Blues.
Chelsea’s 83rd minute equaliser was a gift from Arsenal keeper Bernd Leno, who came and missed a curling free-kick from Mason Mount, leaving Jorginho with a tap-in at the back post.
They completed the turnaround with three minutes of normal time remaining when Tammy Abraham finished off a well worked counter attack.
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Lampard didn’t hold back in what he thought of his sides performance during the first half when he spoke to BBC Sport after the full-time whistle.
"We were so awful for 30 mins, slow, lethargic, nervous. The opposite of against Tottenham." The 41-year-old said.
"We gave Arsenal everything they wanted. We made the change early, felt it had to be done. Second half we dominated."
Lampard gave his players the boost they needed during the half-time break as they came out a much improved side after the restart.
"From my point of view you can accept a miss-pass but you can't accept lethargy in a London derby.
"The players were told that and they delivered. The second half was nothing to do with tactics it was all to do with spirit and desire."
The win for Chelsea consolidates their fourth place position in the league table, while defeat for Arsenal hands Mikel Arteta his first defeat as Gunners boss during his first game in charge at the Emirates.
"I still haven't bounced back from Boxing Day mentally (loss to Southampton). Our next home games we'll do everything we can to turn the corner. We're still in fourth and want more and the home games have been different so we have to focus on them when they come around." Lampard added.
Next up for Chelsea is a trip to Brighton on New Years Day, while Arsenal host Manchester United.
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