This ended up feeling like a vindication of all the caution expressed publicly by Maurizio Sarri and Unai Emery in the campaign’s early days. Chelsea, relieved to have a player of Eden Hazard’s calibre to fling on to make a difference, triumphed here at Arsenal’s expense and celebrated in the giddy din at the final whistle. But for all the excitement this furious contest whipped up it also provided evidence as to why these teams are outsiders in the title race.
Marcos Alonso’s winner came late on, with Petr Cech twice going on to deny Hazard the rewards his eye-catching cameo deserved. The Belgian only featured for 29 minutes but probably still provided the stellar impact of the afternoon. As it is, having clawed their way level and missed too many opportunities for comfort in a madcap opening period, Arsenal have lost their opening two topflight fixtures for the first time since 1992. That is a downbeat way to welcome the Emery revolution. How he must have craved having a talent like Hazard with which to turn the tide.
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