Arteta names Flying Eagles-eligible midfielder on Arsenal bench in 4-2 win against Chelsea :: All Nigeria Soccer

Onetime Nigerian Federation target Bukayo Saka was on target on Wednesday night as the Gunners ended a run of three successive defeats to defeat Chelsea 4-2 at Stamford Bridge and revive their Champions League hopes.

Eddie Nketiah scored a brace for the north London side in one of his best performances while Emile Smith Rowe got one for Mikel Arteta’s side.

Arsenal youngster of Nigerian descent Miguel Azeez made the substitutes bench due to the unavailability of Ghana captain for the March internationals against the Super Eagles, Thomas Partey.

It was the third consecutive match in the Premier League manager Mikel Arteta has picked the Flying Eagles-eligible midfielder in the matchday squad without utilizing him off the bench.

Arsenal went ahead in the 13th minute with Eddie Nketiah latching onto the ball after a sloppy piece of defending from Andres Christensen.

Chelsea equalised within four minutes afterwards through Timo Werner as a deflected ball beating Aaron Ramsdale. Granit Xhaka had lost possession of the ball allowing Ruben Loftus-Cheek to pounce and tee up the German forward.

Emile Smith Rowe made it 2-1 for Arsenal midway into the first half with a beautiful counter attacking football after a defensive mix up almost cost the Gunners at their own end of the pitch.

But yet again Arsenal were pegged back as Cesar Azpilicueta outsmarted Nuno Tavares to toe-poke the ball to the bottom left corner in the 32nd minute with an assist from Mason Mount

The first half ended with the four world class goals but it was another Arsenal goal that the Stamford Bridge witnessed as Nketiah who is considering switching allegiance from England to Ghana where his heritage lies got in between two Chelsea defenders in the 57th minute to prod the ball home beyond the reach of Edouard Mendy.

Saka then made victory certain in added time from the penalty spot after he was wrestled to the ground inside the box by Cesar Azpicuelta.

Izuchukwu Michael

Photo Credit : arsenal.com