For all the pre-match talk, Chelsea’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had just eight touches of the ball before being unceremoniously substituted in the 64th minute.
Arsenal centre-backs William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes dominated their 33-year-old former team-mate as Mikel Arteta’s team cruised to a relatively comfortable 1-0 win.
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Sorry, Auba: nothing personal.
Had Arsenal been sharper in the attacking third today (Sunday), the scoreline might have been more emphatic. In total, Chelsea managed just five attempts at Aaron Ramsdale’s goal.
This was a consummate defensive display — since Opta records began in 2003, only Manchester City, in 2015 and 2017, have restricted the current world champions to fewer shots in a home game.
Aubameyang had irritated Arsenal fans by appearing in an inflammatory pre-game promo for BT Sport, which broadcast the match live in the UK.
Unfortunately for Chelsea, that remains his most impactful performance of the week.
NOTHING PERSONAL .. LONDON IS RED ❤️
— Gabriel Magalhaes (@biel_m04) November 6, 2022
This display was reminiscent of the Aubameyang that Arsenal fans watched play for them for much of the first half of last season: isolated and ineffective. Up against the physically imposing duo of Gabriel and Saliba, he could not get a foothold in the game.
“I think that pair again, they were outstanding, both of them,” Arteta said in his post-match press conference. “That’s why we sustained it really well, especially when we had to defend open spaces, which is very difficult, again in this place, to do what we demand they do, but I think they did it really well.”
Saliba and Gabriel allow Arteta’s Arsenal to play a different brand of football.
Arsenal are playing with a significantly higher line this season. Even Ramsdale has adopted a much more advanced starting position.
All that is contingent on the ability of the two centre-backs to sprint into the channels when the opposition look to attack the space in behind. Fortunately, both Gabriel and Saliba are quick across the ground.
At one point, the Frenchman made it back to tackle Armando Broja, even though the Albanian was in an offside position and had a headstart of several yards.
Restricting Chelsea to just 5 shots, 0 big chances and 0.3 xG is a hell of a defensive performance from Arsenal pic.twitter.com/LYA88QHUCB
— Ollie Hopkins (@oliver_hopkins) November 6, 2022
In one-v-one battles, they are belligerent.
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Aubameyang often pulled onto Saliba, looking to find space in his favoured inside left channel — occasionally this season, the 21-year-old Premier League rookie has shown a vulnerability to runners in-behind.
It seems he is a fast learner.
Aubameyang’s efforts were futile: Saliba regained possession 13 times for Arsenal — a performance that saw him named the official man of the match.
What he is producing this season, at his age and having never played in the league before, is remarkable. With contract negotiations with the club now underway, it is approaching the point where Saliba will simply be able to name his price.
Gabriel was effective too, completing four clearances and winning three of four aerial duels. Something that is often overlooked is his reliability passing out from the back. On this occasion, he completed six of seven long balls.
The Brazilian also made his presence felt in the opposition box, poking home the only goal from Bukayo Saka’s in-swinging delivery.
Gabriel has now scored nine Premier League goals in 71 appearances for Arsenal — all of which have come from corner situations. There are few centre-backs around who offer their team a more consistent goal threat. Arsenal will feel very satisfied having just handed the 25-year-old a new long-term contract.
Perhaps what’s most remarkable about Arsenal’s new defensive partnership is that not many anticipated they would be Arteta’s starting pair.
Last season, Gabriel was regularly partnered by new signing Ben White, and there was no obvious need to disrupt that duo. However, Saliba and Gabriel have started all 13 Premier League games in 2022-23, securing 11 wins and six clean sheets.
It’s worth noting this was Arsenal’s best XI up against a heavily-depleted Chelsea.
Oleksandr Zinchenko made his first start since the north London derby on October 1, meaning Arteta was able to field what is understood to be his first-choice team. Although Arsenal have largely avoided significant injury problems, today was only the fifth time in the 13 league games that the manager has been able to name this XI.
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He was able to select this same side for the opening three games, which helped Arsenal establish themselves in the season’s early weeks, having also chosen this line-up for the pre-season match between these two clubs in the United States in July — a match Arsenal also won, by four goals to nil.
They are benefiting from continuity and consistency — the foundations of which were laid in the summer.
Prior to the game, assistant coach Steve Round led the back four in an immaculate offside drill, dribbling left and right while the defence worked on keeping their distances correct and stepping up in a line at the appropriate moment. Tony Adams and company would be proud.
As for Gabriel’s 2021-22 partner White, he is thriving as a right-back.
“I am really happy with him,” said Arteta. “He is playing in different positions. I think he is acclimating himself in a great way to that full-back position. His understanding with the players around him is top and I really like him. He always wants to be there, he trains every single day, he plays under any circumstances and I love the boy.”
With White continuing to impress, and England’s full-backs options seeming to diminish with every passing day as injuries bite, it will be increasingly absurd if Gareth Southgate does not select him in his 26-strong World Cup squad.
The defence is helped in so small measure by Thomas Partey, who rivalled Saliba as a potential man of the match with a strong all-round display in central midfield.
Asked about Aubameyang’s travails, Chelsea head coach Graham Potter praised the opposition: “There are two teams on the pitch and I think Arsenal defend well, press well, and make it difficult for you to create chances. That’s what the top teams do and Arsenal are a top team at the moment. I don’t like to say that, but it’s probably the reality.”
This was a defensive performance that started from the front.
Aubameyang is s player who relies on supply, and Arsenal managed to cut it off entirely. Gabriel Jesus might not have scored, but his work-rate and ability to win the ball high up the pitch showed why the club were so willing to move on from Aubameyang. The Gabon international’s departure last January has also allowed for the emergence of Gabriel Martinelli, who produced another tireless display here.
The fallout between the former club captain and Arteta has been framed as a personal one, but the real issue is that Aubameyang was not the right fit for this Arsenal team. That issue would have come to a head sooner or later.
Arteta’s handling of the situation, once controversial, has ultimately been justified.
A banner celebrating a former Chelsea and Nigeria midfielder hangs from the top tier of the Matthew Harding Stand at Stamford Bridge.
It reads: “Taking the Mikel.”
But, on this occasion, it was Arsenal’s manager who had the last laugh.
(Top photo: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
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