Batshuayi stars as Arsenal are swept aside

Chelsea swept Arsenal aside in Saturday’s friendly Beijing. Arsene Wenger said earlier this week that games between the two are never friendly and he was made to regret talking the game up as the ‘Gunners’ were clinically put away despite the absences of Antonio Rudiger, Eden Hazard, Tiemoue Bakayoko and Alvaro Morata for the ‘Blues’.

Antonio Conte’s side made their intentions clear from the very first minute as they stormed forward to win a corner directly from kick-off. The ‘Blues’ dominated the first half and had the game’s first real chance early on when Victor Moses got in behind, but his shot was saved by David Ospina.

They went  close again shortly after when Willian nicked the ball after a poor touch from Maitland-Niles. The Brazilian drove forward but was forced wide and his left footed effort from the edge of the box drifted just wide of Ospina’s left-hand post.

Chelsea looked very dangerous on the counter attack and continued to threaten, Michy Batshuayi twice tried his luck from range, but to no avail.

Arsenal’s first chance of the game was gifted to them, a sloppy touch from the usually reliable Cesar Azpilicueta gave the ball to Lacazette who in turn found Ozil. The German crossed low but the onrushing Aaron Ramsey could only prod the ball wide.

Chelsea were forced to make a change just before the half hour mark after Ospina clattered Pedro. The goalkeeper flew out to stop the Spaniard racing clear but in turn clattered the player. He was replaced by Jeremy Boga and Chelsea’s dominance continued.

Willian had a shot saved before Victor Moses brought the best out of Ospina with a fiercely struck volley from 20 yards. Batshuayi then had a goal disallowed for offside after he prodded home a quickly-taken corner from the left.

It seemed like only a matter of time before Chelsea took the lead and so it proved, just minutes later Chelsea won the ball on halfway and burst forward. The ball found it’s way to Willian who isolated Nacho Monreal before jinking onto his right foot and firing home with the help of the far post from just inside the box.

The lead was then doubled within seconds of the restart as N’golo Kante found Michy Batshuayi on the edge of the box. The Belgian shifted the ball onto his left foot and found the far corner with aplomb.

Ramsey had a chance to reduce the arrears for Arsenal on the stroke of half-time but the ball wouldn’t drop for him and his effort was kept out by Thibaut Courtois.

Despite a raft of substitutions at half-time Chelsea picked up where they left off, extending their lead further just four minutes into the second half as Batshuayi met Alonso’s pull-back from the left and hammered the ball into the roof of the net with his left foot from 20 yards.

Despite the scoreline the Gunners didn’t give up, with striker Olivier Giroud visibly keen to make an impact. The Frenchman fired a free-kick straight into the wall from the edge of the box before calling Willy Caballero into action with a save at his near post when he may have been better served by crossing.

Francois Coquelin fired just over from the edge of the box before the Willian saw a powerful half-volley well kept out by Ospina following a great ball from Luiz.

Giroud then popped up again but he dragged his ambitious long-range effort wide.

The game then began to peter out as both sides made a raft of changes, though Arsenal youngster Malen did see a late effort crash into the outside of the post.

The game finished 3-0 to the ‘Blues’, hardly the confidence boost Arsene Wenger was looking for ahead of the new season, but a thoroughly convincing win for Antonio Conte’s men.