Chelsea slumped to another damaging home defeat against Brentford on Saturday as Eddie Nketiah hit a first Premier League hat-trick in a 5-0 win for Arsenal against struggling Sheffield United.
Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea appeared to have turned a corner in recent weeks, taking seven points from their three previous fixtures, but their 2-0 loss means they have just one home win from their past 13 games in the league.
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Ethan Pinnock took advantage of non-existent marking to head the visitors in front shortly before the hour mark at Stamford Bridge after Chelsea had failed to capitalise on their first-half dominance.
Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez was embarrassed in added time after joining his team’s attack for a corner, failing to catch Neal Maupay in a race as he broke with the ball, allowing Bryan Mbeumo to score in an empty net to compound home fans’ woes.
The result means Brentford leapfrog Chelsea into 10th place in the Premier League table, pushing Pochettino’s men into the bottom half.
“I’m not happy and think the players also and the whole club is not happy about the run (at home),” said the Argentine manager.
“It’s a long time that we need to be more consistent here and very disappointed with this. We feel the responsibility that we need to change the dynamic.” The former Tottenham boss said on Friday that Christopher Nkunku is nearing a comeback from the knee injury that has prevented the £52 million ($63 million) signing making a competitive appearance yet for his new club.
On this evidence, the French international’s return cannot come soon enough as Chelsea’s other new striker, Nicolas Jackson, again failed to fire.
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“If you don’t score, you need to blame ourselves,” said Pochettino. “We were not nasty or clinical in front of the goal.”
It was a different story for London rivals Arsenal, who roared back from 2-0 down to draw against Chelsea last week to preserve their unbeaten league record.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta shuffled his pack —including dropping captain Martin Odegaard to the bench — for the visit of bottom club Sheffield United and Nketiah celebrated his recall to the starting line-up in style.
Replacing the injured Gabriel Jesus as Arsenal’s target man at the Emirates Stadium, Nketiah proved he was up to the task as a swivelled finish gave the home side a 28th-minute lead.
The England forward arrowed a shot into the top corner early in the second half and completed his treble with a stunning strike from distance just before the hour mark.
Substitutes Fabio Vieira and Takehiro Tomiyasu added gloss to the scoreline with a penalty and a close-range finish as Arsenal moved up to second in the table, two points behind Tottenham, who beat Crystal Palace on Friday.
“It’s amazing,” said Nketiah. “It’s not been easy — last month I lost my aunty so I want to dedicate these three goals to her. Her family was here watching so it is a really special moment.”
Bournemouth came from behind to beat fellow strugglers Burnley 2-1 and secure their first league win of the season thanks to a fine solo effort from Antoine Semenyo and a sensational lob from distance by Philip Billing late in the game.
Hwang Hee-chan scored a brilliant equaliser to slow Newcastle’s Premier League charge as Wolves battled back to earn a 2-2 draw after Callum Wilson’s double at Molineux on Saturday.
England international Wilson scored twice as Newcastle led 2-1 at the break, on course for their fifth league win in six games.
But South Korea international Hwang grabbed a deserved equaliser for the home team in the 71st minute.
Wilson replaced the injured Alexander Isak in the only change to the Newcastle side that started Wednesday’s 1-0 Champions League defeat at home to Borussia Dortmund.
There was no Sandro Tonali in the squad as the Italy midfielder begins a 10-month ban for betting offences.
Wilson scored the opener after a scramble in the box started when the ball slipped through Jose Sa’s hands as he came to try and collect Anthony Gordon’s cross.
Wilson’s first effort was blocked by defender Toti but when the ball bounced up the Newcastle striker acrobatically turned it home, adjusting to fire over his shoulder.
Wolves levelled in the 36th minute after Mario Lemina got the right side of Kieran Trippier at the far post to head in Pedro Neto’s corner.
Newcastle were presented with the chance to retake the lead in first-half stoppage time when they were awarded a controversial penalty.
Hwang took a loose touch inside his own box and was adjudged to have clipped Fabian Schaer as he stepped in to nick the ball away.
Contact appeared minimal and there was a lengthy check from the VAR official before referee Anthony Taylor’s decision was upheld.
Wilson picked up the ball and restored Newcastle’s lead even though Sa got a strong hand to his penalty.
Wolves were the dominant team after the break and got the reward they deserved. Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope chose to punch rather than catch a free-kick and Toti beat a man before driving into the box and feeding Hwang, who turned to leave Dan Burn in a heap before rifling the ball home.
Wolves almost immediately lost key man Neto to an apparent hamstring injury as he looked to work a shooting chance, with Sasa Kalajdzic his replacement.
The visitors upped the pressure in an effort to find a winner but Wolves held on.
The point leaves Newcastle sixth in the Premier League table, while Wolves are in 12th spot.
Newcastle earlier acknowledged confirmation of Tonali’s 10-month ban from football.
World governing body FIFA confirmed on Friday that it had granted a request from the Italian football federation to extend the ban worldwide.
Newcastle said that Tonali would be eligible to return to competitive action from August 27, 2024 after participating in “a therapeutic plan and educational program in Italy”.
FULL PL RESULTS
Chelsea 0-2 Brentford
Arsenal 5-0 Sheffield United
Bournemouth 2-1 Burnley
Wolves 2-2 Newcastle
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