Arsenal scored three times in the first half to end a 10-game wait for victory over rivals Chelsea as they claimed a 3-0 win this evening.
Alexis Sanchez opened the scoring with a smart finish, while Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil added their names to the scoresheet before the opening 45 minutes were out.
It took until the final 10 minutes until the visitors, now without a win in three league games, to register their only shot on target as Michy Batshuayi was denied by Petr Cech from close range.
Relive how the 90 minutes of action unfolded with Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League meeting between Arsenal and Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium. These two London rivals, who have had their fair share of high-intensity showdowns in recent years, head into this contest level on points after five games but it is the visitors who sit higher in the table thanks to their marginally superior goal difference.
The Blues have dominated this fixture in recent times, going nine games without defeat now in competitive games (sorry, Community Shield!) and will look to prolong that run this evening to ensure that they get their campaign back on track after a couple of disappointing results in recent weeks. Before looking at the two teams in a little more depth, let us first check out some confirmed team news from North London.
TEAM NEWS!
ARSENAL XI: Cech, Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Cazorla, Walcott, Ozil, Iwobi, Sanchez
CHELSEA XI: Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Luiz, Azpilicueta; Kante; Willian, Fabregas, Matic, Hazard; Costa
Starting with the visiting side, then, and there is some big news as Cesc Fabregas is handed his first league start of the season - at the home of his former suitors. The Spaniard impressed in midweek with a couple of goals in the EFL Cup win over Leicester City, with that display enough to see him oust Oscar in the only change from the defeat at home to Liverpool last weekend.
John Terry remains absent through injury, while fellow central defender Kurt Zouma is still not quite ready to return to action following his lengthy layoff, meaning David Luiz continues in defence alongside Gary Cahill. Branislav Ivanovic has struggled at times this season but also retains his place in the backline, as does Cesar Azpilicueta just a few days on from his superb strike at the King Power Stadium.
Diego Costa unsurprisingly starts up top for Chelsea - a man Arsenal will know all about. The Spain international has taken over nicely from Didier Drogba in recent seasons to bully the Gunners' backline at times, proving a real menace throughout to become arch enemy number one. Costa has scored five goals in five games this term already, earning praise from Arsene Wenger no less as the Frenchman believes he has become 'more mature' with his play.
In terms of the home side, they remain unchanged from the impressive 4-1 win away at Hull City last weekend. No great surprise that Wenger has opted to keep things the same, but many supporters were calling for Granit Xhaka to return in defensive midfield alongside Santi Cazorla, but Francis Coquelin is instead given the nod. Theo Walcott, Mesut Ozil and Alex Iwobi are named as the attacking trident.
We already knew that Aaron Ramsey would play no part this evening, as he has been ruled out for a further three weeks through a hamstring injury that the club could have handled much better. The big question was whether Olivier Giroud would earn a recall, or if Lucas Perez would perhaps get the nod after getting off the mark in midweek with his first Gunners goals. In the end neither have been selected - Alexis Sanchez instead retaining his place up top.
Sanchez has actually failed to score in his last four games at the Emirates Stadium, which does not bode all that well for home supporters, but he has four in four away from home. While Chelsea are set out in more of a 4-1-4-1 formation, Arsenal are likely to go with more of a 4-2-3-1, with Shkodran Mustafi partnering Laurent Koscielny in the heart of defence yet again on what is likely to be a real tough evening for the pair.
BENCH WATCH!
ARSENAL SUBS: Ospina, Gibbs, Holding, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Xhaka, Giroud, Perez
CHELSEA SUBS: Begovic, Alonso, Chalobah, Oscar, Moses, Pedro, Batshuayi
Oscar may feel a little disappointed to make way from the defeat to Liverpool last weekend, but Fabregas certainly deserved a recall and someone had to make way. Antonio Conte was never likely going to sacrifice the more tactically disciplined Nemanja Matic, nor vital component N'Golo Kante, so it is the Brazilian who drops to the bench, alongside fellow attackers Victor Moses, Pedro and Michy Batshuayi.
Both Giroud and Perez are on the Arsenal bench, meanwhile, meaning plenty of attacking firepower to call upon for Wenger should it be required. Xhaka is a little unlucky to miss out after scoring twice in a week - both real gems, too - while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has also looked a little livelier in attack of late. Kieran Gibbs and Rob Holding provide defensive back-up, while David Ospina again provides goalkeeping cover for Pert Cech.
Cesc Fabregas has been knocking on the door for a recall to the Chelsea side, and he has been granted his wish this evening as he replaces Oscar in the only change made by Antonio Conte from last weekend's defeat to Liverpool. Arsenal remain unchanged, meanwhile, meaning a place up top for Alexis Sanchez, with Olivier Giroud and Lucas Perez only on the bench.
So this is a real heavyweight clash between two of the Premier League's most successful sides; one which Arsenal head into on back of the better run of form after winning three in a row in the league. The perennial slow starters have recovered from their opening-game setback at the hands of Liverpool here, claiming what was a credible enough point at Leicester City in their next outing and then nine points from the next nine on offer.
Four points from the first two games was not quite the disaster many had made out, and in a way it may have proved a blessing in disguise as Wenger went on to spend big to recruit Perez and Mustafi. We have seen glimpses from both in the few weeks that they have been at the club, but this is their biggest domestic test yet against a Chelsea side looking much better than the one of last season.
Arsenal also picked up a big point away at Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, one which was not exactly deserved on the balance of things, and also comfortably saw off Nottingham Forest 4-0 in the EFL Cup in midweek, maintaining this positive run of form into what is a huge match for Wenger and his men. It is now just one defeat in 16 games in all competitions stretching back into last season - form of a side that means business.
DID YOU KNOW? Arsenal have had four players dismissed in their last five meetings against Chelsea, and have been given more red cards in this fixture than any other in the Premier League era. Two players were given their marching orders last term, the latter being Gabriel Paulista who was unable to resist the temptation to lash out at Costa who has - in the absence of the aforementioned Drogba - become Arsenal's arch nemeses.
Victory for Arsenal this afternoon, as well as striking a huge psychological blow over their opponents, will make it four in a row in the Premier League for the first time since October of last year. With Burnley to come in the league prior to the latest two-week international break, plus a home Champions League tie with Basel in midweek, there is the potential to keep that momentum going for a little while longer if they can just overcome Chelsea this evening.
It will be far from an easy task for the Gunners, however, as they come up against a Chelsea side boasting a different sort of pedigree under new boss Conte. The Blues may have lost their last league outing, falling 2-1 at home to an impressive-looking Liverpool eight days ago, but they did start the day in fifth place in the division following a fine start to life under the Italian.
Conte, who arrived in West London with proven pedigree from his time with Juventus and Italy, saw his side win their opening three league games. The victories over West Ham United and Watford were not all that convincing in truth, with late goals required in both, but a win is a win and the Blues were quick to put last season's disaster right behind them. Then came a 3-0 triumph over a poor Burnley side, lifting Conte's men right into the mix heading into the previous international break.
It is fair to say that the results have not been as impressive since then, however, with a dominant display at Swansea City only seeing them return from South Wales with a point, while they were second best for the majority of last weekend's setback at home to Liverpool. A mixed start for Conte on the whole, then, with this result very much determining just how impressive Chelsea have been since the Italian took charge. Victory and many will sing his praises; defeat and the Blues will already be cut adrift from the pacesetters.
It has been a mixed start to life at Chelsea for Antonio Conte, who has seen his side take just one point from the last six on offer after a perfect start from their first three league matches. With games against Arsenal, Manchester United and champions Leicester City to come in their next four outings, now is the time for the Italian to show we he is one of the most revered coaches in world football at the present time.
There is no European football at Stamford Bridge for Conte to contend with this season, of course, but Chelsea can still focus on domestic cup action as they have overcome Bristol Rovers and Leicester already to take their place in the last 16 where Tottenham Hotspur await. Chelsea could make it three games without a win in the top flight this evening, though, which is something Conte has not experienced as a manager since March 2012.
You have to go further back, to December 2009, to find the last time he lost consecutive league games. The omens are not great for Conte and his men, however, as they have kept only one clean sheet in their last 12 outings on the road, conceding in each of the last six - including two against Swansea last time out despite being so in control for much of the game.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! That is where the bad news stops for Chelsea, however, as they have largely dominated this fixture in recent times. The Blues are unbeaten in nine Premier League games against Arsenal, winning six and drawing three of those, while also remaining unbeaten in their last five visits to this part of North London. The Gunners have incredibly scored just the one goal across those five matches, with their opponents somehow pulling off a league double last term despite their struggles.
With kickoff now just 10 minutes away at the Emirates Stadium, let us check out some of the pre-match thoughts from both camps.
Arsene Wenger: "We have talked about that because in the last two games we played against Chelsea with 10 men. So of course for the result on Saturday it will be important how we play football, but also the way we behave. We need to eliminate [Costa's] qualities and his game. You need to be committed but by respecting the rules of the game."
Antonio Conte: "I'm sure that Arsenal will fight until the end to win the title because they're a very good team, with young players, great technique, good players with good physical potential and organisation. When there are these types of games, they're very tough. It's not necessary to push any player. These big games give great emotion and great expectation. For this reason the players are already motivated."
Conte refused to go down the same road as many of his Stamford Bridge predecessors by criticising Wenger in any way, instead claiming that he would like to emulate his opposite number by remaining at one club for such a prolonged amount of time. Wenger, who will celebrate 20 years in charge of Arsenal this week, talked in length about a certain Diego Costa, who he believes is now an even better player than when they last faced off.
Kickoff in this match is fast approaching, but we have already had a busy schedule of Premier League action today. It all began with Man United thrashing Leicester 4-1 at Old Trafford, with all four of their goals coming in a 20-minute first-half spell, while Liverpool, Man City and Tottenham also maintained their impressive starts to the season. There was defeat for Everton, though - a first for Ronald Koeman in the league - and Sunderland somehow through away a two-goal lead at home to Crystal Palace.
That leaves both these sides outside the top four, with a win for either - separated by just goal difference, remember - enough to lift them up to third or fourth place depending on the margin of victory. Still far too early in the season to make any sort of predictions, but Man City have now won 10 out of 10 in all competitions to open up an eight-point lead over these two London rivals before a ball has been kicked.
Arsene Wenger is celebrating 20 years in charge of Arsenal this week, and it is fair to say that the Frenchman has a mixed record against today's opponents. Wenger won five and lost just three of the first 27 meetings, but has lost 17 and won only five of the last 27 in a complete reversal. The Gunners boss needs no reminding that he also lost his 100th game and 600th game milestone against the Blues - the latter a 6-0 thrashing a couple of years back.
KICKOFF! The 188th meeting between Arsenal and Chelsea is under way at the Emirates Stadium, with both sides targeting a win to close the gap on runaway leaders Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table.
The visitors sitting well off their opponents in these early stages, allowing Arsenal to come at them until entering the final third of the pitch. The Gunners have won an early corner which Courtois was able to collect with relative ease.
SAVE! Every Chelsea player now inside their own final third, forcing Cazorla to take on a shot from range which Courtois could only parry into the box. Thankfully for him a blue shirt was there to clear away, with Costa getting up the other end to win a free kick.
Well despite getting every player back behind the ball, Chelsea will also look to attack as and when they can. Willian sent that free kick into the box, slightly over the head of Costa, and Arsenal were eventually able to clear their lines to quickly break forward.
Azpilicueta sends a cross into the box for Matic to get on the end of, but the Serbian's first touch had too much on it and Arsenal could again clear. The Blues showing more attacking intent now compared to the opening few minutes in this match.
Half a chance for Sanchez, as the ball falls nicely into his path inside the box after Walcott's run was well halted. His deflected shot goes wide for a corner, which the Gunners are unable to truly make the most of with 11 minutes gone.
Fabregas very lucky to avoid seeing yellow for a late challenge on Coquelin. Costa also takes a boot into the thigh from Mustafi, which again went unpunished in terms of a booking. Expect plenty more of that as this game goes on.
GOAL! ARSENAL 1-0 CHELSEA (ALEXIS SANCHEZ)
Alexis Sanchez is gifted a goal on his landmark 100th appearance for Arsenal - his first at the Emirates in five outings, and a 47th for the club overall. It was all down to a Gary Cahill howler, as the centre-back was caught in possession which allowed Sanchez to pounce and race clean through on goal, and he slotted past Courtois to punish the Englishman and put his side ahead.
GOAL! ARSENAL 2-0 CHELSEA (THEO WALCOTT)
A goal on his 100th appearance for Sanchez, and now a goal on outing number 350 for Theo Walcott in an Arsenal shirt. The opener was a gift but this was a well-worked team goal, with four of five quick-pace passes ending with Bellerin squaring for Walcott to tap the ball home from close range.
Real similarities to the early kickoff in the Premier League, as Arsenal score two goals in quick succession against their slack opponents. Expect even more at this rate, with Chelsea now forced to come out of their shells and commit players forward.
Arsenal completely dominating this game in all areas, with their three shots on target ending with two goals. It is they who are looking the more likely to score a third, which will surely kill off the contest at this early stage.
Chelsea are all over the place. Sanchez works space for a shot, which he drags across goal with Walcott screaming for the ball unmarked. Conte, famed for his ability to keep his players tight and compact, will be absolutely furious at the moment.
SHOT! Chelsea's first real attacking move of the match ends with Willian firing across the face of Cech's goal. Arsenal will not want to let their opponents back into the game, and will instead look to continue attacking for a third.
Bellerin blasts a shot from the edge of the box, coming after some fine play from Sanchez, but his attempt is well blocked by Cahill. The Gunners really up for this one, with two goals to their name already in the opening third of the match.
Good play from Chelsea over the past few minutes in attack but, yet again, their foray forward ends before a shot can be fired on target. Cech yet to make a single save, with Willian's dragged effort the closest the visitors have come.
YELLOW CARD! The first contentious moment of this match, as yet more quick interplay between Sanchez and Iwobi ends with Ivanovic bringing down the latter right on the edge of the box. Just a yellow from referee Michael Oliver, which did look to be the right call with Luiz across to cover.
Sanchez takes on the free kick, which is headed over the bar by the Chelsea wall. Coquelin picked up a knock prior to that attempt but is now back on the field and seemingly OK to continue for the time being, reluctant to give up his shirt.
ARSENAL SUB! A real blow for Coquelin, as he is unable to fully shake off that knock sustained a few minutes ago. A like-for-like replacement, with Granit Xhaka - a little unlucky not to start this evening - coming on.
A promising attack for Chelsea, with a cross coming into the box from the right-hand side, but Cech is there to collect before Costa can get his head to it. A calmer feel to the game over the past five minutes or so, yet it is still the hosts largely in control.
Just not happening for Chelsea at the moment, with Costa in particular being left frustrated. Three men cut out the Spaniard, leaving him to question the referee's decision to not award a free kick, but he was simply outmuscled on this occasion.
Arsenal taking Chelsea apart on a regular basis, which has left Conte with his hands on his head. The Italian will be fuming with some of the defending he has seen from his side, with this open feel to the match suiting the hosts more than their opponents.
Costa so nearly in behind the Arsenal backline, only for Koscielny to just about keep up with the Spaniard and throw his body to the ground to block the shot on goal. If Chelsea can pull one back now then we have a different game entirely on our hands.
GOAL! ARSENAL 3-0 CHELSEA (MESUT OZIL)
Ozil adds a third goal for Arsenal and surely wraps up the three points. It was another goal that Chelsea could have prevented, with possession being turned over with ease in midfield for Ozil and Sanchez to attack the visitors' two-man defence. Ozil played the ball to Sanchez, who in turn laid it off to his teammate who had peeled off at the back post to volley into the ground and into the net.
David Luiz is a little lucky to avoid a booking, perhaps getting sympathy from Michael Oliver following a dire first half from his side. Still a minute of the half to go, plus probably two minutes added on, for Arsenal to well and truly wrap things up.
CLOSE! Willian delivers a free kick into the box, which Cech does not fully clear when opting to punch. It falls nicely to Hazard to blast on the volley, but his strike can only find the side-netting to the joy of the home fans.
HALF TIME: ARSENAL 3-0 CHELSEA
Michael Oliver blows for half time, with Arsenal holding a three-goal advantage over their London rivals. The Gunners have been superb for much of the opening 45 minutes, scoring twice inside 14 minutes and adding a third 41 minutes in, while Chelsea have been completely disorganised across the pitch.
Chelsea's plan was clear to see from the off, as all 11 players got back behind the ball inside their own final third in an attempt to prevent their opponents' attacking players from finding a way through. The plan did not work, with Santi Cazorla given all the time in the world to fire away a shot five minutes in, before two quick-fire goals soon after put the hosts well in control.
Alexis Sanchez, preferred to Olivier Giroud and Lucas Perez in attack, scored the first as he marked his 100th appearance for the club with goal number 47 - and a first in five outings here. Sanchez had Cahill to thank for the goal - the Chelsea defender being caught in possession which allowed the Chilean to run clean through and slot the ball past Thibaut Courtois.
While the inquest was still ongoing at the back, Arsenal pushed on and found a second when some quick-fire passing around the Chelsea box culminated in Nacho Monreal being slipped in down the right, before squaring for Theo Walcott to find the net on his 350th outing for the Gunners. Chelsea saw weak attempts from Eden Hazard and Willian fail to trouble Petr Cech, and the hosts were three to the good prior to the midway point after a two-on-two attack allowed Sanchez to return a pass to Mesut Ozil at the back post to volley home a killer third.
Chelsea with it all to do in the second half, then, with Conte surely set to make a change or two at the break. The Italian was reluctant to role the dice despite chasing goals against Liverpool, but this has been an even worse showing from his men and vast changes are required - all three if he is willing to gamble.
ARSENAL SUBS: Ospina, Gibbs, Holding, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Giroud, Perez
CHELSEA SUBS: Begovic, Alonso, Chalobah, Oscar, Moses, Pedro, Batshuayi
RESTART! We are back under way at the Emirates Stadium where, incredibly, Conte has decided against making any half-time alterations. Arsenal also unchanged, other than the enforced introduction of Xhaka early in the game, which is more understandable.
Worth pointing out that Arsenal had gone six games without scoring against their opponents, never mind picking up all three points! The Gunners well on course to achieving that, however, with Chelsea facing an almighty task in this second half.
Iwobi makes inroads down the left-hand side, beating Ivanovic for pace but being unable to get the better of the covering Fabregas. Chelsea seeing plenty of the ball at the moment but not really doing a great deal with it.
A real chance goes begging for the Gunners, as Walcott is given all the space in the world to charge into the box. The angle was against him so he reluctantly chipped the ball into a central position, but the ball had too much on it for a teammate to nod home.
CHELSEA SUB! Fabregas is replaced by Marcos Alonso with a little under 10 minutes of the half played, potentially meaning three at the back for the visitors for the remainder. Fabregas, incidentally, had a mixed reception of boos and cheers when leaving the pitch.
It has got to the point where it is actually too easy for Arsenal when breaking forward. Ozil has so much time on the ball that he fails to get a shot away, instead waiting to see who he can lay off, before two red shirts get in each other's way on the edge of the box.
Arsenal a little over half an hour from ending their recent hoodoo against Chelsea, then, with the Gunners looking the more likely to add a fourth goal of the game. Chelsea changing systems during a match is not ideal; a difficult task being made harder.
Costa's first half-chance of the match, as a cross from Azpilicueta is met by the Spaniard 15 yards out. He had plenty to do to direct the ball goalwards, which he failed to achieve with his attempt ending a couple of yards wide.
Chelsea are beginning to get the ball wide a little more often now, sending crosses into the box to finally ask some questions of Arsenal's backline. Still around 30 minutes to go - plenty of time to score three goals and rescue the most unlikely of points.
Things are starting to fall apart for Chelsea once again, as Cahill lambasts Courtois for failing to collect a loose ball. The Englishman gets to the ball ahead of an Arsenal player, putting his boot right through it to concede a needless throw.
Wenger might be thinking about making another change, with his side unable to really match the intensity levels set in the opening 45 minutes. No real danger of conceding at the moment, though, so Wenger in no real rush.
Ivanovic holds his hands up to apologise after unleashing a shot from 40 yards out which inevitably ended high in the stands. The Gunners will be happy enough with the way this one is panning out; Chelsea seeing more of the ball but doing nothing with it.
SAVE! Passes galore from Arsenal, with no Chelsea player putting pressure on the ball. Sanchez slots in Walcott, who sees his shot across goal well kept out by the full reach of Courtois. A couple of changes about to be made.
SUBS! Gibbs is introduced in place of Iwobi for the hosts, while Batshuayi and Pedro are on for Willian and Hazard. A final roll of the dice for Conte, then, which has arrived far sooner than his first switch eight days ago.
Xhaka being asked to shoot at every opportunity by home fans after scoring twice in the past week from distance, but he is playing things safer and just keeping possession ticking over. Pedro fashions a chance from nothing at the other end, only for Bellerin to brilliantly recover and produce a tackle.
Xhaka finally listens to supporters and unleashes a shot from range, which those in attendance will quickly want to forget! A very quiet second half at the Emirates Stadium, but Giroud may change that as he is about to be brought on.
Still no shots on target for the visitors, which is rather incredible when looking at the attacking options available to them, combined with the fact that they have been chasing three goals for the past 40 minutes. Giroud now being readied to come on.
ARSENAL SUB! Giroud makes his fourth appearance from the bench this season, taking the place of opening goalscorer Alexis Sanchez. Alonso's cross into the box from the left is brilliantly defended by Gibbs in a central position.
Good, well-timed challenge from Mustafi on Batshuayi. The German even won a goal kick for his troubles, although he did appear to be limping afterwards. No more changes for Wenger to make, but he appears to be OK for the time being regardless.
Azpilicueta gets a shot away for Cech to keep out, but it looked to be creeping wide anyway so still no attempts on target for the Blues this evening. Just six more minutes for the hosts to see out now, with this win enough to lift them up to third.
SAVE! A shot on target for Chelsea at long last, but it really should have been more than just a corner to show for it. Batshuayi was played clean through with just Cech to beat, but the former Chelsea stopper kept the attempt out.
Pedro with a wild effort to compound the visitors' misery. Had that Batshuayi attempt gone in we may just have had a little excitement injected into this match, but it is certainly going to end with the Gunners taking all three points now.
Conte staring back-to-back league defeats in the face for the first time since 2009, with the Italian now needing to go back to the drawing board to get his side back on track. Three minutes of stoppage time to come.
Just the one shot on target for either side in this tame second half - the damage very much being done in those opening 45 minutes. All the noise being made by the home fans now, as they are just 60 seconds from a rare victory over their rivals.
FULL TIME: ARSENAL 3-0 CHELSEA
The full-time whistle sounds at the Emirates Stadium, where Arsenal have defeated Chelsea in the Premier League for the first time in 10 attempts. On a day of milestones in North London, most notably Arsene Wenger's 20-year anniversary at the club, the Gunners had the points in the bag thanks to first-half goals from Alexis Sanchez, Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil.
That concludes Sports Mole's text updates of events at the Emirates Stadium, but be sure to check out this on-the-whistle report before heading off. There is also live coverage of the LA Liga showdown between Las Palmas and Real Madrid, which can be found be clicking here. Enjoy!
