Frank Lampard returned to Stamford Bridge as interim boss following the sacking of Graham Potter at the start April but has lost all six of his games in charge – the last one being the empathic defeat to Arsenal yesterday at the Emirates. The Gunners moved back to the Premier League summit with their first win in four matches to boost their fading title hopes, condemning the Blues to yet another defeat.Following their 3-1 defeat in north London, the Blues boss branded his Chelsea players ‘too nice.”Not good enough first half, that’s what confirms the result.’ said Lampard.’The first half wasn’t good enough in every way. Much better second half. We were too nice to play against in all aspects in the first half.’In the second half we played much more like a team that has a threat up top. In the first half we were too easy to play against.’It’s tough because you want to win games, but it’s our job, we’ll work on it.’It’s the easy go-to that they don’t care enough – but the players certainly care. I question them as lads. But, and I hate to say it, they are low on confidence. Because you’re playing for Chelsea there’s a level of performance you have to do, you can be low on confidence but still show a dynamic side to your game.’We need to find the reasons quickly – but it won’t be an overnight fix. We have to do the basics better and then we’ll get some progress.’The first half was nowhere near good enough as a performance for the players that we’ve got and where we want to be as Chelsea but it’s a reality and that’s what I’ve come into. It’s what we need to improve as a club.’A walk in the park, that is what Chelsea are to Arsenal – Gunners back at the PL summitIn the opposite dugout, the mood was completely different. Mikel Arteta and his men did what had to be done to keep their title hopes alive – they recorded a victory and to make things sweeter, it was against town rivals Chelsea who have former Gunners captain Pierre Emerick Aubameyang and missed transfer window target Mykhailo Mudryk in their ranks.Ahead of the last night’s victory, Arsenal’s form was not great – they were eight points clear last month but had fallen behind Manchester City following a run of four winless games. Despite their recent run, Arteta had refused to rule Arsenal out of the title race and this win took them two points clear – although they have played two more games than City.##NAJAVA_MECA_7226420##The win over the Blues came as an adrenaline shot.’It is four games to go, we are at the top right now,’ Arteta said.’We cannot do that (let heads drop), to be where we are after 10 months against the team we are fighting against, being there and having the possibility to be top – we have to enjoy it and embrace it, maximise the opportunity that we have because we don’t know what is going to happen.’We wanted to have a very different approach to the game, and we did it right from the beginning.’The team is back to its best. We wanted to prove we had that fire in the belly. I could see that in the last few days, and we prepared (for) the game well.’Mentally we arrived in the right mood and with the right level of energy. Everything went for us as well, which is important.’We’ve had a couple of difficult weeks with very different games, with a lot of emotions involved. We’re back to the top of the league – let’s see what happens.’🗣️| Mikel Arteta on how much Arsenal needed the result vs Chelsea: ⁰“I don’t have a number, but personally a lot because if we want to have any chance to win this league we had to win today. “There was something there, we wanted to be back on top, after tonight we are and our… pic.twitter.com/URo0vG2c5p— Arsenal Buzz (@ArsenalBuzzCom) May 3, 2023 Although there were things to be ecstatic about (Odegaard’s two goals, Xhaka’s brace of assists, breaking a winless streak) – Arsenal’s victory came at a cost. Central defender Gabriel limped off in the second half with what appeared to be an ankle problem. With William Saliba’s availability for the game at St James’ Park in major doubt as he struggles to recover from a lower back injury, Gabriel’s fitness will be a huge concern for Arteta.’We cannot drop our heads. This was proof that the players still believe (they can win the title). To be in the position we are in after 10 months, I am not going to allow anybody not to talk about it and feel it.’ Arteta added on his side’s win that saw them leapfrog Manchester City into first position.’If we wanted to have any chance to win this league we had to win today. We want to be back on top and our job was back today.’
