GNOSISUnveiled

Chelsea 0-4 Arsenal: Gunners seal victory in Orlando over London rival

It was Orlando, it was July and the joke about the Florida Cup being played out in the city of Disneyworld and Mickey Mouse is an obvious one.

But let’s be clear – for all that this was a pre-season kickabout – Arsenal already look a million miles ahead of Chelsea in the race for the magic kingdom of the top four.

As they jet across the Atlantic on the way home, Mikel Arteta could be forgiven for ordering a glass of wine or two. Thomas Tuchel may want to hit the recline button on his flat bed. Unfortunately, when he wakes up this will not have been a bad dream.

Gabriel Jesus continued his impressive goal-scoring form since joining Arsenal this summer

Arsenal scored four, Chelsea scored none. It could have been more. Those from the London’s north looked balanced, sharp and cohesive. Those from the west looked a rabble.

Fine first-half goals from a fizzing Gabriel Jesus and Martin Odegaard killed what rarely looked like a contest. Bukayo Saka’s second-half tap-in and Albert Sambi Lokonga’s header added some justice to the scoreline.

They will rightly be wary of false dawns at the Emirates, but this looks a focussed side which – if it can stay injury free – oozes creativity.

In £45m Jesus, a man who was consistently inconsistent at Manchester City, they appear to have found someone to convert the many chances they make.

The Brazilian pulled off a lovely dink to get the better of Edouard Mendy in the first-half

On the left, Jesus’s former City team-mate Oleksandr Zinchenko, full of driving runs and shrewd interceptions, looked like he had been playing for the Gunners for years. He was, in fact, making his debut.

You get the impression that Tuchel has not been a big fan of Chelsea’s trip, which has seen them rattle through time zones and intense heat.

STS-130 Night Space Shuttle Launch | Launch of OV-105 Endeav\u2026 | Flickr

You also get the impression that he has not been a big fan of his side’s laborious performances. The German ripped into his players following their drab penalty shootout loss to Charlotte FC and was at it again here, furiously gesticulating from the bench.

Fitness may well have played a key role and Arsenal, with one more match under their belts, looked sharper. But when Tuchel needs to find answers with the clock ticking towards the start of the season. It seems obscene, given the amount of money Chelsea have spent on strikers, that they still need one. 

And yet here we are. The club’s new American owners in attendance, blameless in a situation that would be comical should it not be so grave, have every right to feel short-changed. It is very, very early days but for one night at least, Raheem Sterling did not have the same impact as Zinchenko in the 45 minutes they both spent on the field.

Thomas Tuchel was visibly displeased with his Chelsea side after the opening 45 minutes

Bar the lack of aggression and hurls of abuse from the stands, this felt like a proper game and to the 63,811 who flocked here, it was. There is a lot of snobbery about taking the nation’s game to the US in the UK and there should not be. This is a largely knowledgeable, loyal and passionate fanbase. 

The vast majority of people present had taken flights and booked expensive hotel rooms to be here. On Saturday night, the Irish bars of downtown Orlando were packed with fans of both clubs, without a hint of trouble. 

  • Sportsmail Reporter

    Host commentator

03:03

FULL TIME: CHELSEA 0-4 ARSENAL

It's all over in Orlando and what a game that was!

Nobody would've expected Arsenal to put in such a dominant performance, but goals from Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus, Martin Odegaard and Sambi Lokonga helped ensure that they did.

For Chelsea, it's a steep learning curve ahead of their next friendly against Udinese on Friday.

For those of you that stuck with us this evening, we hope you enjoyed the coverage and be sure to come back tomorrow for all the latest transfer news!

02:58

GOAL! Chelsea 0-4 Arsenal (Lokonga, 90)

Sambi Lokonga makes it four!

That's the nail in the coffin for Chelsea, who have been below par today. 

Great delivery to find Lokonga in the middle of the box, with no one around him, takes his time and heads past Mendy.

02:56

90 mins - Mendy with a big save

Mendy denies Pepe to keep it at 3-0.

The Ivorian curls a beautiful free-kick effort at goal which looks to be heading into the top corner, but for a great save by Mendy.

02:50

84 mins - Koulibaly to the rescue

Great block from the new Chelsea defender!

Nicolas Pepe was closing down on goal before Koulibaly got a foot in to break up the attack.

02:44

77 mins - Arsenal changes

Odegaard and Xhaka are replaced by Maitland-Niles and Lokonga.

02:41

73 mins - A number of changes

There have been a number of changes for both sides here including the introduction of Kalidou Koulibaly for Chelsea - who completed a £34million move to the Blues this summer.

02:38

Gunners running riot!

02:31

GOAL! Chelsea 0-3 Arsenal (Saka, 65)

Saka makes it three!

Edouard Mendy can do nothing there to stop the Englishman having made a brilliant double-save just before. 

Xhaka fires a shot at goal that Mendy palms, but Saka is there to poke it home.

Questions of offside, but there is no VAR in play this evening.

02:29

63 mins - Chelsea changes

Mount and Havertz are replaced by Ziyech and Batshuayi.

02:25

59 mins - Nketiah booked

Eddie Nketiah picks up a yellow card shortly after coming on. 

02:22

55 mins - Arsenal change

Eddie Nketiah replaces Gabriel Jesus.

02:20

53 mins - Blues started well

Chelsea are definitely looking better than they did in the first-half in Orlando.

Jorginho is at the heart of it all as he looks to thread passes through to Havertz and Pulisic.

A brief break in play as Jesus and Xhaka both need treatment.

02:17

50 mins - Big Chelsea chance

Patient play from Chelsea nearly leads to their first goal of the evening.

Azpilicueta's teasing ball into the box is just inches ahead of Marcos Alonso - who can't believe that he didn't get on the end of the cross.

02:13

BACK UNDERWAY

46min - We're back into the action here!

02:13

SECOND HALF SUBS

Arsenal: Nuno Tavares replaces Oleksandr Zinchenko

Chelsea: Cesar Azpilicueta, Marcos Alonso, Mateo Kovacic and Christian Pulisic come on for Emerson, Conor Gallagher, Timo Werner and Raheem Sterling. 

01:52

HALF-TIME: CHELSEA 0-2 ARSENAL

It's half-time here in Orlando and it's Arsenal in front thanks to goals from Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus.

01:52

48 mins - Mount hits the post!

So close for Mason Mount!

The Blues are millimeters from pulling one goal back, after Mount's effort flies across the face of goal and onto the post before bouncing away.

01:49

45 mins - Partey almost makes it three!

How close was that from Thomas Partey!

Brilliant play down the right side from Bukayo Saka before he pulls the ball back to Partey on the edge of the box.

The midfielder smacks his effort at goal and watches it soar narrowly over the bar.

01:47

44mins - Chelsea substitute

Trevor Chalobah is replaced by Malang Sarr. 

01:46

42 mins - Ramsdale palms away

A deflected cross causes slight issue for Arsenal's Ramsdale - who is at full stretch to keep Chelsea out.

01:40

GOAL! Chelsea 0-2 Arsenal (Odegaard, 35)

Odegaard makes it two!

The Arsenal pressure is relentless at the moment and they make their rivals pay with a clinical finish from the Norwegian. 

01:34

30 mins - Werner can't get to it

After a short drinks break, where both managers relayed some tactics, we're back to the action here.

Trevor Chalobah tries a long, searching ball for Timo Werner which the German nearly controls, but it rolls out for a goal-kick.

01:27

24 mins - Chelsea growing into the game

Better from the Blues.

After surviving 20 minutes of pressure from the Gunners, Chelsea are finally getting their grasp on the game.

No clear cut opportunities yet but at least they're playing in the opposition's half.

01:23

19 mins - Odegaard comes close

After Arsenal opened the scoring just moments ago, Martin Odegaard nearly doubles their tally from a free-kick.

The Norwegian fires an effort at goal which flies just over the bar - to Mendy's relief.

01:19

GOAL! Chelsea 0-1 Arsenal (Jesus, 15)

Gabriel Jesus opens the scoring in superb fashion!

Arsenal's pressure again proves too much for Chelsea, who give possession away cheaply.

The ball gets poked through to Jesus who makes no mistake in calmly chipping the ball over the oncoming Mendy.

01:18

13 - Arsenal in control

Arsenal's high-press is making it really difficult for Chelsea to play out and it's helping the Gunners to control proceedings in Orlando.

Arteta's side are getting a lot of luck down the right-hand side of Bukayo Saka.

01:13

9 - Gallagher making his mark

Conor Gallagher is certainly making his impression known on this match.

The midfielder has put in a number of crunching challenges in the middle of the pitch already - and just won a free-kick by poking his head at a high foot.

01:09

5 - Big save from Mendy!

What an opportunity for Bukayo Saka!

After a failed corner kick routine from Chelsea, the Gunners break with pace. 

Gabriel Martinelli leads the charge and finds Saka - but the England winger hits his effort straight at the goalkeeper.

01:07

2 mins - Arsenal take a couple knocks early on

Even though on paper this is a friendly, there'll always be a bit of tension between these two sides - and it's showing already!

Arsenal's Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka both fall victim to some hefty Chelsea tackles early on.

01:03

KICK-OFF!

1min: We're underway at the Camping World Stadium in Florida!

00:53

The scene is set in Orlando...

00:49

TEAM NEWS REMINDER

With kick-off just around the corner, here's a reminder of the two starting line-ups today:

Chelsea Startling XI: Mendy, James, Chalobah, Silva, Emerson, Gallagher, Jorginho, Mount, Sterling, Havertz, Werner

Arsenal Starting XI: Ramsdale, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Partey, Xhaka, Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli, Jesus

00:42

Chelsea pushing to finalise deal for Sevilla's Jules Kounde

Sevilla maintain they have yet to receive an offer from Barcelona for Chelsea target Jules Kounde as the transfer saga comes to a head.

Chelsea have a £55million agreement in place with Sevilla for the France international and are pushing to finalise the transfer with a five year contract.

Sevilla sporting director Monchi is due at his club's training camp in Lagos, Portugal on Sunday and is due to talk to Chelsea owner Todd Boehly.

CLICK BELOW FOR MORE

Chelsea have a £55million agreement in place with Sevilla for the France international and are pushing to finalise the transfer saga after offering Kounde a five year contract.

00:38

Warm-ups are underway!

00:30

Chelsea look focused ahead of kick-off...

00:19

ICYMI - Arsenal complete signing of Oleksandr Zinchenko from Man City

Arsenal completed the signing of Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City in a deal worth £32million on Friday night.

The 25-year-old moves to the Emirates Stadium after a six-year spell with City, where he picked up four Premier League titles and a runners-up medal in the 2021 Champions League final.

The Ukrainian international has been given his first opportunity to impress Arsenal fans with a start against Chelsea in Orlando.

CLICK BELOW FOR MORE

The 25-year-old moves to the Emirates Stadium after a six-year spell with City, where he picked up four Premier League titles and a runners-up medal in the 2021 Champions League final.

00:17

And so have the Gunners...

00:13

The Blues have arrived at the Camping World Stadium

00:10

ARSENAL TEAM NEWS

Starting XI: Ramsdale, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Partey, https://www.spacelaunchreport.com/ Xhaka, Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli, Jesus

Substitutes: Turner, Bellerin, Walters, Cedric, Tavares, Mari, Holding, Maitland-Niles, Lokonga, Elneny, Marquinhos, Pepe, Nelson, Balogun, Nketiah

00:08

CHELSEA TEAM NEWS

Starting XI: Mendy, James, Chalobah, Silva, Emerson, Gallagher, Jorginho, Mount, Sterling, Havertz, Werner

Substitutes: Bettinelli, Sharman-Lowe, Alonso, Azpilicueta, Chilwell, Ampadu, Koulibaly, Sarr, Kovacic, Hudson-Odoi, Pulisic, Ziyech, Batshuayi

00:04

Good evening!

Good evening and welcome to Sportsmail's coverage of the pre-season friendly between Chelsea and Arsenal in Orlando.

We'll be bringing you updates on all the action throughout the night - with team news to come shortly!

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