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Chelsea beat Arsenal 3-2 in London derby thriller

Chelsea's Spanish defender Marcos Alonso celebrates after scoring their third goal during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge in London on August 18, 2018.
Chelsea's Spanish defender Marcos Alonso celebrates after scoring their third goal during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge in London on August 18, 2018.
Image: Glyn KIRK / AFP

Chelsea beat Arsenal 3-2 in a pulsating London Premier League derby on Saturday with defender Marcos Alonso scoring an 81st-minute winner after the Gunners had fought back from an early 2-0 deficit.

In a hectic first half, Chelsea went ahead in the ninth minute when Pedro buried a cross by Alonso.

Out-of-form striker Alvaro Morata scored only his second league goal of 2018, fed by a through ball from Cesar Azpilicueta 11 minutes later.

Arsenal clawed their way back into the game in the 37th minute when Henrikh Mkhitaryan drilled in a low shot that Kepa Arrizabalaga -- the world's most expensive goalkeeper making his home debut -- could not keep out. Alex Iwobi made it 2-2 four minutes later as Arsenal exploited Chelsea's vulnerability on the flanks.

In a tighter second half, neither side could carve out as many chances but Alonso settled the game when Belgium winger Eden Hazard, on as a substitute, carved open the Arsenal defence for the Spanish defender to finish in Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri's first home game in charge.

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