West Ham stun Chelsea, Aubameyang fires Arsenal revival
West Ham rocked Chelsea's top-four expectations and boosted their survival bid with a good dramatic 3-2 gain, while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang struck twice as Arsenal climbed back to European contention with a good 4-0 thrashing of Norwich on Wednesday.
Chelsea were hoping to have benefit of third-placed Leicester's 2-1 defeat at Everton earlier in the day, but instead the Blues were beaten for the very first time because the Premier League restart.
West Ham were denied the beginning goal at the London Stadium when VAR ruled Michail Antonio was first offside while he lay on the floor even while Tomas Soucek slotted home.
Willian fired Chelsea in advance from the penalty spot 5 minutes before half-time just after Issa Diop tripped Christian Pulisic.
Soucek headed home found in first-half stoppage time seeing that West Ham finally scored their earliest goal since the restart.
Antonio set West Ham in front in the 51st minute when he slid directly into convert Jarrod Bowen's cross.
Willian's exceptional 70th-minute free-kick drew Chelsea level, nonetheless it was West Ham who broke aside to win it in the 89th minute when alternative Andriy Yarmolenko finished an excellent counter attack.
Chelsea are one stage in back of Leicester and only two before Manchester United and Wolves as being the race to qualify for the Champions Group hots up with 6 games left.
"It's the history of our season. It has been an excellent season but there have been so several occasions," Chelsea boss Frank Lampard explained.
"I'm unhappy with any of the goals. There have been details in the overall game which we recognized but we misplaced because we didn't get them right.
"It's why we will be fighting for the top four and not primary or second. We don't get things right up to the big males do."
West Ham's crucial 1st win since the restart moved them 3 points clear of the relegation zone.
At the Emirates Stadium, Aubameyang moved alongside Jamie Vardy as the Premier League's top scorer on 19 goals on a night of contrasting fortunes for the Golden Boot contenders.
Arsenal authorized a third straight get to go up to seventh against a Norwich aspect ever more resigned to relegation.
Canaries keeper Tim Krul did his part zero favours by gifting the opener to Aubameyang when he was first caught trying to dribble past the Gabon international.
Aubameyang's first found him reach 50 Premier League goals in 79 appearances -- building him the fastest Arsenal player to attain that landmark.
"A player that's able to score as many goals as he did in that short time lets you know everything about the value that he offers for us," said Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta.
Aubameyang turned provider for Granit Xhaka to create it 2-0 before half-time and was first then handed another gift when Norwich striker Josip Drmic teed him up to create it 3-0.
Cedric Soares, signed from Southampton in January, produced his debut someone to remember with a long-range strike 9 minutes from time to round off the scoring.
- Leicester lose more surface -
Leicester are headed in the opposite direction while their winless run since English football's restart from the coronavirus pandemic stretched to a number of games.
Richarlison and Gylfi Sigurdsson's penalty gave Everton an ideal start at Goodison Park.
Kelechi Iheanacho's fortunate target as the ball ricocheted in off his face reduced Leicester's arrears and they pressed hard for an equaliser in the closing stages.
"Our form hasn't been the best for an interval now but we still own it found in our hands to achieve what will be a dream for us, getting into the top several," explained Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers.
In the bottom of the table, Bournemouth also suffered a huge blow within their battle to beat the drop with a humiliating 4-1 home defeat by Newcastle.
Dwight Gayle, Sean Longstaff, Miguel Almiron and Valentino Lazaro were on aim for for the Magpies.
Bournemouth remain in the bottom three and the margin of defeat could also prove costly because they drop below Aston Villa in goal difference into 19th.
