Arsenal have returned to the top of the Premier League thanks to a 1-0 win away to Chelsea that was entirely deserved considering how supine the hosts appeared from start to finish.
Gabriel's close-range finish a little after the hour mark was enough for Mikel Arteta's team to claim another vital three points at Stamford Bridge. And it was unsurprisingly a good day for the England contenders in the away team and a very disappointing one for those representing the hosts.
Here are the winners and losers with four days until Gareth Southgate names his 26-man Three Lions squad for Qatar.
Winners
Bukayo Saka
Not least because he came through the game unscathed.
During the warm up the England winger appeared to be given an additional stretching routine by Arsenal ’s medical staff, leading to initial fears from those watching from afar. Only he and the medical staff truly know if there is a lingering effect from the ankle injury sustained against Nottingham Forest a week ago.
But during 90 minutes of high-intensity, if overall low-quality, action here Saka looked completely fine. Not even an early, fierce challenge from Marc Cucurella had much of an affect as the 21-year-old capped off a fine all-round display by providing the assist for Gabriel’s decisive goal.
Ben White
Because he has been used at right back, there has been a justifiable train of thought that he might not be part of the England squad announced by Gareth Southgate on Thursday. It is the position where, on paper, the national team are best stocked.
But on this evidence, and factoring in injury concerns to Reece James and Kyle Walker coupled with Trent Alexander-Arnold’s patchy form, could he end up making the 26? He was defensively assured against a flaccid Chelsea attack but more notable was how often in the first half he drove forward to support Saka and double up on Marc Cucurella.
There was a wild shot over the bar early on but his passing and positioning was outstanding.
Losers
Raheem Sterling
If the England pair on Arsenal’s right produced convincing auditions, the opposite could be said for Chelsea’s big summer signing.
The 27-year-old still appears assured of his spot in Southgate’s starting XI later this month but the challengers are gaining ground and his indifferent form must be considered a concern.
Chelsea’s entire attacking unit were poor today but Sterling has been out of sorts for a significant period of time as he shifts from position to position as Graham Potter continues to work on finding the best formula.
Mason Mount
Since breaking through under Frank Lampard, Mount has been the most reliable of performers for club and country. Yet he currently looks heavy-legged and lacking the familiar spark.
Mount is in a very similar position to Sterling as Southgate’s loyalty and the fact he has never let England down mean he will remain firmly in the World Cup plans. But there are other alternatives in better form pushing for inclusion and should the Iran game not go as comfortably as many envisaged, it is easy to imagine a situation where he is one of the first to be sacrificed.
