ALONSO AT THE NICK OF TIME SAVES CHELSEA FROM ARSENAL COMEBACK

Chelsea’s Marcos Alonso scored the decisive goal to put score-line at 3-2 to wade off a possible upstage by the visiting Arsenal who made a dramatic comeback in a thriller at Stamford Bridge.

Pedro gave Chelsea the lead after just nine minutes, converting Alonso’s cross.

Less than a minute after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had missed a great chance to equalise, Alvaro Morata doubled Chelsea’s lead from Cesar Azpilicueta’s ball over the top.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who had also missed a fine opportunity, pulled one back on 37 minutes and then crossed for Nigeria’s Alex Iwobi to make it 2-2.

Both sides had chances after the restart to win it, but Eden Hazard, a second-half substitute, crossed from the left for Alonso to stroke in the winner with just nine minutes remaining.