Chelsea win London derby

Returnee Chelsea striker, Romelu Lukaku, scored his first ever goal for the Blues – almost a decade after his debut – as Thomas Tuchel’s team deservedly beat Arsenal 2-0 on Sunday afternoon at the Emirates Stadium.

Lukaku, who was at Chelsea as a teenager, started at the Emirates after his £98million signing from Inter Milan and looks to have given the Blues an ominous new dimension.

His hold-up and link-up play caused Arsenal problems all day – and the Belgian duly gave them the lead.

Lukaku was involved in the build-up and then finished the move from close range into an empty net from Reece James’ pass in the 15th minute.

James got the second himself as he slammed the ball into the roof of the net in the 35th minute from Mason Mount’s pass to make it two wins from two in the league.

Lukaku almost made it 3-0 but his header was tipped onto the bar by Bernd Leno.

Arsenal, missing centre-back Ben White through Covid, have now lost more London derbies in the Premier League this season than last – after just two games.

It is only the third time Arsenal had lost their opening two Premier League matches in a season.

European champions Chelsea were already being tipped as major title contenders, having been one of the best teams around since Tuchel’s arrival in January.

Meanwhile, Gary Neville insisted Lukaku makes Chelsea ‘serious title challengers.

Neville believes the Belgian forward is exactly ‘that piece of the jigsaw’ the club needs for a Premier League title push.

“He’s an absolute guarantee (of goals) for Chelsea. I said a couple of weeks ago, I didn’t think Pep Guardiola would sign him – who needs a centre forward – I don’t think Jurgen Klopp would sign him, I’m not sure Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would ever sign him again because of what happened last time.

“But he’s perfect for Chelsea. Absolute guarantee. 80 goals in the last two seasons [64], I just think historically with (Diego) Costa, with Didier Drogba, they’ve always had a great single striker and I think Lukaku is a great single striker.

“He’ll take the pressure off those ones around, those supplementary players, that are really talented but don’t really carry the 25-30 goals the team need and I think that he makes Chelsea serious title challengers so I do feel as though he is that piece of the jigsaw that Chelsea needed.”

The 28-year-old, who signed a five-year contract with the club, was named in manager Thomas Tuchel’s starting line-up against the Gunners.

Last season’s signings Kai Havertz (£62m) and Timo Werner (£48m), perhaps more naturally attacking midfielders or wide forwards rather than central strikers, led the line last season but Lukaku is highly likely to take that role this campaign.