Chelsea’s Michy Batshuayi (left) shoots past Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka during their pre-season football match in Beijing’s National Stadium, known as the Bird’s Nest, yesterday. Chelsea won 3-0. PHOTO: AFP
Batshuayi was the man of the match as he scored two of Chelsea’s 3-1 thrashing of Arsenal in the Antonio Conte’s side second pre-season outing in Beijing, yesterday.
Arsenal’s own star signing, former Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette, had a low-key game.
French international Olivier Giroud entered the game in the second half and provided some spark but his early shots were saved or wide. Willian opened the scoring in the 40th minute, beating Ospina with a low drive.
Two minutes later, Premier League player of the year N’Golo Kante fed Batshuayi, who beat Ospina again with a left-footed shot from the edge of the box. After the game, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger brushed aside a question about rumours that Chile forward Alexis Sanchez could move to Paris St-Germain, saying: “It’s only media imagination”.
However, Chelsea forward Pedro was taken to hospital with a possible concussion after colliding with Arsenal’s goalkeeper during the Blues’ 3-0 preseason win over their London rivals in Beijing on Saturday.
The 29-year-old Spaniard was left reeling on the ground with a bloodied face inside the first half hour of the game after Colombian keeper David Ospina flew into him while clearing a long-ball with two fists.
The victory gave the Blues some measure of revenge against their London rivals after Arsenal stunned Chelsea 2-1 in the FA Cup final in May to deny the Premier League champions the double.
After receiving medical attention on the pitch for several minutes, Pedro got up and walked off with blood in his nose, lips and right ear.
Conte said he did not know whether Pedro would have to spend the night in hospital, but if the Spaniard is better on Sunday he will travel with the team to Singapore to continue the preseason.
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