EPL 2021: Returning hero Romelu Lukaku sets up Chelsea’s 2-0 win at Arsenal

The Belgium international Romelu Lukaku provided the Blues with the kind of muscular presence in attack they have lacked since the departure of Diego Costa in 2017, both when running at Arsenal’s defence and holding the ball up with his back to goal.

A goal by Romelu Lukaku on his second Chelsea debut and a strike by defender Reece James earned the Blues a comfortable 2-0 win at London rivals Arsenal on Sunday (August 22), their second victory in as many games at the start of the Premier League season. An almost unstoppable Lukaku needed only 15 minutes to get off the mark for the European champions following his reported 97.5 million pounds ($132.8 million) transfer from Inter Milan, tapping in a cross played into his path by James. The wing-back scored Chelsea’s second goal himself 20 minutes later, taking his time to fire past goalkeeper Bernd Leno after being found in acres of space by Mason Mount. Lukaku, who never scored a league goal for the Blues in his first spell at Stamford Bridge, showed why Chelsea were prepared to break their spending record to bring him back to the club seven years after he left London. The Belgium international provided the Blues with the kind of muscular presence in attack they have lacked since the departure of Diego Costa in 2017, both when running at Arsenal’s defence and holding the ball up with his back to goal.