Report: Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal (inc. goals)

11/10/2024 01:33 PM

Arsenal: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber, Partey, Rice, Odegaard, Martinelli, Saka, Havertz

Subs: Neto, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Jorginho, Lewis-Skelly, Nwaneri, Merino, Jesus, Trossard

Arsenal lost further ground on their title rivals after drawing 1-1 with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, with Gabriel Martinelli’s second half strike quickly cancelled out by Pedro Neto.

Mikel Arteta made two changes to the team that lost against Inter on Wednesday with Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard both deemed fit enough to start, replacing Mikel Merino and Leandro Trossard.

Chelsea started well and David Raya was called into action within minutes when Cole Palmer found space and struck a rasping effort from distance, but the Spaniard reacted quickly to tip over.

Arsenal did eventually settle in possession but the hosts had another sight of goal when Palmer turned Thomas Partey too easily in midfield, before freeing Pedro Neto who found Noni Madueke at the back post, only for his header arrowed wide.

The hosts should have been ahead when Neto toyed with Ben White on the left hand side, before drifting a perfect cross to the back post – leaving Raya stranded – but Malo Gusto headed over under pressure from Martinelli.

Then it was Arsenal’s turn to test the goalkeeper when their high press caught Chelsea in possession, with the ball falling to Martinelli after Saka saw his initial shot blocked, but he could only find the outstretched arm of Robert Sanchez after taking the ball well into his stride.

Heading into the half hour mark, the game was becoming increasingly frenetic and Kai Havertz thought he put Arteta’s men ahead after quick thinking from Declan Rice played him through on goal before finishing brilliantly under pressure.

He celebrated by shushing his former fans but the goal was correctly ruled out after VAR intervention.

Half time provided a welcome breather for both sides, although the first half was low on quality despite Chelsea probably edging the contest on chances. The Gunners did grow into the game but their attacking play was far from fluid again.

After the break, there was another nearly moment for the hosts when Wesley Fofana did well to escape the clutches of William Saliba but sent a looping effort over on the stretch.

But it was Arsenal who would break the deadlock after a brilliant pass from Odegaard found Martinelli unmarked at the back post, who controlled and finished expertly at the near post with Chelsea sleeping. 1-0.

You could sense the relief in his celebration – kissing the badge in front of the travelling fans – and also the Gunners collectively, who knew how important that goal was after a difficult run of results.

That goal flicked a switch in Arsenal who were close to doubling their lead moments later, when a brilliant piece of individual play from Jurrien Timber saw him slalom between three Blues defenders and strike just wide from the edge of the area.

Unfortunately, that shot of energy would last just ten minutes when Neto was given the freedom of the pitch to shoot from 25 yards and he obliged with a clinical effort into the bottom corner. 1-1.

It was a great strike from the winger but there are questions to be asked of the Gunners’ defending with Partey and Rice both positioned as centre backs for some reason, unable to close down the ball quickly enough.

With 20 minutes to play, Arteta responded with a double change, bringing on Mikel Merino and Leandro Trossard for Rice and Martinelli – and Merino almost made an instant impact.

He was inches away from converting a Saka cross which somehow found its way to the back post, before rising high at the back post to head across for Havertz who was unable to stretch in front of the goalkeeper.

Saka was then forced off after a heavy challenge from Marc Cucurella and swiftly replaced by Gabriel Jesus.

The game was becoming increasingly stretched at that point and there was another golden chance for the Gunners, who saw Jesus break down the right and cross to Merino who couldn’t quite connect before Trossard blasted over from close range.

It was a terrible miss from the Belgian who is usually reliable in those situations but upon further replays, Jesus looked just offside in the build up.

Deep into injury time, it looked like Arsenal would snatch all three points after Odegaard found Saliba deep into the Chelsea penalty area, but his cross was somehow diverted wide by Trossard with Havertz ready to tap in behind him.

Saliba might have been offside in the build up, but that chance not only summed up the day – but the season – for Arsenal who have been a “nearly” team far too often.

Arteta’s men now sit nine points behind leaders Liverpool after 11 games, and paid the price for switching off defensively after working so hard to take the lead.

There is still plenty of time to turn things around but already the title looks further away than it has in the last two campaigns, and it would take an incredible run to make up the difference.

Fingers crossed for everybody’s health during the international break and against Forest on November 23rd – we go again.

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