Points Shared at the Bridge in Thrilling London Derby Draw

Pedro Neto’s glorious strike from 22 yards, ten minutes after the Gunners’ opener, means Chelsea climb into third, whilst Arsenal occupy the fourth spot.

Arsenal’s title hopes took another blow as Chelsea held them to a draw at Stamford Bridge on Super Sunday. The result means that Chelsea go into third whilst Arsenal move into the top four; both sides on 19 points and nine points from league leaders Liverpool. The Gunners will now have to wait until after the international break to find their next league win, after only winning one in the last five league games. They face Nottingham Forest at the Emirates on the 23rd of November. Chelsea meanwhile have only lost once in their last ten (in all competitions) and their fine form continues as their confidence grows. The Blues travel to Leicester after the international break.

 (Photo courtesy of Arsenal.com)

Match Information:

Chelsea vs Arsenal

Premier League

Stamford Bridge

Sunday 10th November – 4:30pm

Referee: Michael Oliver.

Team News:

Chelsea

XI: Robert Sanchez (GK), Malo Gusto, Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill, Marc Cucurella, Moises Caicedo ©, Romeo Lavia, Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke, Pedro Neto, Nicholas Jackson.

Subs: Filip Jorgensen (GK), Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoit Badiashile, Reece James, Renato Veiga, Enzo Fernandez, Mykhailo Mudryk, Christopher Nkunku, Joao Felix.

Arsenal

XI: David Raya (GK), Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Jurrien Timber, Thomas Partey, Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard ©, Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz.

Subs: Neto (GK), Jakub Kiwior, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Jorginho, Mikel Merino, Ethan Nwaneri, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Jesus.

The first big chance in the match came after twenty minutes when Pedro Neto beat Ben White to whip in a perfect cross to the back post, only for Marlo Gusto to head the ball over the bar from six yards.

A few minutes later, it was Arsenal’s turn to rue a golden chance to take the lead. Gabriel Martinelli received the ball on the left side of Chelsea’s box, and after a good touch out of his feet, his timid effort across goal was met with a parried save from Robert Sanchez. Many would expect him to score from that distance and angle, but it was on his weak foot.

Five minutes on, the Gunners had the ball in the back of the net via ex-Chelsea marksman, Kai Havertz; but it was ruled out for offside. Quick thinking from Declan Rice on an Arsenal free-kick gifted Havertz the ball in between two Chelsea defenders and an oncoming goalkeeper. The Arsenal forward slotted the ball past Sanchez and the German celebrated in front of his former fans, only for it to be reviewed by VAR and disallowed a brief moment later.  

Nicholas Jackson won the hosts a couple of free-kicks in a flurry of Chelsea attacks before half time; but Cole Palmer struck the wall on both occasions.

Arsenal took the lead on the hour mark after skipper, Martin Odegaard, delivered a beautiful over-the-top pass to the back post for Martinelli. The Brazilian winger composed himself, took a touch and rifled the ball past Sanchez at the front post.

It didn’t take long for the boys in blue to level the scores though. Ten minutes after the visitor’s goal, the hosts got one of their own through Neto. Midfield maestro Enzo Fernandez teed up the Portuguese winger who cut in from the right and produced a stunning low strike to beat David Raya from 22-yards.

 (Photo courtesy of The Independent)

It was Chelsea’s turn to be on the receiving end of a disallowed goal, five minutes from their legitimate one. Jackson made a lengthy run in between the lines and comfortably slotted the ball past Raya only for the linesman to lift his flag in what was an obvious but delayed offside.

Leandro Trossard missed a massive opportunity to put his side into the lead in the 87th minute. Gabriel Jesus burst forward on the right flank and delivered the ball across the box towards the versatile Belgian forward. However, Trossard blazed the ball over the bar from roughly six yards out. Although replays suggest Jesus was offside.

 (Photo courtesy of beIN SPORTS)

In deep stoppage time, seconds before the final whistle, Arsenal missed another opportunity to take all three points. William Saliba continued his run forward, placing himself onto the left flank, where he received a pass from Odegaard and slipped in a cross for Trossard and Havertz, who were queuing up for the winner. But the Belgian sub fumbled the opportunity, and the ball trickled past the back post, whilst Havertz was left with his head in his hands as the ref blew for the final whistle.

FULL TIME:

CHELSEA 1-1 ARSENAL