Arsenal at the moment are 4 video games with out victory within the Premier League after solely managing a 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon.
There was nothing to separate the London foes throughout an interesting first half, with neither facet capable of produce the crowning glory to match the power and depth of an end-to-end affair.
Gabriel Martinelli had fired Arsenal in entrance after an hour however Pedro Neto responded with a wonderful strike from the sting of the realm because the factors had been shared in west London.
How the sport unfolded
Chelsea had been handed an infinite enhance earlier than kick-off as talisman Cole Palmer was handed match for a crunch London derby regardless of an damage scare. The England worldwide nearly made his presence felt throughout the opening three minutes, forcing David Raya right into a fingertip save from a swerving 25-yard strike.
Arsenal had been additionally relieved to see the return of Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice to their beginning lineup at Stamford Bridge, with each offering a component of management for the Gunners in the course of the early phases in a cacophonous capital environment.
The opening 25 minutes had been performed at a frenetic tempo and each side spurned promising alternatives halfway via the primary interval. Malo Gusto inexplicably headed over the crossbar from six yards earlier than Gabriel Martinelli stung Robert Sanchez’s palm on the different finish. A warning signal for each defences.
A well-recognized face thought he had damaged the impasse for the guests within the thirty second minute, former Chelsea striker Kai Havertz poking residence after an clever fast free kick from Declan Rice. Nevertheless, after a two-minute VAR evaluation, the German’s effort was disallowed for a marginal offside to the aid of the house crowd.
An evenly-split first half got here to a cagey conclusion but it surely was Arsenal who snuck in entrance quarter-hour after the restart. Odegaard’s dinked cross into the field was collected by Martinelli, who side-footed previous Sanchez on the close to publish to carry the Gunners’ two-game purpose drought to an finish.
Nevertheless, Arsenal’s lead lasted simply ten minutes. The indefatigable Neto, who had moved to the best flank following Mykhailo Mudryk’s introduction, waltzed into area and was picked out by Enzo Fernandez earlier than rattling an beautiful end low and arduous past the helpless Raya.
Half-chances got here and went for each side, with neither eager to commit too many our bodies within the ultimate third, however Sanchez and Raya had been seldom stretched into saves. Late substitutions took the sting out of the tie as each groups settled for a hard-fought level, though Leandro Trossard missed a wonderful alternative to win it for the Gunners with the ultimate kick of the sport.
Neither will likely be overly involved with dropping factors at Stamford Bridge, with Arsenal bringing their two-game dropping run to a detailed and Chelsea securing a useful level towards elite opposition regardless of being beneath their finest.
GK: Robert Sanchez – 5/10 – Set nerves jangling round Stamford Bridge along with his distribution following some shaky shows this season and was crushed too simply at his close to publish by Martinelli.
RB: Malo Gusto – 6/10 – The improper man in the best place as he fired a header over the body of the purpose from Chelsea’s finest first-half opening. Supplied attacking thrust however was absent as Martinelli opened the scoring.
CB: Wesley Fofana – 7/10 – Probably the most imposing of Chelsea’s defensive unit and was recurrently referred to as upon to disclaim Arsenal’s attacking expertise.
CB: Levi Colwill – 6/10 – Booked early doorways for a scissor problem on Saka however steadied himself afterwards. Performed Martinelli onside as Arsenal went forward.
LB: Marc Cucurella – 8/10 – Stifled Saka in the course of the first half and coped properly with the fleet-footed winger after the break.
DM: Moises Caicedo – 7/10 – Continued his spectacular type on the base of midfield, trying comfy out and in of possession. Hardly ever misplaced a move all through.
DM: Romeo Lavia – 6/10 – Not as concerned on or off the ball as his midfield associate Caicedo however produced a reliable show to restrict area via the center.
RW: Noni Madueke – 6/10 – Carried out his defensive duties with admirable vigour however didn’t make any important impression within the ultimate third.
AM: Cole Palmer – 6/10 – Struggled to affect proceedings in the course of the first half bar one terrific dipping shot from vary. Confirmed glimpses of his high quality after the break with out ever glowing.
LW: Pedro Neto – 8/10 – Loved a back-and-forth battle with Ben White, which he gained most of the time. Equalised with a luxurious strike as persistence paid off.
ST: Nicolas Jackson – 6/10 – Stretched Arsenal’s midfield and defence along with his highly effective runs however his affect waned within the closing phases.
Substitutes
SUB: Enzo Fernandez (68′ for Lavia) – 7/10
SUB: Mykhailo Mudryk (68′ for Madueke) – 6/10
SUB: Reece James (82′ for Gusto) – 6/10
SUB: Christopher Nkunku (88′ for Jackson) – N/A
Subs not used: Filip Jorgensen (GK), Benoit Badiashile, Tosin Adarabioyo, Renato Veiga, Joao Felix.
Supervisor
Enzo Maresca – 6/10 – Maresca will doubtless be happy with a hard-fought draw towards a fully-fit Arsenal XI however he might have needed somewhat extra urgency and high quality from his facet in and across the penalty space.
GK: David Raya – 6/10 – Protected by his defence and was dependable when referred to as upon inside his penalty space. Neto’s effort was comfortably past his attain.
RB: Ben White – 5/10 – Tussled with Neto down the right-hand facet however by no means had management of the battle, even selecting up a reserving for a unnecessary off the ball collision. Appeared higher when the Portuguese winger swapped sides.
CB: William Saliba – 7/10 – A composed efficiency from the Frenchman, who learn the sport properly and was dependable in possession.
CB: Gabriel – 6/10 – Largely coped properly with Chelsea’s star-studded ahead line and was left uncovered by an absent midfield as Neto produced the leveller down his facet.
LB: Jurrien Timber – 6/10 – Managed to maintain Madueke quiet for probably the most half however was posed a mightier problem by Neto after the break.
CM: Martin Odegaard – 7/10 – The Norwegian’s first begin since early September and his ingenuity created Arsenal’s opener. Not probably the most influential efficiency of his profession however a gradual return.
CM: Thomas Partey – 5/10 – Having impressed in latest weeks, this was a barely disappointing efficiency from Partey. Supplied Arsenal little on the ball and wasn’t overly convincing defensively.
CM: Declan Rice – 6/10 – Deemed match sufficient to start out after his latest damage scare, placing in a strong if unspectacular show on his return to the group.
RW: Bukayo Saka – 6/10 – Underwhelmed in the course of the first half as he struggled to finest Cucurella however grew into proceedings. Nonetheless, the normally distinctive winger was somewhat off the tempo right here.
ST: Kai Havertz – 6/10 – Got here inside inches of opening the scoring with a intelligent toe-poke within the first half solely to be foiled by VAR. Did not see a lot of the ball within the quantity 9 place.
LW: Gabriel Martinelli – 7/10 – Notably Arsenal’s brightest attacker as he scored a intelligent purpose to alleviate some strain on a misfiring ahead line. Appeared full of life all through regardless of not being at his finest.
Substitutions
SUB: Mikel Merino (71′ for Rice) – 7/10
SUB: Leandro Trossard (71′ for Martinelli) – 5/10
SUB: Gabriel Jesus (81′ for Saka) – 6/10
Subs not used: Neto (GK), Jakub Kiwior, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri, Jorginho.
Supervisor
Mikel Arteta – 6/10 – The Spaniard’s facet stopped the rot but it surely was removed from a convincing show from the Gunners, who nonetheless look a shadow of their finest selves.
