Chelsea v Arsenal LIVE: Result and final score after Pedro Neto levels with stunner in feisty London derby
Gabriel Martinelli’s goal was cancelled out by Pedro Neto as Arsenal substitute Leandro Trossard wasted a golden chance with the last kick of the game
Chelsea and Arsenal shared the spoils in a tense and at times bruising 1-1 battle at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, keeping the London sides level in the Premier League, but still nine points adrift of leaders Liverpool.
Gabriel Martinelli put the visitors in front in the 60th minute, turning in a neatly lifted ball from captain Martin Odegaard, whose influence on his return from injury proved crucial after the Gunners’ failure to score in their last two games.
Chelsea equalised 10 minutes later when substitute Enzo Fernandez pushed the ball to the ever-lively Pedro Neto just outside the Arsenal area and the Portuguese stepped to one side and shot low to David Raya’s left.
The result lifted Chelsea to third and Arsenal to fourth in the table, both on 19 points.
Goals at both ends
Chelsea could concede in seven consecutive Premier League home games for the first time since 2016 but the Blues have scored seven goals from set pieces (including a penalty), the highest tally in the top flight.
An unwanted record
Arsenal could lose three in a row on the road without scoring for the first time since August 1994.
Arsenal need to fix their defence
Despite having the best defence in the Premier League last season, Arsenal have conceded the opening goal in four of their last six league games and dropped points in five of their last eight.
Can they rediscover their back line stability?
Chelsea versus the big six
Chelsea’s only three defeats in their last 25 Premier League games have come against Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool.
Their tally of 18 points is six more than they had after 10 Premier League matches last season under Mauricio Pochettino.
Injuries are taking their toll but Arsenal’s issues run far deeper – and Edu’s exit comes at the worst time
There’s an example some modern coaches use to show a team that has run out of ideas: it is when they start swinging in crosses, repeatedly, to no effect. Arsenal tried that 46 times against Inter on Wednesday. It isn’t quite the 81 that David Moyes’ Manchester United attempted in the case study example against Fulham in February 2014, but it’s clearly a problem.
Three defeats in six isn’t even the team’s worst run in the last year, but the issue is that it feels like there is something deeper going on. The jubilant excitement about Mikel Arteta’s time, stretching back to the summer of 2022, has abruptly transformed into anxiety, manifesting in an impotent frustration on the pitch. It just isn’t happening for Arsenal right now. It’s all so forced. Headlines about issues the surprise departure of sporting director Edu then become even more consequential, fostering a sense everything is going wrong.
Injuries are taking their toll – but Arsenal’s issues run far deeper
The Gunners head to Chelsea on Sunday in desperate need of a win to lift the sudden gloom, writes Miguel Delaney
Arsenal’s slow start
Arsenal have 18 points after 10 matches, compared to 27 points in 2022/23 and 24 in 2023/24 when they were in contention to challenge for the title.
That is the same amount of points as Chelsea with the winner of today’s game jumping into the top four in the Premier League.
Chelsea’s good form
Chelsea have lost just once in nine Premier League matches since their defeat on the opening weekend. They have won five and drawn three of the games during that run.
Arteta on Maresca
Mikel Arteta says he is ‘really impressed’ with the job Enzo Maresca has done at Chelsea this season.
He spoke about his opposite number and said: “I’m really impressed about what [Enzo Maresca’s] done, but what they’ve done over a year because with Mauricio [Pocchetino] the last six months were extraordinary.
“You could see the squad, the quality they have, the amount of players they have and then Enzo has given his touch and you can see clearly what he wants to do. I think he’s been really brave from day one to consistently follow what he wanted to do.”
Chelsea v Arsenal: Confirmed line-ups
So Chelsea’s team is about as strong as it can be, with Cole Palmer passed fit after a knock last week. Jadon Sancho has failed to make the bench but wouldn’t have started anyway.
Mike Arteta is boosted by the availability of Declan Rice and Kai Havertz, after recent foot and head injuries respectively. Martin Odegaard came off the bench against Inter Milan in midweek, and comes in to the first XI here for his first start since August.
Chelsea v Arsenal: Confirmed line-ups
Cole Palmer and Kai Havertz both start!
Chelsea: Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo (c), Lavia; Madueke, Palmer, Neto; Jackson.
Subs: Jorgensen, James, Adarabioyo, Badiashile, Veiga, Fernandez, Joao Felix, Mudryk, Nkunku.
Arsenal: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Partey, Rice; Saka, Odegaard (c), Martinelli; Havertz.
Subs: Neto, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Lewis-Skelly, Merino, Jorginho, Nwaneri, Trossard, Jesus.
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