Arsenal vs Chelsea as it happened: Premier League – Hector Bellerin scores late equaliser for Gunners in thriller
Match report: Bellerin strikes dramatic late equaliser in thrilling finale
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Your support makes all the difference.Hector Bellerin's stoppage-time goal rescued a 2-2 draw for Arsenal in a pulsating and controversial Premier League clash with Chelsea.
It looked like Chelsea had come from behind to triumph when Marcos Alonso struck six minutes from time, after Jack Wilshere's first league goal since May 2015 had been cancelled out by an Eden Hazard penalty.
But the Gunners would not be beaten and Bellerin punished Alonso's poor clearing header with a fine finish for a share of the points - though there was still time for Chelsea's Davide Zappacosta to hit the crossbar.
Relive all the action with Liam Corless below and read Miguel Delaney's match report here:
Good evening! It's an all-London showdown tonight at the Emirates as Chelsea travel to Arsenal seeking to put a sizable dent into the Gunners' top-four ambitions. It is the first meeting between the two sides of three in three weeks, with their two-legged EFL Cup semi-final on the horizon. They are about to get very sick of each other.
Liam will be here shortly with all the team news and build-up ahead of kick-off at 7.45pm GMT. Strap in, it could be a blockbuster. And for some pre-match reading, here is the superb Jack Pitt-Brooke on life after a world-class duo:
Hello, my name is Liam Corless and I'll be running you through tonight's match.
Team news should be with us in around 10 minutes' time so grab yourself some refreshments, strap in and enjoy!
The calm before the storm
Arsenal vs Chelsea team news
Arsenal starting XI: Cech; Chambers, Mustafi, Holding; Bellerin, Xhaka, Wilshere, Maitland-Niles; Ozil, Alexis; Lacazette
Arsenal subs: Ospina, Mertesacker, Coquelin, Elneny, Walcott, Iwobi, Welbeck
Chelsea starting XI: Courtois; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Cahill; Moses, Kante, Bakayoko, Fabregas, Alonso; Hazard, Morata
Chelsea subs: Caballero, Rudiger, Zappacosta, Drinkwater, Willian, Pedro, Batshuayi
Only Manchester City have got a better Premier League record than Chelsea since the opening day of the season and the Blues can return to second place with a win at the Emirates tonight.
Arsenal, on the other hand, struggled over the Christmas period, winning one and drawing two of their three matches. However, a win tonight would move them into fifth place - above North London rivals Spurs - and boost their top-four chances.
Arsenal's players celebrate after going 1-0 up in their New Year's Eve fixture against West Brom - a match they went on to draw in controversial circumstances
Pre-match musings from Jamie Carragher
On Arsenal's chances of making the top four: "It feels like a big game tonight coming here. It felt like it was Arsenal, Spurs and Liverpool fighting for that fourth position a few weeks ago.
"If Arsenal lose tonight they will be six points off Liverpool and they won't be able to catch Chelsea. If Arsenal lose tonight they've got a massive uphill task to make the top four."
Quotes from Sky Sports
Pre-match quotes from Eden Hazard
On returning to the team after being rested against Stoke: "I'm full of energy and I'm ready to play the game. I hope to have a good game for me and for Chelsea. We want to win the game."
On the fact he is yet to score at the Emirates: "It's not a problem if I don't score. I just want to win the game."
On the possibility of returning to second in the table with a victory: "We want to stay second. Man City are first with a lot of points. If we want to close the gap a little bit we need to win here. It won't be easy but we have the quality to win today."
Quotes from Sky Sports
Eden Hazard returns to Chelsea's starting line-up tonight
Arsenal vs Chelsea - last five meetings
- Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal, Premier League (September 2017)
- Arsenal* 1-1 Chelsea (Arsenal win on penalties), Community Shield (August 2017)
- Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea, FA Cup (May 2017)
- Chelsea 3-1 Arsenal, Premier League (February 2017)
- Arsenal 3-0 Chelsea, Premier League (September 2016)
The two teams drew 0-0 when they met in the Premier League back in September
Alexis Sanchez arrives prior to tonight's match
Mesut Ozil arrives prior to tonight's match
Jack Wilshere arrives prior to tonight's match
Thierry Henry on Mesut Ozil
"You expect him to carry Arsenal on his back alongside Sanchez. He sometimes has body language where he looks like he's not trying but that's just the way he plays.
"When you have that quality, people are going to talk about you at the end of the game whether Arsenal win or lose."
Quotes from Sky Sports
Pre-match quotes from the managers
Arsene Wenger on Mesut Ozil returning to the starting line-up after injury: "He has been declared fit and he trained yesterday. I think he is 100 per cent.
"He gives us fluidity in our game and final balls in the final third. He's the kind of player that can keep the game simple and also be creative."
Arsene Wenger on the need for Arsenal to bounce back from the 1-1 draw with West Brom: "We are determined. We felt after the West Brom game that it wasn't fair but we have to deal with it. We need to show that we can respond."
Antonio Conte on the significance of tonight's match: "I think it's a London derby. Two big teams and it's normal when you face this type of game that it's a special game for the fans, the players and the clubs."
Quotes from Sky Sports
Arsenal's Jack Wilshere warms up prior to kick-off
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