A Gabriel Martinelli strike was cancelled out by Pedro Neto as we shared a 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

After a scoreless first half that noticed Kai Havertz have a objective chalked off by VAR for offside, we took the lead on the hour mark when the returning Martin Odegaard crossed for Martinelli to flash a shot previous Robert Sanchez, however the lead solely lasted 10 minutes when Pedro Neto fizzed in a 25-yarder.

We appeared harmful all through and created loads of brilliant moments after that with Leandro Trossard almost prodding in a William Saliba cross within the closing second, however finally we needed to accept a degree in west London.

Denied by VAR

Each groups went into this recreation locked on 18 factors, and there was little between the groups within the opening 25 minutes, the place we loved lengthy intervals of possession and appeared threatening, however we couldn’t fairly conjure up a great probability. As an alternative, the hosts had three good sights of objective however fortunately couldn’t take benefit.

The competition was simply a few minutes previous when Cole Palmer tried his luck from 25 yards and compelled David Raya to tip over his fierce try, and Noni Madueke headed extensive earlier than Pedro Neto carved out a golden alternative with a cross for Malo Gusto on the again publish however the defender despatched his header over underneath strain from Gabriel Martinelli.

Nonetheless, on 26 minutes an enormous probability did fall our approach once we pressurised the Blues at a goal-kick and gained again possession. Bukayo Saka’s shot deflected off Moise Caicedo and spun into the trail of Martinelli, however when one-on-one with Robert Sanchez he might solely hearth at a grateful goalkeeper.

Six minutes later we did get the ball within the internet when some fast pondering by Declan Rice noticed him slip in Kai Havertz with a free-kick, and the German confirmed nice composure to select his spot previous Sanchez. However the celebrations have been reduce quick when VAR got here Enzo Maresca’s rescue, as replays confirmed our man was fractionally offside.

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A objective apiece

We had regularly labored our approach by the gears as the sport progressed, and that continued as the primary half gave approach for the second. Chelsea might have had the primary alternative after the restart when Gusto twisted his physique to divert the ball onto the roof of the web, however on 60 minutes we managed to discover a approach in entrance.

It was the returning Odegaard who unlocked the defence. Our skipper collected the ball off Thomas Partey on the sting of the realm and confronted with a congested penalty, dinked a pleasant ball over it for Saka and Martinelli to run onto. The Brazilian gained the race, took a contact and tucked the ball between Sanchez and his close to publish to ship the travelling Gunners behind him into raptures, and doubtlessly set us on our technique to a fourth win in our final 5 journeys to the Bridge.

Fueled with the arrogance of going 1-0 up, it was almost 2-0 six minutes later when Jurrien Timber launched into a mazy run from left-back, beating two gamers and driving one other problem earlier than letting fly from 20 yards and simply lacking the underside nook, however out of the blue the sport was all sq. once more on 70 minutes when Enzo Fernandez picked up possession in area and located Neto, who thumped a low 25 yarder into the underside of Raya’s internet.

A closing push

Undeterred, we pressed on looking for the lead once more and two half-chances fell to Mikel Merino who was a stud’s size away from prodding residence a Saka cross, earlier than he acquired the faintest of touches on an Odegaard supply that nearly deceived Sanchez.

With 4 minutes remaining Sanchez produced a great cease to stop an personal objective with Leandro Trossard blazing the rebound over from shut vary, albeit his blushes have been spared by the offside flag, however within the closing seconds we almost managed to grab victory.

Timber and William Saliba linked up on the left and it was the centre-back who flashed a cross into the field which simply evaded Trossard and trickled over the touchline, earlier than Michael Oliver signalled the tip of the match.

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info and stats

We’ve gone 4 consecutive Premier League video games with out a win for the primary time April 2023 (D2 L2), having picked up all three factors in 21 of their earlier 25 league matches earlier than this (D3 L1).

Chelsea will finish a day within the prime three locations of the Premier League desk for the primary time for the reason that closing day of the 2021/22 season.

The Blues have gained simply one in all their 19 Premier League video games for the reason that 2021/22 season in opposition to groups that completed the earlier marketing campaign inside the highest three positions.

Pedro Neto has both scored (2) or assisted (1) in every of his final three Premier League begins in opposition to us, with as we speak’s objective ending a run of 17 league appearances in a row with out him discovering the web.

Gabriel Martinelli has scored three objectives in his final six Premier League appearances, greater than he managed throughout his earlier 21 league outings (2 objectives).

Martin Odegaard made his first Premier League look since August in opposition to Brighton – he registered his eighth help from open play within the competitors in 2024, with solely Cole Palmer (11) and Mohamed Salah (9) recording extra this calendar yr.

What’s subsequent

We now head into the ultimate worldwide break of the yr, with our first recreation again approaching Saturday, November 23 when Nottingham Forest go to Emirates Stadium. Then we’re off to Portugal for Champions League motion once we deal with Sporting Lisbon the next Tuesday, earlier than one other London derby at West Ham United on the final day of the month.