Pedro Neto scored a brilliant second-half equaliser to ensure Chelsea took a share of the spoils against Arsenal on Sunday. The Gunners took the lead on the hour mark, but Chelsea dug deep at Stamford Bridge and found a response.
It wasn’t an ideal result for either side, as Chelsea and Arsenal are deadlocked in points in the table. Nottingham Forest and Brighton & Hove Albion are tied just below them too.
Chelsea will rue the missed chances
Cole Palmer had a good opportunity to open the scoring with a fierce effort from distance, but David Raya tipped it over the ball. Malo Gusto will feel he should have scored after being picked out by Neto in the penalty area, but his header from close range cleared the crossbar.
Arsenal nearly punished Chelsea for their missed opportunities after scoring through Gabriel Martinelli, but it was ruled out for offside. Chelsea were fortunate as Martinelli caught them flat-footed from a free-kick. The two sides went into the break level.
Arsenal nearly made Chelsea pay
Wesley Fofana had a glorious opportunity to break the deadlock after being picked out in the box by Noni Madueke, but he couldn’t keep his effort down. Arsenal would then punish their many missed chances by scoring one of their own on the hour mark.
Martinelli was somehow unmarked on the left hand side of the area, and had enough time to control a pass and find the back of the net from a narrow angle. The goal did wake up Chelsea, however, with Neto firing a low effort from distance into the bottom corner for 1-1.
Arsenal came within inches of bagging a winner when William Saliba squared the ball across the six-yard box, but nobody could get a good connection. It remains a stalemate.
Chelsea have come through a difficult period of games without falling apart. They had a narrow defeat to Liverpool, drew away to Manchester United, and have now drawn to Arsenal, so it could have been a worse few weeks.
