Chelsea scuttled themselves and the Gunners did not give up. This is how to summarize the London derby this Saturday where Blues and Gunners separated in a draw (2-2) at Stamford Bridge.
However, the Chelsea players had started the match perfectly by attacking Arsenal from the first minutes. Mikel Arteta’s men were caught cold by conceding a penalty after a quarter of an hour of play. Saliba had the misfortune to touch the ball with his hand on a cross from Mykhaïlo Mudryk. The 21-year-old Englishman Cole Palmer subsequently transformed the penalty and completed the Blues’ very incisive start. At that time, the Gunners were not there.
The English vice-champions are even less there when Mudryk doubles the lead with a very lucky goal upon returning from the locker room. The Ukrainian centers on an innocuous action but his curl finally ends at the back of the cage of a David Raya who is far too advanced (48′). The Blues, with great success, then lead by two goals against Arsenal who are struggling to be dangerous against Robert Sanchez’s goal.
Mauricio Pochettino’s players had the opportunities to kill any suspense but the Blues lacked realism like Nicolas Jackson. The hero of the game on the arsenal side is named Robert Sanchez. The Chelsea goalkeeper made a disastrous exit and clearance in the 77th minute of play. Declan Rice instantly took the ball with his left foot to send it into the Spanish goalkeeper’s right net.
Ten minutes from the end of the match, the Gunners are back on track. Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice, much higher on the pitch, allowed Bukayo Saka to devour the spaces behind the Blues defense. The latter delivers a magnificent cross to the far post for the incoming Leandro Trossard who takes it from the outside of the right foot (84th). Chelsea saw the damage and came close to defeat in the very last moments of the match.
Arsenal and Chelsea therefore separated in an infuriating draw for the Blues, who could have signed their first benchmark victory of this season. The Gunners once again proved their steely mentality by coming back to score in the final minutes of the match. Mikel Arteta’s players find Manchester City, winner earlier in the day of Brighton at home (2-1), at the top of the standings, but could be overtaken by Tottenham if Spurs win against Fulham on Monday evening. Chelsea may have regrets, with this draw, Pochettino’s team is standing still and is in tenth place in the Premier League.
