Arsenal maintained their unbeaten start to the Premier League season on Saturday, coming back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Mikel Arteta claimed his first Premier League win over Pep Guardiola before the international break, when beaten winner Gabriel Martinelli sealed a 1-0 win over defending champions Manchester City. They came into this game with genuine momentum, even if the pressure to ponder that functionality was opposed by City given that the champions and Liverpool had won before.
In fact, the Gunners did not seem to be in a position to respond to the victories of their big-name rivals. Cole Palmer’s penalty, awarded for a handball against William Saliba after a VAR review, gave Chelsea a lead in the 15th minute that only praised a clever start to the game.
Shortly after the break, Mykhailo Mudryk (once linked with Arsenal before joining Chelsea) threw past goalkeeper David Raya with what looked like an attempted cross from the left. Arsenal had failed to get a shot on target at this level and looked second. .
But the game calmed down in the seven-minute box in the second half. Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez played a poor pass that allowed Declan Rice to send a shot into the net from outside the box for the first time, giving his team some hope. Then, six minutes into normal time, substitute Leandro Trossard deflected Bukayo Saka’s cross just in front of the delirious Arsenal fans.
It was a remarkable end to the game and secured a point that Arsenal would not have imagined for much of the match. Still, a draw isn’t an outcome that either coach will celebrate too extravagantly.
Chelsea line-up (4-3-3, left to right): Sanchez – Gusto, Thiago Silva, Colwill, Cucurella – Gallagher, Caicedo, Fernandez – Palmer (James, 84′), Sterling (Madueke, 84′), Mudryk (Jackson, 66′)
Arsenal line-up (4-3-3, left to right): Raya (GK) – White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko (Tomiyasu 46′) – Rice, Jorginho (Smith Rowe, 68′), Odegaard (Havertz, 78′) — Saka, Jesus (Nketiah, 68′), Martinelli (Trossard, 78′)
Much has been made of Mikel Arteta’s decision to sign David Raya from Brentford and then him as the first-choice goalkeeper alongside Aaron Ramsdale.
Ramsdale, the Gunners’ undisputed number one last season, admitted on the overseas break that he would possibly have to think about his career in the long term if he fails to regain his position before the January transfer window.
In view of today’s events, his chance of regaining this position may not be far off.
It is, to say the least, a combo bag for Raya. He didn’t look very comfortable when under pressure and, had he not recovered well to make a save at Palmer’s feet, his terrible offside pass could well have put his team down 3-0. This after his questionable position for Mudryk’s failed cross that ended up being Chelsea’s second goal.
Still, Raya also made a save at the feet of Nicolas Jackson, while making amends for that mistake made against Palmer. These were moments that gave Arsenal the platform for that improbable comeback.
Most likely, the debate over who will be Arteta’s first selection is not going to go away.
David Raya on the moon after Leandro Trossard’s equalizer!pic. twitter. com/e3tE4mdk6R
Chelsea’s run of one win in their first six league games of the season has raised doubts about manager Mauricio Pochettino, but the symptoms are evident as November approaches.
Impressive wins over Fulham and Burnley before the away break have lifted the mood at the Bridge, but the first minute of their performance today was by far the most productive of the season. The fact that Arsenal failed to get a shot on target in the first half says it all.
The Blues will be desperately disappointed to have squandered a win in this way, especially as Rice’s goal came from a mistake by goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, but the way the overall performance pleased Pochettino.
Chelsea will face Tottenham, Man City, Newcastle United, Brighton and Manchester United before mid-December, but if they reflect today’s display, they will be a challenge for any of those teams.
? #CheArs pic. twitter. com/aYbIYCSKEG
The Sporting News followed the Chelsea vs Arsenal match live and offered score updates, commentary and highlights as they unfolded.
Chelsea get a free kick almost in the middle of the pitch and start building an attack, but they don’t have time to do so when the referee stops the action. What an end to this match! Chelsea led comfortably but Arsenal, somehow, got a result. Exciting stuff at Stamford Bridge.
90 five minutes: Jackson creates something when he enters the box, but his low shot is stored by Raya at full speed.
90, four mins: Arsenal’s attack slowly crumbles, but Chelsea return the ball directly to Saka. Mind you, his shot from 20 meters was an undeniable save for Sanchez. Everything has become a bit disjointed since Arsenal equalised.
90th minute: We will have a minimum of seven minutes.
86th minute: Nketiah! The Arsenal striker chased a lost cause and drove the ball into goal, where he troubled Sanchez before deflecting wide.
What’s going on here?! Six minutes after coming on as a substitute, Leandro Trossard stretched to respond to Bukayo Saka’s cross from the right and sent the ball into the most sensible corner!Sanchez on his line and too close to Trossard to do anything. We’re up!
What to watch in the US:
TROSARD! ARSENAL ARE AT THE SAME LEVEL. ? @NBC
What to watch in Canada:
Leandro Trossard scores!! ⚽ 2-2 Chelsea FC vs Arsenal FCWATCH EVERY GOAL ? https://t. co/2w98QqADfX#PL #PremierLeague pic. twitter. com/ihsYyGjblF
What to watch in the UK:
TROSSARD LEVELS FOR THE pic. twitter. com/ke3QZOHCCW ARSENAL ??
Now it’s Sanchez’s turn to make the mistake! An errant pass allows Rice to kick the ball into an unprotected net just 30 yards away. Follow the game at Stamford Bridge!
What to watch in the US:
Declan Rice pulls out a LONG one! ? @NBC
What to watch in Canada:
Declan Rice SCORES!! ⚽ 2-1 Chelsea FC vs Arsenal FCWATCH EVERY GOAL ? https://t. co/2w98QqADfX#PL #PremierLeague pic. twitter. com/lRV9icYGhP
What to watch in the UK:
Rice punishes Sanchez’s mistake!! ⭕GAME ON ? pic. twitter. com/Mg7rNklMJX
72nd minute: Chelsea looked quite comfortable and Arsenal struggled to create meaningful chances. Can you find a way to get back to that?
68th minute: Saka is cleared off a pass from Jorginho, but Thiago Silva slid deftly to cut out the winger’s damaging low cross.
66th minute: This time Raya produces a goalkeeper, getting up long before timing his shot only to get the ball off Nicolas Jackson’s feet. The Chelsea replacement scored on purpose but hesitated in front of the Arsenal man.
Minute 58: Raya! It went straight past Palmer in his own area but, admittedly, the Arsenal goalkeeper was quick to block the Chelsea player’s shot. It may all have ended smoothly!
52nd minute: Rice picks up the ball from Caicedo and feeds Martinelli, who works into the box with his right foot but sees his shot deflected. Sanchez was agitated on the resulting corner, but it was gifted to him.
Chelsea won the ball back and introduced a counterattack. Mudryk picked up the ball in the box and tried to cross to Sterling at the far post, and the ball went over Raya and into the box!It seems that it wasn’t his intention, yet he doesn’t seem to care!
What to watch in the US:
MYKHAILO MUDRYK!2-0 CHELSEA. ? @NBC
What to watch in Canada:
Mykhailo Mudryk SCORES!! ⚽ 2-0 Chelsea FC vs Arsenal WATCH EVERY GOAL ? https://t. co/2w98QqADfX#PL #PremierLeague pic. twitter. com/LPmV9f623W
What to see in Australia:
Stamford Bridge VAR controversy is helping Chelsea gain the lead against Arsenal ??️ “I think it would be incredibly difficult to reveal that!”Stream live or on-demand afterwards, here https://t. co/rc6YkF7RXN#OptusSport #PL pic. twitter. com/VD7i4o1NtZ ?
What to watch in the UK:
WOW! MUDRYK LOBS RAYA! ?? pic. twitter. com/YGMpdAaNJN
We are on our way! A for Arsenal, as Tomiyasu replaces Zinchenko.
45′ 1 min: Sterling runs into the box and falls between Zinchenko and Martinelli, but doesn’t make too attractive.
45th minute: Thiago Silva is shown the yellow card.
43rd minute: Chelsea blocks the counterattack through Sterling, who passes the ball to him inside Gusto. But his first shot from the edge of the box went over the crossbar.
42nd minute: Arteta remains restless on the bench. So far it has been a frustrating part for Arsenal with very little creativity going forward.
37th minute: Gallagher causes disorder at Arsenal and finds himself unmarked with a vague chance after Saliba and Gabriel went for the same ball, but failed to fire a decent shot from a tight angle and, fortunately for him, was offside anyway.
34th minute: Chelsea have dominated the midfield and this is where Arsenal have struggled to bring them down. A bit of frustration on Saka’s part when she passes by because of Cucurella.
30th minute: A good chance for Palmer to get the second!He made a great run through the box and received a shot from the left, but it went wide of Raya’s far post.
27th minute: Gallagher goes down after receiving a Martinelli clearance in the abdomen, but soon gets up. The short break offers the players the chance to have a drink and Arteta shouts orders to his players.
24th minute: Arsenal are just beginning to occupy the box down the right flank and an adorable ball at Jesus’ feet looks tempting, but Thiago Silva does it brilliantly to block his compatriot’s shot just around the corner.
19th minute: How will Arsenal react to this? They haven’t raised the ante yet, but Rice advances to the left and crosses with the outside of his right boot that goes wide of the far post.
Palmer made no mistakes on the spot and coolly placed it in the back left corner as Raya dived the other way.
What to watch in the US:
Chelsea were awarded a penalty and led 1-0 against Arsenal after William Saliba was called up for handball#CHEARS pic. twitter. com/mwoEVvNggd
What to watch in Canada:
Cole Palmer SCORES!! ⚽ 1-0 Chelsea FC vs Arsenal FCWATCH EVERY GOAL ? https://t. co/2w98QqADfX#PL #PremierLeague pic. twitter. com/KuMVUQUjU0
What to watch in the UK:
PALMER SLOTS AT HOME THE PENALTY!Arsenal concede away from home for the first time this season!?pic. twitter. com/eQbo5odfEd
12th minute: Big calls for a penalty for Chelsea when Mudryk’s header causes the ball to hit Saliba’s hand. Referee Chris Kavanagh summoned the VAR monitor and, after a long check, awarded the penalty!Saliba’s arm is believed to be in an unnatural position.
11th minute: A few minutes later, 1-1 on the scorecards!Mudryk’s quick feet in midfield were too much for Zinchenko, who shot too late and gave the Ukrainian a yellow card.
Minute 7: Ouch! When Gabriel Jesus breaks free of Cole Palmer, the Chelsea striker throws himself on his opponent’s heel, which proves painful. The attacker gives an early warning.
4th minute: Arsenal, who have won their last three visits to Stamford Bridge, look a little nervous when Chelsea take the ball to their final third. Gabriel and Saliba are just starting to take the ball and calm the rest of the team down.
10 minutes before the knockout: There isn’t much time left before the groups pass out. Who do you put your money into? Check out our best predictions from our experts here!
30 minutes before the knockout: Are Arsenal a contender for the Premier League and Champions League double?Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino is not ruling it out. . .
“We respect Arsenal, they’re a wonderful team. Mikel [Arteta] is part of my family,” he said.
“It’s going to be tough because they’re doing a wonderful job. They are competing for everything, not only for the Premier League but also for the Champions League.
“We’re convinced that we can do our part and play a very smart game. “
It’s good news for Arsenal fans: Bukayo Saka has been declared compatible to start and William Saliba lines up in defence. David Raya helps maintain his position in goal ahead of Aaron Ramsdale.
Chelsea have club captain Reece James back on the bench, with Malo Gusto recovered from suspension. Cole Palmer gets the green light on offense on a brilliant three-pointer led by Raheem Sterling.
90 minutes before the knockout: with Liverpool beating Everton and Manchester City leading Brighton
2 hours before the knockout: Arsenal have won six of the last seven meetings with Chelsea in all competitions and the last 3 meetings in the Premier League. In that clash last season, almost exactly a year ago, they won 1-0 thanks to a goal from Gabriel.
⏪ Last at Stamford Bridge. . . pic. twitter. com/voqmIF6v3H
Chelsea’s roster remains one of the longest in the Premier League this season, with summer newcomers Romeo Lavia and Christopher Nkunku among Pochettino’s sidelines.
However, the Blues have club captain Reece James back on the bench, with Malo Gusto recovered from suspension. Cole Palmer gets the green light on offense on a sensational three-pointer led by Raheem Sterling.
Chelsea line-up (4-3-3, left): Sanchez – Gusto, Thiago Silva, Colwill, Cucurella – Gallagher, Caicedo, Fernandez – Palmer, Sterling, Mudryk
Chelsea substitutes: Petrovic, James, Maatsen, Badiashile, Disasi, Ugochukwu, Madueke, Washington, Jackson
Arteta will belatedly call up three key players who have missed their assignments, with Bukayo Saka, William Saliba and Leandro Trossard remaining in London for treatment.
Saka returns to the team and Saliba is also a starter, but Trossard is on the bench.
Arsenal line-up (4-3-3, left): Raya (GK) – White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko – Rice, Jorginho, Odegaard – Saka, Jesus, Martinelli
Arsenal substitutes: Hein, Tomiyasu, Kiwior, Partey, Smith Rowe, Nelson, Havertz, Trossard, Nketiah
Here’s how to watch this Premier League fit into decided spaces of primary regions around the world:
Canada
United States: This game airs on USA Network with streaming via Peacock. There is also a Spanish-language broadcast with Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, available to Fubo subscribers.
Canada: All Premier League matches this season are streamed live exclusively on Fubo in Canada.
Australia: Australian enthusiasts can stream any and all workouts live and on-demand on Optus Sport.
United Kingdom: This option is available for live streaming via Sky Sports services.
MORE: Watch Premier League matches with Fubo in the U. S. U. S.