The pitch was alive with activity, specifically Chelsea's substitutes, as the joy within the club's community reached its peak. Pedro Neto's equalizer, a powerful low drive from a distance, had brought the moment to life. While it wasn't the definitive victory Enzo Maresca and his team had hoped for—their first against a top-six rival—they could appreciate the value of a hard-fought draw. For Arsenal, this performance was an improvement over recent outings, yet it wasn't the result Mikel Arteta had demanded to quell the growing concerns around his club. It marked another instance of them relinquishing a lead in a significant match, following draws against Manchester City and Liverpool, and it meant they hadn't won in four Premier League games, accumulating just two points. They now trail leaders Liverpool by nine points. Is a comeback still feasible?
Arsenal did manage to halt their away-game losing streak, which included defeats at Bournemouth and Newcastle, as well as in the Champions League against Inter. Arteta had asserted that his team was playing better than during their challenging four-week period last season, which began in early December. However, as he noted, this improvement needed to translate into victories, especially to address certain criticisms. Gabriel Martinelli had offered a glimmer of hope with a powerful finish after a pass from Martin Ødegaard, who returned to the starting lineup. Ødegaard's fitness was notable; he pushed until the final whistle. Neto, however, would ultimately steal the show.
Chelsea's consistency in selection under Maresca was evident, though he faced a significant decision at left-back. He opted for Marc Cucurella over club captain Reece James, maintaining Malo Gusto at right-back. Maresca's disregard for reputation was clear. Cucurella versus Bukayo Saka was a highlight, culminating in Cucurella's late tackle on Saka in the 79th minute, forcing him off. Cucurella received a booking but emerged as the stronger player overall. The match was a battle, with full-blooded challenges throughout, including Levi Colwill's foul on Saka, which sparked heated exchanges between the benches. Colwill was also booked. Moises Caicedo welcomed Ødegaard back with a forceful barge, and Ben White received a yellow card for an off-the-ball swipe at Neto.
Cole Palmer's performance was mixed, but it was delightful to see him execute one of his signature moves, allowing the ball to roll across his body and then accelerating past his marker. He did this against Ødegaard at the start and later tested David Raya with a powerful shot. He repeated the move against Thomas Partey before setting up Neto, whose cross was headed high by Noni Madueke. Chelsea's major first-half chance came in the 24th minute when Neto outmaneuvered White, creating space to cross. Gusto timed his run to perfection at the far post but failed to direct his header. Maresca reacted with frustration, sinking to his knees.
Arsenal had their moments before halftime—two significant ones, the first leaving Arteta visibly frustrated. Saka intercepted a Colwill pass, leading to a sequence where Ødegaard returned the ball to Saka. His shot was blocked, but the rebound fell perfectly for Martinelli, who should have scored but side-footed weakly at Robert Sánchez. The fine margins were against Arsenal in the 33rd minute. Declan Rice spotted Kai Havertz in space and quickly took a free-kick, passing to him. Havertz maneuvered in front of Caicedo to score, only for VAR to rule him fractionally offside. Havertz had been patched up after a head injury sustained against Inter and required further treatment early in the second half. He was booked for delaying treatment but returned to the field for the breakthrough goal, with Martinelli making amends for his earlier miss.
Ødegaard orchestrated the move, crossing deep to the far post where Martinelli adjusted his angle before firing the shot inside Sánchez's near post. It was a poor look for the goalkeeper and Chelsea's offside trap, with Colwill too deep and allowing Martinelli to advance. Wesley Fofana's volley went off target in the 53rd minute, and with Jurrien Timber shooting wide, Chelsea needed to regroup. Maresca introduced Enzo Fernández and Mykhailo Mudryk for Romeo Lavia and Madueke, the latter heading straight down the tunnel. Fernández played a key role in the equalizer, passing to Neto, whose determination to seize the moment was evident. His touch allowed him to accelerate past Timber and Gabriel Magalhães, whose attempts to block were futile. The shot was too powerful for Raya.
The closing stages were frantic, with chances at both ends. Arsenal thought they had secured victory, but substitute Leandro Trossard blasted high and later missed from a William Saliba cross, both times with the offside flag raised.
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