toptop
Arsenal
battled back from two goals down to salvage their unbeaten record and a point at
Chelsea, with a full-blooded London derby eventually ending in a 2-2 draw after
goalkeeper errors at both ends.
The visitors looked on course for their first defeat of the season to their
rejuvenated neighbours when David Raya was caught out by Mykhailo Mudryk's
mishit cross at the start of the second half. They were already trailing to Cole
Palmer's first-half penalty and had seemed short on ideas in attack.
But Robert Sanchez's poor pass out at the other end allowed Declan Rice to shoot
into an empty net from 30 yards and Leandro Trossard sent the travelling
supporters into delirium when he tucked in a wonderfully whipped cross from
fit-again Bukayo Saka at the back post with six minutes of the 90 remaining.
Man City's win earlier in the day saw the defending champions recover top spot
in the Premier League table following their defeat at the Emirates before the
international break but Arsenal's fight back means they are second only on goal
difference. Their comeback maintains their positive momentum.
Arteta, though, will have questions to answer about his goalkeeper. Raya looked
nervous in the first half against City but survived. Against Chelsea he was
exposed. Arsenal's alternative keeper Aaron Ramsdale was at home following the
birth of his son but Arteta will surely be weighing up whether to reinstate his
former No 1 for Tuesday's Champions League trip to Sevilla.
For Pochettino and Chelsea, they avoided a record fourth-straight Premier League
loss at home to Arsenal but will be kicking themselves for not capitalising on
another performance which demonstrated the strides they are making. They at
least edge into the top 10 with this draw.
Player ratings
Arsenal: Raya (5); White (7), Saliba (6), Gabriel (6),
Zinchenko (6); Rice (7), Odegaard (6), Jorginho (6); Saka (7), Jesus (6),
Martinelli (6)
Subs: Tomiyasu (6), Smith Rowe (6), Nketiah (6), Trossard (8),
Havertz (6)
Chelsea: Sanchez (5), Gusto (5), Silva (6), Colwill (6),
Cucurella (6), Gallagher (6), Caicedo (6), Fernandez (7), Mudryk (7), Sterling
(8), Palmer (8).
Subs: Jackson (6), Madueke (6), James (6)
Player of the match: Cole Palmer
How Arsenal grabbed a point in west London...
Chelsea have a wretched recent record on their home ground but back-to-back wins
on the road before the international break had instilled growing confidence and
they came flying out of the blocks against their neighbours, with Enzo Fernandez
shooting narrowly over inside a minute.
In contrast, Arsenal couldn't get going, with Chelsea's determination to make an
early mark on the match spilling over when Palmer trod on Gabriel Jesus' ankle
and was booked. Oleksandr Zinchenko saw yellow for a trip on a too-quick Mudryk
soon after as the contest heated up in the October rain.
Throughout that early period Raheem Sterling had looked dangerous running into
the right channel and it was his cross which led to the penalty. Mudryk's flick
gave Saliba no time to react and with the handball rule interpreted as it is at
the moment, contact with his raised arm meant a penalty was inevitable once VAR
Jarred Gillet took a look and sent referee Chris Kavanagh to the pitchside
monitor.
Palmer had to fend off Sterling to take the spot-kick but after the wild start
to the game his strike was composed, sending Raya the wrong way. The 21-year-old
went close to a second 15 minutes later when he lashed just past a post and the
signs are there that the summer recruit from Man City has found his feet at
Chelsea now.
Arsenal offered nothing in that first 45 in an attacking sense and a nightmare
moment for Raya at the start of the second half doubled their trouble. Mudryk's
miscued cross floated over the Arsenal keeper, who had strayed too far from his
line, and dropped inside the back post. A revived Mudryk lapped up the applause.
Raya was wobbling when he then sent a slack pass straight to Palmer on the edge
of the box - although he just about managed to recover to block the shot.
At the other end, Arsenal threatened from a series of corners, with Takehiro
Tomiyasu heading over as Robert Sanchez clattered into opponents and team-mates
alike, but it was Chelsea who recovered to look most likely to score next, with
Nicolas Jackson closed down by Raya before Palmer curled wide.
But Sanchez handed Arsenal a way back, with his pass out allowing Rice to pounce
from long-range. It was another glaring goalkeeper error and this one turned the
tide.
Moments after Chelsea supporters had celebrated the introduction of fit-again
captain Reece James, it was another sub who made a decisive impact, with
Trossard expertly guiding in Saka's cross after escaping Malo Gusto's
attentions.
The Arsenal fans celebrated the equaliser as emphatically as they celebrated the
winner against Man City a fortnight ago. It was worth two points less but could
be another important moment in this season's title race.
Opta stats: One win in 12 Premier League games
at home for Chelsea
Chelsea have won just one of their last 12 home Premier League games (D6 L5), a
3-0 victory against Luton at Stamford Bridge at the end of August.
Following Leandro Trossard's equaliser, Arsenal have now had five goals scored
by substitutes in the Premier League this season with only Brighton having more
(7).
Cole Palmer's opener for Chelsea was the first away goal Arsenal have conceded
in the Premier League since May at Nottingham Forest, ending their run of 355
minutes without conceding on the road in the competition.
What's next?
Chelsea are back in Premier League action next Saturday when they host
Brentford; kick-off 12.30pm.
Meanwhile, Arsenal are in Champions League action on Tuesday with a trip to
Sevilla; kick-off 8pm.
Their next Premier League assignment is against Sheffield United at Emirates
Stadium on Saturday October 28; kick-off 3pm.
Click Here for Official Teamsheet
Teams
Chelsea Sanchez, Gusto, Silva, Colwill, Cucurella, Gallagher
(c), Caicedo, Enzo, Palmer (James 84), Mudryk (Jackson 66), Sterling (Madueke
84)
Subs Not Used Petrovic, Maatsen, Badiashile, Disasi, Ugochukwu,
Washington
Booked Palmer, Silva, Cucurella
Goals Palmer 15 (pen), Mudryk 48
Arsenal Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko (Tomiyasu 46),
Rice, Jorginho (Smith-Rowe 68), Martinelli (Trossard 78), Odegaard (c) (Havertz
78), Saka, Jesus (Nketiah 68)
Subs Not Used Hein, Kiwior, Partey, Nelson
Booked Zinchenko, Nketiah, White
Goals Rice 77, Trossard 84
Attendance 39,723
Referee Chris Kavanagh
VAR Jarred Gillett