Chelsea and Arsenal will both enter the international break in the top four of the Premier League, thanks to a 1-1 draw that satisfies neither side.
Gabriel Martinelli broke the deadlock for Arsenal against the run of play after Kai Havertz had a goal ruled out for offside in the first half, the Brazilian firing past Robert Sanchez after receiving a cross from the returning Martin Odegaard.
However, the lead lasted just 10 minutes before Pedro Neto’s stunner from outside the penalty area drew Chelsea level and neither side could find a decisive second goal to take all three points.
Leandro Trossard had the golden opportunity to score the winner with the last kick of the game but misfired at point-blank range meaning the spoils were shared at Stamford Bridge and Chelsea remain ahead in the Premier League on goal difference.
Both sides fall to nine points behind league leaders Liverpool and four behind Manchester City, though perhaps Mikel Arteta’s biggest concern will be the health of Bukayo Saka as the superstar hobbled off with 10 minutes remaining after a stern challenge from Marc Cucurella.
A game of few chances looked to have been broken open by Kai Havertz on the half-hour mark just after Gabriel Martinelli had missed a one-on-one, as a quickly taken free kick set the former Blue free in the penalty area and he finished well under pressure from Moises Caicedo.
However, Havertz was correctly ruled offside by VAR and an unusually misfiring Cole Palmer missed a string of opportunities in the dying embers of the half.
He was made to pay when Martinelli slipped through Chelsea’s offside trap in a similar manner to Havertz and made amends for his earlier miss against Robert Sanchez, in a contest that looked like one goal could decide it.
Neto had other ideas though, latching onto a pinpoint Enzo Fernandez pass then finishing through two defenders with a fizzing shot that Raya couldn’t reach, and Trossard’s late wastefulness ensured that would be enough for a point.
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