Premier League

CHELSEA 2 (Palmer 15 pen, Mudryk 48)
ARSENAL 2 (Rice 77, Trossard 84)

ARSENAL rescued a point at Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening with a 2-2 draw to keep their unbeaten run in the Premier League this season alive and kicking.

Mikel Arteta spoke of the “positives” he saw after watching his players battle back to take a point thanks to goals from Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard.

“The second half was a different game, we became a much better team,” said the Gunners boss. “The way that the team reacted was phenomenal, the players that started and the players that were on the bench thinking how they’re going to change the game and help the team is the part what I loved.

“What I really liked as well is the dressing room after the game, it was quiet, after drawing 2-2 against Chelsea from being 2-0 down, it was quiet. I know that they want more, so those are the positives.”

Chelsea meant business from the very start of the match, registering their first shot within the first two minutes of the kick-off. And within 12, the Blues gave referee Chris Kavanagh a decision to make.

Mykhailo Mudryk’s header hit William Saliba’s trailing arm inside the penalty box, and, after a quick VAR check, Kavanagh awarded a penalty. Cole Palmer took on the responsibility, and was able to give the home side the lead with a cool finish.

The rest of the first half went Chelsea’s way with the Gunners unable to get hold of the ball or string any passes together. It was perhaps Arsenal’s worst 45 minutes played this season.

Mauricio Pochettino’s team doubled their lead just minutes into the second half after an absolute howler from Arsenal keeper David Raya. The summer signing was caught off his line by Mudryk, whose cross sailed over Raya and into the back of the net.

Things nearly went from very bad to worse for Raya when his pass was intercepted by Mudryk inside the penalty box, but the Arsenal shot-stopper managed to quickly recover to make a save and deny Chelsea a third.

Eddie Nketiah, Emile Smith Rowe, Kai Havertz, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Trossard were all brought on as Arteta called for fresh legs.

And in the 77th-minute the Gunners found their way back into the game thanks to another goalkeeping mistake, this time by Robert Sánchez. The Chelsea keeper cleared the ball with no direct intended player, and Rice was able to intercept and get a first time shot off which found the back of the net.

Unbelievably, Chelsea gifted the visitors another chance when Bukayo Saka wasn’t closed down before finding Trossard at the back post unmarked, and the substitute drew the Gunners level.

The Gunners showed just how mentally strong and resilient they are. However, what remains uncertain is the goalkeeping position and whether Arteta will stick to his decision of dropping Aaron Ramsdale or dropping Raya.

Asked his thoughts on the Arsenal away fans chanting for Ramsdale who missed the game due to the birth of his baby boy, Arteta said: “Great, I love him, I will sing as well for him. Every single day we’ve sung a lot for him, yesterday because he was a father, the most beautiful thing to do, and he’s someone who has this charisma and personality and is very loved around the team.”

CHELSEA: Sanchez, Gusto, Silva, Colwill, Cucurella, Caicedo, Fernandez, Sterling (Madueke, 84), Gallagher, Mudryk (Jackson, 66), Palmer (James, 84)
Substitutes not used: Disasi, Badiashile, Ugochukwu, Petrovic, Maatsen, de Souza Eugenio

ARSENAL: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko (Tomiyasu, 45), Jorginho (Smith Rowe, 68), Rice, Odegaard (Havertz, 78), Martinelli (Trossard, 78), Saka, Jesus (Nketiah, 68)
Substitutes not used: Hein, Partey, Kiwior, Nelson