Match Report – Match Highlights – Post-Match Press Conference

Final Result: Chelsea 2-2 Arsenal (Palmer 15′, Mudryk 48′ | Rice 77′, Trossard 84′)

Arsenal XI (4-3-3): Raya; Zinchenko (Tomiyasu 46′), Saliba, Gabriel, White; Rice, Jorginho (Smith Rowe 68′), Odegaard (Havertz 78′); Martinelli (Trossard 78′), Jesus (Nketiah 68′), Saka

In the match preview for the Chelsea game, I had assumed that Bukayo Saka and William Saliba will be in the starting XI, despite Mikel Arteta keeping his cards close to his chest when he was asked by the journos in the pre-match press conference. The stage was set and I expected another intense Chelsea vs. Arsenal clash, especially with Mauricio Pochettino’s side picking up some form prior to the international break.

Chelsea drew first blood when Enzo Fernandez blasted his effort over after a goalmouth scramble. On the other end, Thiago Silva miscued a clearance and the Ball fell to Martin Odegaard’s path, but the Arsenal captain failed to capitalize on the situation. Like every Chelsea vs. Arsenal game, there was always room for drama, and it came when Raheem Sterling’s cross was headed by Mykhailo Mudryk to Saliba’s trailing arm. Play went on for a couple of minutes, and the VAR signaled to the match day ref to watch the screens. After reviewing the footage, the man with the whistle pointed to the spot, much to the delight of the Chelsea fans at Stamford Bridge.

Sterling tried to wrestle the ball away from Cole Palmer, but his teammates reminded him in quite comical fashion that the new kid on the block was the designated penalty taker. The young lad stepped up and sent David Raya the wrong way. Arsenal tried to shrug off that setback and launched an attack when Oleksandr Zinchenko found Declan Rice on the edge of the area, but the British record signing was caught in two minds to either square the ball across or shoot himself. He did neither as the ball went wide off the mark.

Ben White worked well with Saka and drilled a ball to Gabriel Jesus from the byline but the Brazilian forward’s shot was blocked by Silva. Palmer almost put Chelsea two up when Conor Gallagher managed to evade three Arsenal players in midfield before feeding Palmer. The youngster fired his shot through Gabriel’s legs and the ball missed by a lick of paint. 

It was a dreadful  first half for Arsenal and the boss responded with removing the hapless Zinchenko for Takehiro Tomiyasu, but Chelsea doubled their money with a fluke of a goal that really embarrassed Raya. In typical Arsenal fashion, White’s attempted pass to Odegaard was anticipated, leaving a gaping hole on the right hand side of Arsenal’s defense. Gallagher progressed the ball before feeding Mudryk, whose attempted cross to the danger area floated into the Arsenal net because of Raya’s atrocious positioning. The Arsenal goalie was anticipating a cross and misjudged the flight of the ball.

Typically, the petty camera men would have looked to the Arsenal dugout to see Aaron Ramsdale’s reactions, but the goalie wasn’t on the bench as he was given some time off to stay with his missus, Georgina, who had given birth to a baby boy. 

At two goals down, the game was drifting away for Arsenal forcing the gaffer to make enforced changes to tilt the game back to their favor. Rice found Gabriel Martinelli who had a torrid time against Malo Gusto, but he managed to fire a shot that was blocked for a corner kick. Gabriel reacted first to the resulting corner but his header went wide. 

Just went we thought we hadn’t seen it all. Raya inexplicably passed the ball to Palmer but reacted well enough to deflect his incoming goal-bound shot for a corner kick. Like the PGMOL folks every week, Raya issued apologies to whom it may concern. 

Arsenal was offered a chance back into the game when Robert Sanchez sent a loose pass to Rice that swung the ball into the net with an impressive finish. Kudos to the Arsenal midfielder for his improvisation which reduced the deficit to 2-1. He confirmed after the game that the long-range goal was inspired by David Beckham.

Seven minutes later, Arsenal launched another attack with Saka looping a cross to the far post that was finish aplomb by Leandro Trossard to silence the usually vocal Stamford Bridge faithful. A few minutes later, Rice dinked the ball in behind Levi Colwill and Silva for an onrushing Eddie Nketiah who used his pace to get beyond the defenders but his finishing left a lot to be desired.

The ref’s whistle ended proceedings at 2-2, but it was an intense battle between both London sides. While Chelsea might feel disappointed for letting a two goal lead slip, kudos have to be given to Arsenal for pressing on despite being on the backfoot for a considerable chunk of the game and not playing to the high standards expected of them.

On the bright side, the lads are still unbeaten and are within touching distance at the upper echelons of the Premier League table. All focus will go to the clash with Sevilla at the impressive Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium, as Champions League comes to town. 

But for now, we have to take stock and reflect on how to get better after sharing the spoils in the Battle of Stamford Bridge.

Sayonara.

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