had their lead minimize to 5 factors on Sunday as they might solely handle a 1-1 draw towards 10-man Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
It was a first-versus-second conflict right here and that was made evident by its hard-fought first half, one through which either side flew into tackles and picked up a flurry of yellow playing cards. Then, on 38 minutes, Blues’ star Moises Caicedo overstepped the mark, incomes a straight crimson card for his dangerous problem on Mikel Merino.
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But the hosts nonetheless broke the impasse simply after half-time. Reece James despatched in a stunning cross that was met by Trevoh Chalobah on the close to publish and his gentle, looping header crept in on the far nook to place Chelsea right into a deserved lead.
The Gunners wanted a fast response and obtained it 9 minutes later by way of a header of their very own; on this event, Bukayo Saka labored house down his proper flank earlier than firing a cross into the field for Merino to rise highest and restore parity to the competition.
Positives and negatives as Arsenal and Chelsea battle it out for a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge
Sadly, that was pretty much as good because it obtained for Arsenal and, bar a late probability on the demise, it by no means felt like they’d salvage the win; even with a person down, Chelsea seemed the extra more likely to go on and web a late winner.
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Listed here are two positives and three negatives from a disappointing however truthful outcome between Arsenal and the Blues.
Constructive #1: Mikel Merino the hero once more
Is there something that Mikel Merino can not do? | Ryan Pierse/GettyImages
Give that man a knighthood!
Mikel Arteta hardly signed Merino to go up entrance and rating key objectives, however he should nonetheless be joyful that the Spaniard has discovered his true calling there.
Even with the additional man, Arsenal had been combating towards the tide and issues seemed ominous when Chelsea took that early second-half lead. Somebody wanted to get a grip and save the guests from an embarrassing loss, presumably a expensive one too within the title shake-up.
And Merino duly obliged, leaping highest within the penalty space to steer dwelling the Saka cross and nullify the house momentum. It began as a novelty however, by now, he has actually proved his value as a striker and maybe deserves extra respect; in his final three Premier League video games actually suggests so.
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His good time is perhaps over as Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Jesus are again however poor harm luck might see him deployed there once more in future.
Damaging #1: Feelings run too excessive
Arsenal and Chelsea had just a few flashpoints on Sunday afternoon | Ryan Pierse/GettyImages
Might sound a bit wealthy given the way it was really Chelsea who ended the match with ten man and had just a few ‘strong’ tackles of their very own.
However this sport was a real check of the Gunners’ title mettle – they didn’t impress. The guests racked up three yellow playing cards inside the primary 13 minutes – Riccardo Calafiori, Cristhian Mosquera and Martin Zubimendi all cautioned earlier than the quarter hour – whereas Piero Hincapie additionally had a brush with the regulation quickly after the restart.
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These potential ‘head-loss’ moments had been coupled with just a few Blues’ sighters and one poor defensive lapse virtually let in Joao Pedro to attain previous to the crimson card.
Arsenal appeared to let the fiery environment rattle them and did not do a lot to take the sting out of an in-form Chelsea crew. It might have value them extra objectives or perhaps a crimson card however even their failure to win is punishment sufficient.
Possibly it’s a pure consequence of their robust week.
Constructive #2: Returning stars add to depth
Viktor Gyokeres made his Arsenal return on Sunday | Ryan Pierse/GettyImages
Clutching at straws for the positives right here…
However Arsenal can really take coronary heart from the return of a number of acquainted faces to their squad, with Martin Odegaard, and Gabriel Jesus all making it onto the bench for a high-stakes encounter towards a fierce London rival.
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The Gunners have coped properly with their harm troubles, but to get gamers again of that calibre remains to be an enormous enhance. Video games will come relentlessly between now and the brand new yr; ten, in, truth over the subsequent 36 days.
In that point, the Premier League shall be entrance and centre because of the Gunners’ imperious European file. Arteta wants all the assistance he can get to make sure his males can proceed piling up the three factors and having FIT depth provides him each probability to attain it.
Beginning with Brentford on Wednesday.
Damaging #2: Arsenal fail to make the additional man depend
It was a irritating afternoon for Arsenal at Stamford Bridge | James Gill – Danehouse/GettyImages
Which crew had a participant despatched off?
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On the time, the Caicedo crimson card seemed like a blessing: Chelsea had come storming out of the blocks and had been having fun with the fervent help of a hostile Stamford Bridge. Arsenal wished for one thing to show the sport and a dismissal would most likely do the trick.
It solely made the Blues indignant.
The house crew didn’t again down and all the time posed a risk in transition by way of Pedro Neto. , in the meantime, repeatedly gave the ball away in poor areas or picked the improper choice when in and across the field – one thing Odegaard was notably responsible of upon his introduction (perhaps it’s simply rustiness).
Drawing is just not the worst outcome but it surely feels worse contemplating the numerical benefit that Arsenal held for many of the sport, and to drop factors in that situation – albeit in a derby sport after a tough week – appears unbecoming of a aspect with title aspirations.
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This lead merely can not slip.
Damaging #3: Slip-up within the title race
Will Mikel Arteta and Arsenal be left to rue these dropped factors? | Ryan Pierse/GettyImages
A reactionary take I do know; the title is just not going to be received or misplaced on any given weekend and least of all in a troublesome away match like this one.
The worth of the draw is a decreased five-point lead over Manchester Metropolis on the high and it implies that Arsenal have drawn two of their final three league matches. It’s hardly trigger for mass panic (take a look at how Metropolis struggled towards Leeds United on Saturday) however dropped factors towards ten males all the time has that asterisk hooked up to it.
As followers, we maybe don’t respect the toll it may well tackle a crew to face Tottenham within the NLD in addition to smash an elite aspect like Bayern Munich in Europe earlier than going through a visit to Chelsea. But it would nonetheless really feel like a missed alternative within the circumstances and, after all of the damage of latest years, one can not assist however worry the worst about giving Metropolis an inch.
Arsenal should bounce again instantly.
This text was initially revealed on www.paininthearsenal.com as .