In a riveting clash at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea’s Pedro Neto netted his first Premier League goal, securing a 1-1 draw against London rivals Arsenal and significantly hampering the Gunners’ title aspirations.
The result leaves Arsenal nine points adrift of league leaders Liverpool. The first half saw both teams struggle to find their rhythm, with Chelsea’s Cole Palmer testing Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya early on.
A missed header from Malo Gusto, who couldn’t convert from just six yards, kept the scoreline unchanged. Arsenal came close to breaking the deadlock when Gabriel Martinelli’s weak shot was saved by Chelsea’s Robert Sánchez after a promising through ball.
The second half brought a renewed intensity as Martin Ødegaard, returning from injury, made an immediate impact, assisting Martinelli for the match’s opening goal.
However, Chelsea responded just ten minutes later, with Neto collecting a pass from Enzo Fernández and striking a powerful shot past Raya to level the score. As the game drew to a close, both teams pushed for a late winner, but neither could find the breakthrough, leading to a fair draw.
helsea remains in third place in the league despite not having won a head-to-head matchup against Arsenal since August 2021. For Mikel Arteta’s side, the draw marks a further setback as they continue to seek their first away Premier League victory since mid-September.
With this result, the title race appears increasingly difficult for Arsenal as they look ahead to their upcoming fixtures.
