• Saturday, December 14, 2024
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Arsenal and Chelsea play out thrilling 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge

Arsenal-Chelsea (1)

Pedro Neto’s second-half strike earned Chelsea a 1-1 draw against Arsenal, cancelling Gabriel Martinelli’s early goal in a high-energy clash at Stamford Bridge. The result leaves both teams nine points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool.

Chelsea, bolstered by the return of England international Cole Palmer, saw the midfielder jump into the action with an ambitious 25-yard strike that forced a superb save from Arsenal’s David Raya. However, Arsenal struck first when Gabriel Martinelli smashed a close-range effort past Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez after Martin Odegaard’s pinpoint cross found him at the far post.

Chelsea’s equalizer was well-deserved. Enzo Fernandez set up Pedro Neto with a clever pass, and the winger weaved inside to unleash a powerful left-footed shot beyond Raya’s reach.

The match ended on a tense note as Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka was forced off with an injury. Both teams pushed for a winner, with Arsenal nearly snatching it when Leandro Trossard narrowly missed connecting with William Saliba’s cross in the dying seconds, just before Michael Oliver’s final whistle.

The draw leaves Arsenal winless in their last five games across all competitions, and both sides remain on 19 points, nine adrift of Liverpool. Chelsea, showing signs of confidence with just one loss in their last ten matches, set the tone early as Palmer’s strike and Malo Gusto’s header kept Arsenal on alert.

Martinelli had another chance in the first half, and Kai Havertz saw a goal ruled out for offside in a match that showcased intense Premier League action.

Head of Sports at BusinessDay Media, a seasoned Digital Content Producer, and FIFA/CAF Accredited Journalist with over a decade of sports reporting.Has a deep understanding of the Nigerian and global sports landscape and skills in delivering comprehensive and insightful sports content.

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