Chelsea 2-2 Arsenal: Leandro Trossard scores late equaliser as Gunners fight back to maintain unbeaten league start
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
Updated 21/10/2023 at 22:39 GMT
Chelsea squandered a 2-0 lead at home to London rivals Arsenal as their inconsistent start to life under Mauricio Pochettino continues. Despite a Cole Palmer penalty and a fine Mykhailo Mudryk goal to give The Blues lues a commanding lead, The Gunners battled back late on thanks to Declan Rice’s long-range effort and Leandro Trossard’s late equaliser.
'Phenomenal' - Arteta praises Arsenal after fighting back to secure draw at Chelsea
Arsenal came from two goals down to salvage a draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, with substitute Leandro Trossard netting the late equaliser.
Cole Palmer put Chelsea ahead from the penalty spot on 15 minutes, after William Saliba handled a goal-bound Mykhailo Mudryk header.
Arsenal were well off the pace in the first half and lucky to escape with a 1-0 deficit after Palmer - playing as a false nine - shot inches wide.
Mudryk doubled the lead within three minutes of the restart when his cross flew in past an out-of-position David Raya and Chelsea looked set to record the best result of Mauricio Pochettino's tenure as manager.
But a howler from their goalkeeper Robert Sanchez allowed Declan Rice to pull a goal back, before Trossard ghosted in at the back post to equalise on the volley to ensure The Gunners remained unbeaten in the Premier League this season.
Arsenal end the day second in the table, having fallen behind Manchester City on goal difference. Chelsea are up to ninth.
Talking point - Dodgy goalkeeping hampers both teams
Mikel Arteta has attracted a lot of scrutiny on his goalkeepers with his comments this season, and there will be plenty more after Raya was caught out badly for Mudryk's goal. He almost dropped a bigger clanger minutes later, but made up for passing straight to Palmer by diving at the Chelsea man's feet to keep the score 2-0. At that point under-par Arsenal never looked like getting back into the game.
Enter Sanchez, who offered them a route back with a dreadful pass to nobody in a blue shirt. Rice pounced and finished well into an empty net, but he should never have been afford such an opportunity. Sanchez also looked dodgy from crosses and would have given away a penalty, were it not for referees turning a blind eye to goalkeepers recklessly wiping out opposing players in midair this season.
Arteta has spoken about rotating his shot-stoppers. With Aaron Ramsdale - not in the squad after becoming a new father - likely available for Arsenal's next match, he has a choice to make. Chelsea may well be ruing their choice to sell Edouard Mendy and let Kepa leave on loan.
Player of the match - Conor Gallagher (Chelsea)
Gallagher produced an all-action display in Chelsea's dominant midfield, offering both thrust in possession and great work-rate when The Blues didn't have the ball. As frustrated as Pochettino will be, there were many good signs for Chelsea in this game, including the midfield combination of Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez and Gallagher looking very effective.
Player ratings
Chelsea: Sanchez 2, Gusto 4, Silva 7, Colwill 7, Cucurella 7, Caicedo 7, Fernandez 7, Gallagher 7, Palmer 7, Sterling 6, Mudryk 7. Subs: Jackson 6, James 5, Madueke 5.
Arsenal: Raya 4, White 5, Saliba 5, Gabriel 5, Zinchenko 5, Rice 6, Jorginho 5, Odegaard 5, Saka 5, Jesus 5, Martinelli 5. Subs: Tomiyasu 6, Havertz 6, Smith Rowe 5, Trossard 7, Nketiah 6.
Match highlights
PENALTY TO CHELSEA! 14' - Mudryk and Saliba go for a cross, the Chelsea man gets there first and then the ball strikes Saliba's raised arm. Chelsea are convinced it should be a penalty, and after a VAR review they get it.
GOAL! CHELSEA 1-0 ARSENAL (PALMER) 15' - Palmer sends Raya the wrong way, sliding the ball into the net to give Chelsea a deserved lead.
GOAL! CHELSEA 2-0 ARSENAL (MUDRYK) 48' - Mudryk has the ball on the left wing, sees Raya off his line and Sterling making a back-post run, so crosses in that direction. He gets the cross slightly wrong, but Raya gets it more wrong and the ball loops in at the back post, lobbing Raya.
CHANCE! 58' - Raya, playing out from the back, kicks the ball straight to Palmer, but just about makes amends, diving at the Chelsea man's feet to prevent a disastrous goal.
GOAL! CHELSEA 2-1 ARSENAL (RICE) 77' - Arsenal get a goal back from nowhere as Sanchez misplaces a pass and Rice sweeps the ball home from 35 yards, with Sanchez out of the net.
GOAL! CHELSEA 2-2 ARSENAL (TROSSARD) 84' - Arsenal are level! Saka swings a cross to the back post, where Gusto is oblivious to Trossard and the Belgian pokes the ball home. Key stats Arsenal's three goals from the 76th minute onwards is tied for the most in the Premier League this season.
KEY STATS
- Mudryk has scored three goals in his last four starts for club and country.
- Arsenal's three goals from the 76th minute onwards is tied for the most in the Premier League this season.
- The Gunners are now unbeaten in 16 Premier League matches against London opposition.
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article