Arsenal lost further ground at the top of the Premier League as Pedro Neto struck a wonderful equaliser to earn Chelsea a 1-1 draw in an electric encounter at Stamford Bridge.
Mikel Arteta side were winless in three matches in the league, but the victory their ailing title hopes required seemed within reach when Gabriel Martinelli broke the deadlock with a clever near-post finish in the 60th minute of a fascinating tussle.
It briefly took the wind from a Chelsea side who had played with energy and bite, but a moment of inspiration from Neto righted things for Enzo Maresca’s team, the winger rocketing the ball in from 25 yards to send Chelsea up to third and leave Arsenal’s challenge hanging by a thread.
The hosts had sweated on the availability of Cole Palmer but their number 10 was passed fit after a knee injury and went close with the game’s first chance, David Raya throwing up an arm to tip over a swerving, dipping drive from 30 yards.
Neto has increasingly made the left wing position his own since joining from Wolves. His crossing was Chelsea’s main attacking outlet in the first half, delivering first for Noni Madueke who nodded a difficult chance wide then impudently tricking his way around Ben White and presenting Malo Gusto with a seemingly unmissable finish that he contrived to head over.
Maresca’s only change from the draw with Manchester United was to bring Marc Cucurella in at left-back in place of Reece James and their backline limited Arsenal’s openings in the first half, Martinelli striking the best of them straight at Robert Sanchez after Bukayo Saka’s blocked shot broke to his feet.
Home fans taunted Kai Havertz with cries of “Chelsea reject”. They were briefly silenced after 33 minutes when the player that scored their team’s winning goal in the 2021 Champions League final cleverly evaded Levi Colwill and rolled the ball beneath Sanchez following a quickly taken free-kick. A protracted VAR check belatedly ruled Havertz had been offside.
The game felt like a single goal might settle it and it looked to have arrived on the hour mark. Martin Odegaard, making his first start since September following injury, received the ball from Thomas Partey on the edge of the box and flighted a deep cross to the back post where Arsenal had outnumbered Chelsea.
It landed at the feet of Martinelli, who cushioned it down then clipped it inside the gap left at his near post by Sanchez.
The goal disturbed Chelsea whose confident rhythms in possession from the first half were suddenly gone.
Arsenal looked to take advantage, Jurrien Timber skating through the midfield beyond three players and sending a low shot fractionally wide.
Maresca needed somebody to take charge and Neto decisively took up the challenge.
Enzo Fernandez laid it off but with 30 yards to goal there was little sense of what was to come and Neto profited from the element of surprise, leathering the ball into the bottom corner past Raya.
Manchester City boss Gareth Taylor commended his players for how they dealt with the “physical challenge” of Hammarby following the 2-0 Champions League victory over the Swedish outfit at the Joie Stadium.After a first half in which City had lots of the ball but registered few attempts, they took the lead two minutes into the second via Laura Blindkilde Brown’s finish.Aoba Fujino...
Manchester City made it three wins from as many games in Champions League Group D as they saw off Swedish side Hammarby 2-0 at the Joie Stadium.Laura Blindkilde Brown put City ahead two minutes into the second half, shortly after a strike against a post from Aoba Fujino, who then saw a shot clip the crossbar.Fujino subsequently got on the scoresheet to wrap up victory for Gareth Taylor’s sid...
Arsenal’s interim head coach Renee Slegers insists no-one is getting carried away after their 4-0 Women’s Champions League win against Juventus in Turin.The former assistant to Jonas Eidevall, who resigned on the eve of their previous European fixture, has now overseen four wins and a draw in just under a month.They have scored nine goals in their last two matches, which seems a world ...
Let's start our Daily Laugh today. HE CAME. DID HIS JOB AND LEFT LIKE A TRUE LEGEND! Cristiano Ronaldo: "I can't wait to see what my legs have to offer me in the next few years." Cristiano Ronaldo & Lionel Messi shared similar photos on their IG, reporting for national duty. MLS How are Man United just 4 points off title contenders Arsenal despite having a terrible season and sacking thei...
Man City star Erling Haaland tipped to win a Ballon d'Or. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)The opening phase of the 2024/25 campaign has not gone to plan for Man City but one occasion that was celebrated by the Premier League champions was Rodri being crowned as the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner – an award Erling Haaland has now been tipped to win.The Spaniard pipped Real MadridR...
Tottenham reportedly considering making a move for Manchester City’s winger Jack Grealish as a marquee signing in the next summer transfer window.According to Football Insider, Spurs are closely monitoring Grealish amid growing speculation surrounding his future at City.Since his high-profile transfer from Aston Villa in 2021 for a record-breaking fee of £100 million, Grealish’s t...
Neymar has broken his silence amid speculation Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal could terminate his contract after his latest injury setback.Neymar speaks out after being ruled out againFuture at Al-Hilal currently uncertainBrazilian's contract expires at end of seasonWHAT HAPPENED?Neymar's future has been in the spotlight after the Brazilian superstar was sidelined for up to six weeks after sufferi...
Malacia is back! Man Utd star makes return from injury nightmareManchester United defender Tyrell Malacia made his first appearance for 17 months on Tuesday with the Under-2s against Huddersfield in the EFL Trophy.Arsenal and Liverpool show interest in Frankfurt’s LarssonArsenal and Liverpool are reportedly interested in Eintracht Frankfurt’s 20-year-old midfielder Hugo Larsson, accord...
Liverpool can't control everything - such as refereeing and the opinions of the Premier League officials - but Arne Slot's side are doing everything within their power to flourish this season.Jurgen Klopp's era is no more. Many of those who are not of a Liverpool persuasion will have been cavorting over the German's decision to step down after nine illustrious years, but Liverpool have only gone f...
Real Madrid have reportedly received a boost in their pursuit of Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Jonathan Tah after his agent said that the defender will join a big club in the summer.The 28-year-old enjoyed an invincible season under the management of Xabi Alonso in 2023-24, snatching the league crown from Bayern Munich and becoming the first Bundesliga team to go unbeaten across an entire domestic ...
- 1 Kieran Trippier was seen with a group of party girls in a Newcastle bar
- 2 Hot singer can watch Premier League football games from her flat
- 3 Daily Laugh - Chelsea 8-0 Noah
- 4 Barnet draw a blank against Oldham
- 5 Viktor Johansson stars as Stoke win at Blackburn
- 6 We never let them breathe – Grant McCann delight at Rovers’ second-half response
- 7 Graham Alexander rues first-half display as Bradford pay penalty at Fleetwood
- 8 Japhet Tanganga secures Millwall’s fourth straight win as Leeds slip up
- 9 Paul Warne: Derby’s first away win of the season no big deal
- 10 Hearts’ unbeaten Conference League run comes to end after defeat to Heidenheim