couldn’t snap their present winless run as they and performed out a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge this night.
Mikel Arteta’s males had misplaced two of their earlier three league outings — with each approaching the street — and initially went forward earlier than the hosts pegged them again.
Gabriel Martinelli put the Gunners in entrance on the hour mark however that lead was solely held for ten minutes as Pedro Neto sensationally equalised to register his first-ever objective in a Blues jersey.
Heading into this fixture, all eyes had been on the membership’s respective difference-makers in assault. Nevertheless, Cole Palmer and Bukayo Saka couldn’t affect the sport, albeit the Chelsea ahead examined David Raya early on from lengthy vary.
Whereas the guests did a great job limiting Palmer, Blues left-back Marc Cucurella earned plaudits, even being named participant of the match by Gary Neville on Sky Sports activities commentary. On this sport final season, which ended 2-2, Saka gave the Spanish full-back the go-around; he succeeded in two of his 5 tried tackles whereas committing two fouls and incomes a yellow card.
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This was an improved exhibiting with Cucurella producing a near-perfect defensive efficiency: successful all three of his tackles, making three interceptions and committing only one foul.
It took Saka till the 78th minute to get previous him, and that proved to be the final involvement of England worldwide, as he went off with a suspected damage. Cucurella was booked for bringing Saka down, which appeared inevitable given how touch-tight he was.
To place this efficiency in some context. Saka offered extra assists than another participant within the Premier League this season (7) heading into this newest spherical of video games. He additionally both scored (1) or assisted (2) a objective in every of his earlier three away video games towards Chelsea within the Premier League, with Sergio Agüero (2013 to 2017) and Javier Hernandez (2012 to 2018) the one visiting gamers to take action in 4 consecutive appearances. Cucurella ensured Arsenal’s quantity seven wouldn’t be part of that very unique group.
Arteta’s concern would be the extent of Saka’s damage however the Gunners have now gone 4 consecutive Premier League video games with no win for the primary time April 2023 (D2 L2); the Gunners had picked up all three factors in 21 of their earlier 25 league matches earlier than this (D3 L1).
As for Chelsea they’ll finish a day within the high three locations of the Premier League desk for the primary time for the reason that ultimate day of the 2021-22 season, after they completed in third place behind Manchester Metropolis and Liverpool.
