This Sunday, Chelsea hosted Arsenal at Stamford Bridge for an intense Premier League clash, which ultimately concluded in a 1-1 draw.
Chelsea started the second half with great momentum, taking the lead just two minutes in with a well-placed header from Trevoh Chalobah after receiving a pinpoint cross from Reece James. However, Arsenal quickly equalized, with Mikel Merino finding the net just eleven minutes later.
The highlight of the match for the Blues was undoubtedly Chalobah’s goal, which showcased both his aerial prowess and positioning. His header went straight into the bottom left corner, leaving the Arsenal goalkeeper with no chance.
Despite dominating possession with an impressive 60% throughout the match, Arsenal struggled to break the deadlock against a resolute Chelsea defense.
Mikel Merino stood out as the player of the match. The Arsenal striker not only scored the equalizer but also attempted three shots on target and completed 15 successful passes.
On the Chelsea side, Reece James was pivotal, contributing significantly to his team with 28 successful passes and winning back possession three times.
Enzo Maresca, manager of Chelsea, opted for a 4-3-3 formation with Robert Sánchez in goal, a back line consisting of Malo Gusto, Wesley Fofana, Trevoh Chalobah, and Marc Cucurella. The midfield featured Reece James, Moisés Caicedo, and Enzo Fernández, while the forward trio included Estêvão Willian, João Pedro, and Pedro Neto.
Conversely, Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta set up his team in a 4-2-4 formation, with David Raya in goal; the defense comprised Jurriën Timber, Cristhian Mosquera, Piero Hincapié, and Riccardo Calafiori. The midfield was anchored by Martín Zubimendi and Declan Rice, while Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze, Gabriel Martinelli, and Mikel Merino led the attack.
The match was officiated by referee Anthony Taylor.
Looking ahead, Chelsea will next face Leeds United, while Arsenal will host Brentford at the Emirates Stadium. Currently, Chelsea occupies third place with 24 points, while Arsenal sits atop the table with 30 points.
Substitutions for Chelsea
45’ 2T – Estêvão Willian was replaced by Alejandro Garnacho, and Riccardo Calafiori was substituted for Myles Lewis-Skelly
54’ 2T – João Pedro made way for Liam Delap
Yellow Card for Chelsea:
10’ 1T – Marc Cucurella
Red Card for Chelsea:
37’ 1T – Moisés Caicedo (direct red)
Substitutions for Arsenal
56’ 2T – Gabriel Martinelli was replaced by Noni Madueke, and Martín Zubimendi was substituted for Martin Odegaard
71’ 2T – Eberechi Eze made way for Viktor Gyökeres
Yellow Cards for Arsenal:
4’ 1T – Martín Zubimendi, 12’ 1T – Cristhian Mosquera, 26’ 1T – Riccardo Calafiori, 40’ 1T – Piero Hincapié, 8’ 2T – Myles Lewis-Skelly, and 42’ 2T – Viktor Gyökeres