Juba Touabi, Media365, published on Sunday November 10, 2024 at 7:47 p.m.
For the 194th London derby since 1907, Chelsea and Arsenal parted in a lively draw but without a winner (1-1).
In an electric atmosphere at Stamford Bridge, both teams showed good intentions without managing to stand out. From the start, it was the Blues who showed themselves to be the most enterprising. In the 3rd minute, Palmer tried his luck from distance, but Gunners goalkeeper Raya made a superb volley to divert the shot. Chelsea maintained the pressure in the first minutes, forcing Arsenal to defend without being able to control the ball, such was the intensity of the locals.
Neto equalizes for Chelsea
Despite this domination, Chelsea are struggling to make things happen. In the 24th minute, Gusto missed a golden opportunity with a header, seeing his attempt go just over the bar. Shortly after, a Havertz goal was ruled out for offside, temporarily stopping the Blues' momentum. Arsenal took advantage of this moment of uncertainty to regain control, even if clear chances remained rare. The first period therefore ends with a blank score. The second half resumed at the same pace, Chelsea trying to open the scoring with an acrobatic shot from Fofana, which skimmed the crossbar. But it was ultimately Arsenal who broke the deadlock in the 60th minute: Martinelli, served by a precise cross from Odegaard, adjusted a shot to deceive Sanchez and opened the scoring. The Gunners believe they have a precious victory.
However, Chelsea reacted quickly. In the 70th minute, with a nice combination, Neto equalized with a precise shot from the edge of the area, putting the two teams back on level terms. In the final moments, Arsenal pushed to snatch victory, notably with a missed opportunity from Trossard and Havertz in the very last minute. At the final whistle, the two teams part back to back. This draw reflects a balanced match but leaves a taste of unfinished business, with each team only having three shots on target. A frustrating result for the two teams, who will have to show more precision to hope for better in the race for the ranking.
