HT: Chelsea 2-2 Arsenal
And breathe!
What a first-half at Stamford Bridge. Arsenal twice took the lead, through Nketiah and Smith Rowe, but on both times they were quickly pegged back as Werner and then Azpilicueta equalised.
Frantic 45 minutes, and it was a brilliant watch.
45 mins: SO CLOSE FOR ARSENAL!
You guessed it, Saka starts it. Odegaard slides it into Smith Rowe, who somehow manages to keep the ball under pressure from four defenders.
Finds space for the shot, flies just wide of the post. Mendy wasn’t getting anywhere near it.
Two minutes added on.
44 mins: Arsenal look so dangerous every time they play it out wide to Alonso.
Drifts inside, curls a wonderful cross into the box. Mendy and James both let it go, with no Arsenal player making the run at the back post.
41 mins: Tavares plays his way out of trouble nicely and the Gunners can break. Nketiah tries to set the left-back away, pass is intercepted though.
Saka again gets past Alonso with ease, Odegaard and Smith Rowe combine, comes to Xhaka… shot blocked. Tavares’ cross in them smacks Azpilicueta in the face and play is paused.
38 mins: Arsenal are struggling to string more than a few passes together in midfield.
Mount pings a sensational ball out to Alonso and he’s got in behind White. Perfect first touch to bring it down inside the box, but the shot is blasted high and wide.
36 mins: Chelsea knocking the ball around comfortably at the back, maybe just trying to slow things down briefly.
Both sides look so vulnerable at the back, with neither particularly secure on possession. Made for a thrilling game.
James Robson at Stamford Bridge
We are seeing tonight what happens when you take Rudiger and Thiago out of Chelsea’s defence. They are being run ragged. The amount of chances Arsenal are creating is ridiculous.
They should and could have more to show for their two goals, if not for their finishing.
Surely Tuchel won’t stand by and let this continue.
Simon Collings at Stamford Bridge
This is just a bonkers game, neither manager will be happy with the lack of control from their sides but it’s great entertainment.
34 mins: It’s Arsenal’s turn to attack now!
Nketiah with a shot from distance that flies just wide. The Gunners are quickly back on the attack, worked wide to Tavares and he drags an effort wide after driving into the box.
GOAL! Chelsea 2-2 Arsenal | Cesar Azpilicueta 32′
CHELSEA LEVEL AGAIN!
White briefly has the ball, then throws himself to the ground appealing for a free-kick. Doesn’t get it.
Mount whips a low cross into the box, Azpilicueta gets across Tavares and pokes it in at the near post. Lovely finish.
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