Alert – Chelsea vs Arsenal – Premier League: Live score, news and updates as Pedro Neto scores superb equaliser to earn Blues a draw… with both teams slipping NINE points behind league leaders Liverpool

There is one word that can be used for Pedro Neto’s equaliser: bullet.

Just 10 minutes after going behind, Chelsea really needed to respond and didn’t look like doing so.

But then up steps Mr. Neto. he arrowed the ball into that bottom corner like it was a bullseye.

Then just listen to the noise.

Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella, speaking to Sky Sports:

It was a tough game. They’ve played together with the same ideas for a long time but we played well. We need to keep going in this way, we are doing well. We need to stay in this way and push more.

Bukayo Saka is a top player. We’ve played a lot of times against each other, there is huge respect there. It is a good battle and hopefully, we can have more.

I try to not give him space and always be close to him. We knew he is a special talent and do my work and help my team. I tried to show the best of me.

Kai Havertz was booed, called a Chelsea reject (and a manner of other unprintable names) here during the first half. Football fans will be football fans – but given the German scored the winning goal in Chelsea’s second Champions League final win over Manchester City, it seems rather unfair – and certainly unnecessary.

An even game but two points lost for Arsenal, not a point won. They are too far off the top to be throwing away a precious lead and that is what they did at Stamford Bridge.

The good times are starting to come back to Chelsea.

The Blues have still only lost two matches in the Premier League this season, and those were at the hands of Manchester City and Liverpool.

It feels like something is brewing at Stamford Bridge, they showed great character to come from behind so quickly against a strong Arsenal side.

The result means they end a day in the top three places of the league table for the first time since the final day of the 2021-22 season.

The Blues went on to finish third under Thomas Tuchel behind Manchester City and Liverpool.

Will we see a repeat of that in this campaign?

Kieran Gill, Mail Sport:

That statement win still eludes Enzo Maresca, as Chelsea relied on another super strike to come from behind to avoid defeat. Cole Palmer didn’t turn up today.

As I mentioned earlier, he only trained twice this week, but not for the first time against another Big Six side, it wasn’t his day. I suspect Maresca will be pleased with a point. He’s often cited Arsenal as the team he considers closest to Manchester City.

It has been a very good weekend for Liverpool, hasn’t it?

It is the second weekend running where the Reds have won and their two title rivals have dropped points.

With Manchester City losing and now Arsenal only managing a draw, Arne Slot’s side are starting to open a gap at the top.

No one was expecting this to happen – I certainly wasn’t.

It’s still early days, but the time will soon come when Liverpool become the favourites for this title.

Or is that time now?

I reckon there are a lot of happy Liverpool fans after the result of this match.

With Arsenal drawing, the Gunners are nine points adrift of the Reds heading into the international break.

It’s not quite panic stations for Mikel Arteta’s men, but it will be soon if they keep dropping points.

The Gunners have not won a Premier League match in over a month, picking up just two points from four matches.

After these two weeks off, they have to come back firing on all cylinders.

If they don’t, their title dreams may fade away before Christmas.

That could have been a heck of a finish and I wonder if a VAR check may have overturned that offside flag. Trossard certainly wasn’t offside as that low cross came in… Anyway, it’s academic. He missed it.

Mikel Arteta’s reaction the the last-gasp chance was very telling.

He dropped to his knees and started punching the floor in frustration before Enzo Maresca came over to shake his hand.

It’s not a bad point for Arsenal, but it does now mean they sit nine points behind the leaders Liverpool.

It’s clear Arteta was desperate for all three, he couldn’t hide his emotions.

It will be interesting what he has to say in the next hour.

Oh my word, Arsenal nearly win it with the last kick of the game…

The ball is drilled across the face of the goal with three Gunners players there in waiting.

But the ball flies past all of them. Kai Havertz can’t believe it, and neither can Mikel Arteta.

They will have to settle for just one point.

Time is running out for Arsenal and they have a corner…

But they go short and Ben White’s cross is dug out with ease in the end.

Is that their last chance?

There will be five minutes of stoppage time here.

Will there be a winner from either of these sides? If there is to be a goal, that will be the end of it.

Mikel Arteta has just had to tell his set-piece coach Nicolas Jover to calm down after an Arsenal free-kick led only to disappointment. Jover was waving his arms about and chuntering away as he returned to the dugout.

And now Arteta himself is feeling some of that despair after seeing Leandro Trossard hammer one over from six yards. (It would have been offside, as it happens).

One last throw of the dice from Enzo Maresca.

Christopher Nkunku enters the action for Chelsea with Nicolas Jackson making way.

He does not have long to make an impact.

Oh my word… that is an absolute sitter from Leandro Trossard.

Gabriel Jesus is in down the right and pulls the ball back for Mikel Merino to finish.

The midfielder’s effort is brilliantly saved by Robert Sanchez at point-blank range but the ball falls straight to Trossard.

With the goal at his mercy, the Belgian winger blazes it miles over the bar.

The offside flag goes up, but we won’t let him off the hook.

What are Arsenal doing there?

The Gunners’ defence gets in all sorts of a muddle as Reece James battles with them in the area.

They can’t clear the ball and it drops from the sky onto the head of Nicolas Jackson.

It’s a great chance for a winner, but he can only nod it straight at David Raya.

Now Enzo Maresca turns to the bench.

Chelsea’s club captain, Greece James, replaces Malo Gusto as they chase a winner.

We are getting into squeaky bum territory now.

That will be the end of Bukayo Saka’s evening.

He can’t continue and is replaced by Gabriel Jesus for the final 10 minutes.

Not worry Arsenal fans, I’m sure he will be for after the international break.

Oh, this does not look good…

Bukayo Saka looks to have tweaked something and his down in the Chelsea box.

In the meantime, Marc Cucurella is booked for an earlier challenge on the Arsenal man.

As I write this, he is still complaining… just get on with it.

That is one of the most obvious offsides I have ever seen.

Nicolas Jackson is about five yards offside when Malo Gusto pings him through but the flag stays down.

Jackson slides the ball under David Raya but then it eventually goes up.

What an impact that would have been!

Bukayop Saka plays in a tantalising cross which Mikel Merino tries to race onto.

But the ball flashes just past him before he can stick a leg out to turn it home.

This game finally has life.

Mikel Arteta responds with an instant double substitution.

Goalscorer Gabriel Martinelli is surprisingly hooked for Leandro Trossard, who has struggled lately.

Mike Merino is also on in place of Declan Rice.

What a finish that is from Pedro Neto!

The winger has been Chelsea’s biggest threat and he arrows them level with a low strike.

Enzo Fernandez makes an instant impact by finding Neto, and the Portuguese starlet does the rest.

Game on!

Arsenal just about deserve that lead. Chelsea’s defence has looked like an accident waiting to happen and they gave Martinelli far, far too much space and time to pick his spot.

Romeo Lavia has been struggling on the floor and now he is replaced by Enzo Fernandez.

Noni Madueke is also hooked – he has not been great – with Mykhailo Mudryk coming on for him.

Can they turn this game?

It’s all Arsenal now, they have found their rhythm at last.

Martin Odegaard is making them tick once more, he drives into the box but his shot is blocked.

Arsenal then recycle the ball and Jurrien Timber has a crack from distance. It’s a decent one, but it drifts just wide.

In a game shy on quality, that was a real piece of skill from Martin Odegaard to pick out his team mate at the far post.

Robert Sanchez left a big gap at his near post but fair play to Gabriel Martinelli for having the composure to look up and spot it. A lot of players would have thrashed at that chance. But he didn’t.

That is Arsenal’s first goal in 265 minutes of football, and it’s such a big one.

While Chelsea should do better, it was a lovely pass from Martin Odegaard for the goal.

Oh, how they have missed him.

Cometh the hour, cometh the man!

Gabriel Martinelli has been threatening all afternoon and he gets the goals his efforts have deserved.

The returning Martin Odegaard clips the ball into the back post where Martinelli takes touch and then smashes the ball in via the near post.

Robert Sanchez really should do better.

Kai Havertz has blood pouring from his head yet again.

He got a gash while playing Inter Milan at the San Siro in midweek and it seems to have reopened.

Blood is all over his face and shirt and he simply has to go off to have it sorted.

Arsenal will play with 10 men for a bit (they’re used to it).

Come on Malo Gusto, you are better than that!

I feel I have been fairly critical of the full-back but this time it is definitely warranted.

Gusto screams for a penalty after going down as David Raya collects a cross.

Why even bother? It’s never a foul.

So close from Wesley Fofana.

The centre-half gets on the end of a teasing cross and tries to flick the ball into the far corner.

It’s a decent effort but has too much loft on it as it lands on the roof of the net.

What is that??

There are groans from Stamford Bridge as Malo Gusto opts to pass the ball all the way back to Robert Sanchez for the edge of the Arsenal area.

Such a bizarre decision. No wonder the fans voiced their frustration, even I did in my chair.

Now that is a teasing cross from Gabriel Martinelli, but there is no Arsenal player there to attack it.

Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard are in the box but stand next to each other and watch it float over their heads.

It was there to be attacked.

Chelsea have come out in this second half intent on taking the game to Arsenal.

Both Cole Palmer and Noni Madueke try and whip dangerous crosses into the area.

However, both are dealt with.

Arsenal players out a couple of minutes early for the second half. Either a statement of intent or Mikel Arteta ran out of things to say to them…

Arsenal come out so early for the second half.

They have a proper team huddle in the two minutes they are waiting for Chelsea to return to the pitch.

Anyway, the Blues are back out and we are back underway again.

Paul Merson, former Arsenal midfielder, speaking about Malo Gusto's miss on Sky Sports:

It’s a sitter. He has to score. Got to score that chance. As soon as he gets in there he has to score. Sitter. That is the chance you are in bed tonight thinking how did I miss that? It wasn’t even too high for him.

It’s like Arsenal have forgotten how to score, isn’t it?

Yes, I know some of you will say they had the ball in the back of the net in that first half. It didn’t count, though.

That’s now over 250 minutes of football without a goal for the Gunners.

Their creativity is just not what it usually is, although they had their moments in the first 45 minutes.

How long will this run continue?

Malo Gusto won’t be able to stop thinking about this chance if Chelsea don’t go on to win today.

You’d back most people to score a header from a few yards out, I’d even back myself from there.

It was a real sitter and could be a massive moment in this game.

I’m still in disbelief it didn’t hit the net, the cross from Pedro Neto was perfect for Gusto.

Enthralling first half. The advantage keeps switching. Arsenal look like a more mature side, Chelsea are still a work in progress. Chelsea’s best work goes through Palmer but Caicedo has been outstanding again.

We have to start the break with this, right?

Just look at how Kai Havertz celebrates as he thinks he has dunked on his former team.

He looked a little silly a minute later when VAR ruled his strike out…

It was a well-worked set-piece, though. Arsenal were just a little unlucky Havertyz went early.

Michael Oliver brings an end to the first period after a rather promising Chelsea attack.

That’s what the majority of this game has been like. It’s shown lots of promise, but the final bit of quality has not been there.

Both sides have had their chances, with Kai Havertz having a goal ruled out for Arsenal, but nothing separates them so far.

Plenty to play for.

There will be three minutes of stoppage time at Stamford Bridge.

Noni Madueke marks it with a rather silly booking. There have been a lot of them today.

Cole Palmer’s eyes are suddenly lit up.

Nicolas Jackson has just been fouled by Declan Rice metres outside the area.

We know Palmer is pretty handy in this scenario, this is a great opportunity for him.

But he hits the wall with a rather tame effort. All that build up for nothing.

Chelsea are playing well but sometimes it feels as if they only have two-thirds of a team. Their defence is still a liability. They give the ball away too much and they are prone to concentration lapses. Unless they tighten up, they are going to give a cheap goal away.

Just looking at Ben White there as he tangled with Pedro Neto. White will be off on his holidays next week while the rest of the country’s top players turn up to play for an England manager who is not really the England manager. For once, the Arsenal full-back is on the right side of the debate…

After a bright opening 20 minutes, Cole Palmer is really struggling to get into the game here.

Arsenal are practically marking him out of it and when he has got the ball, his decisions have been a bit rash.

Now Ben White goes into the book.

For some reason, the Arsenal man charges down Pedro Neto off the ball – a bit bizarre.

The yellow card is the obvious choice in that scenario.

Kieran Gill, Mail Sport:

Chelsea got away with one there. They really need to switch on to set-pieces. Especially when Arsenal are the visitors.

It is worth remembering that Chelsea paid Brentford compensation said to be worth £1million in the summer to get their set-piece guru called Bernardo Cueva. This season, we’ve yet to see many major changes in those situations, both defensively and offensively.

That disallowed goal very much reminded me of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s strike at Manchester United.

The full-back scored and then kissed the camera in Steven Gerrard fashion when celebrating, all for VAR to rule it out.

Kai Havertz’s celebrations there would not have been taken lightly by the Chelsea fans.

He will get pelters all night now.

Stamford Bridge cheers like Chelsea have scored a goal as VAR rules Kai Havertz’s strike out.

The German just strayed too far and was marginally off, but that’s all it takes.

Pedro Neto is booked in the aftermath after voicing his complaints a little too much.

Oh, Hang on…

Kai Havertz looks like he is offside here and VAR are going to take a look at this.

I think Arsenal fans’ celebrations are about to be cut short.

It just had to be Kai Havertz!

The German striker comes back to haunt his former side as he gets on the end of a quick free kick to slide home.

He then wheels away in celebration and shushes the fans that used to cheer his name.

No love lost there then.

Gabriel Martinelli should do so much better there.

Chelsea give the ball away while playing out at the back and Martinelli finds himself in space on the left-hand side of the area.

The ball comes his way and he just needs to smash the ball across Robert Sanchez.

However, he can only hit it straight at him.

It seems Malo Gusto is OK to continue.

Well, I say that but he looks really uncomfortable as he limps back onto the pitch.

Maybe he will just run it off?

Malo Gusto has hurt himself in the process of that effort, and it does not look good.

He lands awkwardly after making the header and now Reece James is warming up.

How has Malo Gusto missed??

Pedro Neto whips a delicious cross to the back post where Gusto is steaming in at full pelt.

The full-back meets the ball three yards out and you think the net is about to ripple.

But somehow he heads it over. A huge miss.

We have our first card of the game.

Bukayo Saka drifts past Levi Colwill so the latter hacks him down from behind with a scissor challenge.

The yellow card comes out and Colwill can’t believe it, he is perplexed.

I’m not sure why, it was a terrible challenge.

Cole Palmer is simply ridiculous, he really is.

He opens his body and takes the ball with a delicate touch before setting Pedro Neto on his bike.

The winger races down the left and finds Noni Madueke in the box, but the Englishman heads wide.

A lovely move started by the brilliance of Palmer.

That’s a bit nasty, Moises Caicedo…

The Chelsea midfielder knocks the stuffing out of Martin Odegaard as he steams into him with force.

It was one hell of a hit, but not one that warrants a yellow card.

There’s a nice pace to this game. Quick, but not frantic, with Cole Palmer sticking out like a sore thumb. Beautiful player to watch.

Arsenal are certainly growing into this game after a strong Chelsea start.

The ever-reliable Bukayo Saka does well down the right-hand side and stands up a cross to the back post.

But there aren’t any Arsenal players there to get a head on it.

I read a piece this morning suggesting that Arsenal have become too reliant on set pieces. Strange how results change the way people view things.

When Arsenal were winning games last season their set pieces were said to be amazing!!! They’ve had one corner here so far and it was quite clever to be fair…

The corner does indeed cause some trouble, but after what feels like a minute of pinball, Chelsea clear.

That one set-piece is evidence that the Gunners could have a lot of joy from corners today.

Not that we didn’t know that anyway.

Robert Sanchez really is a weak spot for the hosts, isn’t he?

The Chelsea keeper helps Arsenal launch a counter with a really poor pass into the middle of the park.

The Gunners then work their way forward and win a corner, which we know they are good at.

A good chance for an opener here.

Chelsea are having all of the ball at the moment and are bypassing the Arsenal midfield with relative ease.

You can see that the Gunners are suffering from a lack of confidence and they will want to ride out these early stages.

The Blues are on top.

Kieran Gill, Mail Sport:

I’m told Cole Palmer trained twice this week – on Friday and Saturday. On Reece James’s absence, I suspect Enzo Maresca wanted Marc Cucurella to start as the left back will be the best match for Bukayo Saka. James is not yet fit enough to invert into midfield so Malo Gusto has been preferred at right back.

Chelsea have started so, so brightly here.

Cole Palmer looks completely fine and he causes David Raya some worry with a stinging effort from outside the area.

It flies toward the top corner but Raya leaps across to turn it over the bar.

This is already a high-octane game.

Tottenham lose in Europe on Thursday and then take a hangover into their Sunday Premier League game and lose the game.

It’s here you see the benefit of Chelsea’s huge squad and the fact coach Enzo Maresca can field different teams in the Europa Conference League and the Premier League.

None of the players who started the demolition of FC Noah are in today’s line up. I think that’s hugely important.

The waiting is over, we are underway at the Bridge.

The two fans are bantering each other through chants as the ball gets rolling and this is et up to be a belter.

Let’s hope it delivers.

The atmosphere at Stamford Bridge is a very vibrant one.

The Chelsea fans seem well up for this, as do the Arsenal fans in the corner who are loud and proud.

The chants fall silent as the Chelsea pensioners come onto the pitch as we all remember those who lost their lives in the First World War.

The Last Post is then played before there is a roar from all four stands as the teams get ready to kick things off.

Kieran Gill, Mail Sport:

Cannot underestimate how big it is for Chelsea that Cole Palmer is able to start. With him in the Premier League XI, their win percentage is 51.3 per cent and they score 2.2 goals on average per game. Without, it drops to 33.3 per cent and 0.8 goals.

It will be interesting to see how fit he is, mind. He’s managed no more than two training sessions since that reducer from Lisandro Martinez last Sunday.

Thanks, Sonny!

It’s good to be here to close out what has been a sensational weekend of footie.

The players have now finished their warm-ups and it is nearly go-time at Stamford Bridge.

Is anybody else as excited as I am?

20 minutes until kick-off and I will be leaving you in the capable hands of our very own Harry Bamforth.

He will take you through all of this evening’s action and reaction from what is sure to be a fantastic match.

So stick with him for that and thank you for joining me for the build-up.

The anticipation is building at Stamford Bridge as the players come out to warm up.

Martin Odegaard is the first out for Arsenal as he looks eager to make his return from injury.

Do Arsenal have to win this game to stay in the Premier League title race?

I don’t think so and the reason is that it’s not Manchester City at the top of the table but Liverpool.

No disrespect to Arne Slot and his team but I think if somebody finishes above City next May they will win the title.

As it stands the gap between last season’s top two is only five points. So no time for panic yet, Arsenal fans…

Sometimes, a piece of team news feels seismic. It is that way with the return of Martin Odegaard to the Arsenal starting line-up. They have not been the same since they lost him to injury in September. Now he has to try to resuscitate their season.

Last time these two sides faced off at Stamford Bridge Arsenal pulled off an improbable comeback to steal a point.

Chelsea came flying out of the blocks and pegged the Gunners back inside 15 minutes through a Cole Palmer penalty as they dominated the first half.

Mykhailo Mudryk then doubled the lead just after the break when his cross floated over David Raya into the far corner.

But Robert Sanchez’ errror gave the visitors a foothold in the game. His clearance went straight to Declan Rice who’s fine first time finish found the bottom corner from all of 35-yards out.

Leandro Trossard earned Arsenal a point when he latched on to Bukayo Saka’s backpost cross, poking beyond Sanchez.

Now we know the team news and both sides have received major boosts how are you feeling Chelsea and Arsenal fans?

Let us know in the comments rail on the right hand side.

Two big changes for Arsenal from their loss against Inter Milan who are able to call upon captain Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice pushes through a broken toe.

Arsenal XI: David Raya, Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel, Jurrien Timber, Declan Rice, Thomas Partey, Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz

There had been concerns over his fitness all week as he failed to train but Chelsea’s talismanic attacker Cole Palmer starts for Enzo Maresca’s side.

Chelsea XI: Robert Sanchez, Malo Gusto, Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill, Marc Cucurella, Romeo Lavia, Moises Caicedo, Noni Madueke, Cole Palmer, Pedro Neto, Nicolas Jackson

About 5 minutes into the second-half of all of today’s 2pm kick-offs and at Old Trafford Manchester United lead 2-0.

Ipswich are still two goals to the good away at Tottenham and Nottingham Forest are 1-0 up at home against Newcastle.

You can follow all the latest news and updates below.

Just under 90 minutes until kick-off and fans are arriving, there is clearly a buzz around the ground early.

Mail Sport’s Sami Mokbel at Stamford Bridge:

Twenty minutes before the teams come out. In terms of Arsenal, I fully expect Declan Rice to start the game despite his broken toe. If he does, the news will arrive as a huge boost to the Gunners given his importance.

Former Liverpool and Tottenham midfielder Jamie Redknapp gave his verdict on what Arsenal’s biggest issue in the title race is this season.

Despite a raft of injuries including to team captain Martin Odegaard and new signing Riccardo Calafiori. And discipline issues that have seen them pick up three red cards already this season.

Redknapp believes the bigges issue lies outside the club itself.

When asked about the title race, he told Sky Sports: ‘I still think there is a lot to be played. We are still not sure what will happen with Liverpool, the new manager is in uncharted territory.

‘Liverpool are Arsenal’s major problem right now.’

Something that definitely gets everyone talking is a good combined XI.

We see them all week, some often seem more outlandish than others but one thing is for sure, that none of them satisfy everyone.

Mail Sport put together their own combined XI and it’s not surprising to find William Saliba in a centre back spot. But who joined him from each side?

Find out below

Before we really dive into the action coming up at Stamford Bridge today, lets have a quick look around the grounds.

Nottingham Forest lead Newcastle 1-0 at The City Ground thanks to Murillo’s first goal for the side.

Manchester United find themselves 1-0 against Leicester City thanks to Bruno Fernandes’ fine finish. His ninth goal in eight starts against the Foxes.

And it’s not been the best of starts for Tottenham at home against Ipswich. Sammie Szmodics giving the visitors the lead with a wonderful overhead kick.

Hello and welcome to today’s coverage of Arsenal vs Chelsea.

We are surely in for a fantastic clash with both sides looking to capitalise on Manchester City’s slip up against Brighton.

Both sides enter today’s match having failed to win in their previous Premier League outing so a win today would be crucial.

Cole Palmer has been central to all of Chelsea’s success this season, it almost feels like he’s had a hand in every single league goal so far. He has not trained all week but Enzo Maresca said the attacker has been ‘getting better.’

Declan Rice reportedly has a broken toe, though recent reports are that he will push through the pain barrier for such a crucial outing. Mikel Arteta wasn’t able to give any clarity on the midfielder’s situation.

So Chelsea and Arsenal fans will both be united in one thing today if nothing else and that is their concerns of key injuries.