Arsenal vs Chelsea

Premier League · 2 - 1

The teams are heading out onto the pitch now, so kick-off will be upon us in just a few moments.
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Arteta makes one change to the side that beat Aston Villa 1-0, with Konsa brought in to replace the injured Cristhian Mosquera. Alonso has made two switches from Chelsea's 4-3 victory over Brighton last weekend, with Colwill and Gusto making way for Acheampong and James.
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SUBS: Mike Penders, Malo Gusto, Levi Colwill, Pep Chavarria, Valentin Barco, Estevao, Geovany Quenda, Jamie Gittens, Danny Welbeck.
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CHELSEA (3-4-2-1): Emiliano Martinez; Josh Acheampong, Wesley Fofana, Maxence Lacroix; Pedro Neto, Reece James, Romeo Lavia, Jorrel Hato; Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers; Joao Pedro.
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SUBS: Kepa Arrizabalaga, Piero Hincapie, Max Dowman, Mikel Merino, Martin Zubimendi, Bruno Guimaraes, Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke, Viktor Gyokeres.
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ARSENAL (4-2-3-1): David Raya; Ben White, Ezri Konsa, Gabriel Magalhaes, Riccardo Calafiori; Declan Rice, Myles Lewis-Skelly; Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Christos Tzolis; Kai Havertz.
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Defending champions Arsenal are up against one of the only two other teams to have started their season with a 100% record - the third being Manchester City. The Gunners are unbeaten in nine top-flight matches against Chelsea - their best run since a 19-game stretch between 1995 and 2005. To extend their record, Mikel Arteta will need to get one over on Xabi Alonso. The pair go head-to-head as coaches in the Premier League for the first time, having played together for the same neighbourhood club while growing up in San Sebastian: Antiguoko. It's sure to be a fascinating matchup, given Arsenal's ability to control games and Chelsea's exciting, transitional play that has seen them score seven goals and concede five across their opening two matches this season. But the line-ups have been announced, so let's see how the two teams will be shaping up.
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Hello and welcome to today's live coverage of the Premier League meeting between Arsenal and Chelsea at Emirates Stadium.
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Chelsea get the ball rolling in north London!
1'
Hato did well to win the header and guide it to Rogers, who did the rest with a fine finish.
2'
GOOOOOOOAAAAAL!! ROGERS PUTS CHELSEA IN FRONT! IT'S 1-0! Konsa fouls Joao Pedro and Chelsea send the free-kick from deep straight into the box. Rice is only able to clear it as far as Hato, who nods it towards Rogers on the edge of the box. The England international, who was heavily linked with a move to Arsenal, then steers an excellent volley into the bottom-left corner!
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There were just 77 seconds on the clock when the ball hit the back of the net! An incredible start for Chelsea.
3'
Clever from Arsenal! Fofana fouls Havertz on the right and Odegaard sweeps the free-kick low towards the near post. Calafiori looks to help it on its way and Martinez gets down to block the ball. There's a bit of a scramble that ends with a prone Gabriel kicking Martinez in the head, so the goalkeeper is now receiving treatment.
5'
Martinez is back on his feet and gets the game back underway having been deemed fine to continue.
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Odegaard plays a pass down the line for the overlapping White. He gets his head up and arrows a cross towards the penalty spot, but it's cut out by Fofana. Saka's deep corner is nodded back into the middle and there are appeals as Saka goes down under pressure from Lavia. However, the flag goes up for offside.
8'
An interesting tactic from Chelsea at the corner there, leaving four players high up the pitch so that it ended up only being a five-on-five inside the box. Arsenal had to quickly rearrange their tactics for the set-piece as a result.
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Goal Riccardo Calafiori
12'
GOOOOOOAAAL!! ARSENAL LEVEL THROUGH CALAFIORI! IT'S 1-1! Oh, hang on, it's being checked by VAR...
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Yellow Card João Pedro Junqueira de Jesus
14'
GOAL DISALLOWED! The goal is ruled out, so it remains 1-0 to Chelsea! Konsa is adjudged to have been offside when he followed up Gabriel's shot and prodded it onto the post, with Calafiori sweeping home the rebound.
12'
Joao Pedro goes into the book for kicking the ball away. A needless yellow card to pick up so early in the game.
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After that frenetic start, things seem to have settled down a little with Arsenal looking to dictate the pace of the game by being patient in possession.
16'
GREAT SAVE! Odegaard angles a lovely pass in behind the Chelsea defence for Saka to run onto. The angle is acute but he lets fly with a powerful shot that is straight at Martinez. Still, the goalkeeper positioned himself brilliantly there.
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White clips a lovely diagonal pass over to the left wing for Tzolis to chase. He carries it forwards and cuts an excellent pass back towards the penalty spot for Havertz, whose first-time effort is blocked behind for a corner.
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Again, Chelsea leave four players high up the pitch so that they easily outnumber Arsenal inside the box. Fofana clears the delivery and the Blues look to break. Joao Pedro has to turn back but Chelsea keep control of possession and work it to Palmer, whose low effort from the edge of the box is held well by Raya.
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WHAT A STRIKE! James is left in acres of space in the centre of the pitch and takes a few touches before unleashing a thunderous effort that Raya needs a couple of attempts to hold onto.
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CHANCES AT BOTH ENDS! Raya releases Tzolis, who produces another cutback towards Havertz. This time he leaves it for Odegaard behind him instead of shooting, and the Norwegian's effort is blocked. Chelsea break at speed and Palmer steers a wonderful pass towards the back post that is agonisingly out of Joao Pedro's reach. It's breathless here.
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GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAL!!! ARSENAL EQUALISE THROUGH HAVERTZ! IT'S 1-1!
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Assist Declan Rice
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GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAL!!! ARSENAL EQUALISE THROUGH HAVERTZ! IT'S 1-1! Havertz pulls out to the right and drives inside before lashing a low effort towards the near post from the edge of the box. Martinez gets a hand to it but can't keep it out!
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It's an assist for Rice as he fed Havertz, who was played onside by Acheampong.
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It's been an incredible game so far. Chelsea have responded to the goal by taking hold of possession and slowing things down. They clearly don't want Arsenal to build up a head of steam.
27'
Palmer spots the run of Acheampong in behind the Arsenal defence and tries to slide the ball through to him, but Gabriel reads it and makes an important interception. Saka shows great strength and tenacity to get away from Hato on the left and win a free-kick for the hosts.
29'
Rice takes the free-kick short before Odegaard lifts the ball into the box and Acheampong heads it clear. White charges onto the loose ball with a touch that takes him straight into the area, but he can't find a team-mate.
30'
CHANCE FOR ROGERS! Joao Pedro gets away from Rice with a lovely touch and drives into the area. He turns back and lays the ball off for Rogers, who cuts inside and shapes to pick out the far corner. He doesn't get enough curl on it, though, and misses the target. You'd expect him to do better there.
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A lovely move on the right from Arsenal ends with Havertz floating the ball to the back post, where Saka is beaten to it. Rice and Odegaard look to keep the pressure up by combining to get another ball into the box, but Chelsea hold firm.
33'
OVER THE TOP! Lewis-Skelly is found in space 20 yards from goal and lashes an effort that sails high of the target. It takes a touch off Lacroix and despite the midfielder's appeals, the officials award a goal-kick.
34'
Chelsea get forward down the right but Neto's cross goes over the top of Joao Pedro and out of play for a goal-kick. Chelsea look to keep the pressure up but a loose touch from Palmer allows Lewis-Skelly to kill an attack. The former Manchester City man then lunges in out of frustration and gives away a free-kick. He's perhaps lucky to avoid a card there.
35'
AMBITIOUS FROM JOAO PEDRO! Lewis-Skelly is caught in possession by Lavia on the halfway line and the ball falls straight to Joao Pedro. He turns and spots Raya off his line, but his attempt to get the better of the Arsenal keeper from 45 yards is mishit and goes wide.
37'
Rice picks out Tzolis with a wonderful diagonal pass. He plays it back to Gabriel, and the centre-back contemplates a cross before offloading to Odegaard. Arsenal then work the ball back over to the right, but the momentum soon dries up.
39'
Chelsea play the ball back to Martinez, who is once again greeted with a chorus of boos from the home fans. They certainly aren't happy to see him again!
41'
Neto whips a cross in from the right, looking for Joao Pedro, but he puts it too close to Raya and the goalkeeper can easily claim it. Will we have any more drama before the half-time whistle sounds?
42'
Lewis-Skelly has given away a couple of free-kicks just inside the Arsenal half in the past few minutes. They have another one now that James will take.
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It's a dreadful free-kick from James, who hits it straight into Raya's arms.
45'
Yellow Card Cole Palmer
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We're into the first of four added minutes as we wait for Rice to take the free-kick.
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Raya spots Havertz surging into space so looks to find him with a quick free-kick. The German is stopped by a cynical challenge from Palmer, who earns a yellow card.
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Rice takes the free-kick short to Saka, who cuts in from the right but fails to do anything with it. White goes down under a challenge from Lavia at the byline and the pair clearly aren't very happy with one another. It seems like Lavia thought White was too quick to drop to the floor there.
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NETO HITS THE POST!! Joao Pedro sets Neto away with a rapid counter-attack down the right. The Portugal international dribbles inside and curls a low effort that beats Raya but bounces away off the base of the upright!
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HALF-TIME: ARSENAL 1-1 CHELSEA.
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Wow - what a first half that was! Rogers put Chelsea in front after just 77 seconds with a lovely volley from the top of the box, and only the offside flag denied Arsenal an equaliser through Calafiori in the 12th minute. The enthralling, end-to-end action continued and the Gunners got their equaliser when Havertz came inside from the right and picked out the bottom corner, beating Martinez at his near post. Rogers was unable to hit the target when presented with a chance to double his tally, while Neto rattled the upright on the stroke of half-time. It's hard to believe that all that has happened despite Chelsea having six shots with a cumulative expected goals (xG) tally of just 0.12. Arsenal, meanwhile, have had 10 attempts on goal for an xG of 1.12. It will take a lot, but let's hope the second half of the match can live up to those first 45 minutes; it's been a fascinating match so far.
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Be sure to stay tuned for the second half.
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We're back underway at Emirates Stadium!
46'
An errant pass from Palmer brings an end to a spell of Chelsea possession and enables Arsenal to push them back into their own half.
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Saka comes in from the right and exchanges passes with Havertz before unleashing a powerful shot for goal. It slams into Lacroix and bounces clear, so Chelsea can breathe again.
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Goal Martin Ødegaard
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Assist Christos Tzolis
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GOOOOOOOOAAAAL!! ODEGAARD MAKES IT 2-1!!! It was a great finish from Odegaard, but that goal was made by a brilliant dummy from Havertz. He let Tzolis' pass run through for Odegaard, and he too full advantage by slamming a fine effort past Martinez from next to the penalty spot.
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Tzolis gets the assist after cutting in from the right and angling a lovely pass in, but Havertz deserves recognition for the excellent decision to leave the ball.
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Well, this half has certainly picked up where the first period left off. Arsenal have been the more active and deservedly lead for the first time today. Chelsea need to stay firm here because the Gunners are building up a head of steam.
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It's all Arsenal at the moment. Chelsea are struggling to get out and bring an end to this unrelenting pressure.
54'
WHAT A TACKLE! Chelsea finally look to launch a counterattack with Palmer sending Rogers on his way, but Konsa comes across and puts in a brilliant challenge on his former Aston Villa team-mate to bring the move to a close.
56'
Chelsea again catch Arsenal on the break, with James feeding Acheampong on the overlap. There is no blue shirt attacking the ball, though, and Raya gathers.
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Yellow Card Christos Tzolis
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Yellow Card Maxence Lacroix
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Tzolis also goes into the book for calling for Lacroix to get a yellow card.
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Lacroix goes into the book for hauling Tzolis down as Arsenal looked to break.
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Substitution Jorrel Hato Pep Chavarría
60'
Lavia has been strong in the centre of the park but he's taken off for Gusto, who will join James in midfield.
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Arsenal have been dangerous down the right so it's unsurprising to see Hato make way for Chavarria.
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OVER THE TOP! Another transitional move from Chelsea is lead by Neto on the right. He cuts the ball back for Gusto, who tries his luck from 25 yards but gets nowhere near the target.
61'
A high ball into the Arsenal box falls kindly for Palmer, who takes a touch to get the ball onto his right foot and burst into the area. He tries to wrap his foot around the ball and find the far corner, but his effort is straight at Raya and at a nice height for a simple save.
63'
Raya rushes off his line to deny Acheampong a chance to shoot and then produces a quick, long drop-kick to try to set Havertz in behind the Chelsea defence. It's a little too long for the Germany international, but that's been a potent tactic for the Gunners today.
64'
Saka is frustrated that the referee pulls play back for his challenge on Fofana near the halfway line, despite appearing to win the ball. That denied Arsenal a chance to seriously hurt Chelsea on the counterattack.
65'
Substitution Myles Lewis-Skelly Martín Zubimendi
67'
Substitution Riccardo Calafiori Piero Hincapié
67'
Arteta adds some fresh legs in midfield by replacing Lewis-Skelly with Zubimendi.
67'
Calafiori's game is up, with Hincapie sent on in his place.
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GOOD STOP FROM MARTINEZ! Havertz helps Odegaard's pass onto Saka with a brilliant touch through Fofana's legs. The England international looks to curl the ball into the far corner, but Martinez springs to his right and pushes it behind for a corner.
69'
CLOSE FOR HAVERTZ! Chelsea this time opt to have everybody back for the corner instead of leaving for up top. Havertz runs from the back post to the front and flicks the delivery on with a header that James just about manages to nod behind for a corner.
70'
ANOTHER CHANCE! Saka's corner is helped on by Konsa and Fofana inadvertently sends it back towards his own goal. Martinez is already down on the floor and is fortunate that Fofana's touch falls straight into his arms.
72'
Chelsea are starting to look a bit desperate when they attack, and that also makes them appear more vulnerable on the counterattack. There are more goals in this game, you feel.
74'
James has a go from in excess of 25 yards after Gabriel clears Neto's corner away. The Brazilian defender took a knock so is late getting up, but it means he's perfectly positioned to block James' shot with his head on the edge of the six-yard box.
76'
Havertz's race is run, with Gyokeres coming on in his place.
77'
Substitution Martin Ødegaard Mikel Merino
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World Cup-winning midfielder Merino is on for Odegaard, too.
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Havertz's race is run, with Gyokeres coming on in his place.
78'
Gabriel does well to hold Joao Pedro up on the left side of the box, with Chelsea having to settle for a corner. Gusto swings it in and Raya punches it up into the air before gathering at the second attempt. The keeper tries to release Saka down the left with a quick throw but James reads it and intercepts.
80'
After Rogers overhits a cross so that it goes out for an Arsenal throw, Alonso sends Estevao on for Neto.
81'
Chelsea are in the midst of a dominant spell of possession now. Are Arsenal simply confident of keeping them at bay and providing more of a threat on the break?
82'
Yellow Card Morgan Rogers
83'
Rogers goes into the book after confronting Rice for a trip on him as Chelsea broke through Palmer. He got in the Arsenal midfielder's face there.
83'
Lacroix does well to hold up Gyokeres and get a foot in the way of his pass, regaining possession for the Blues so they can look to probe the Arsenal defence once more.
85'
Rogers is booed off, while Welbeck gets a warm welcome from the fans of his former club.
87'
Joao Pedro drops deep to pick up the ball and then looks to drive past Zubimendi, who clips him with a poor challenge. Chelsea have a free-kick in a central position around 35 yards from goal.
87'
James goes straight for goal from the free-kick and it hits Rice straight in the head. The ball is cleared and he takes a while to get back to his feet. The referee checks on him as play continues and is happy to let it go on.
88'
TOP SAVE FROM RAYA!! Estevao produces a couple of stepovers before cutting inside of Hincapie and onto his left foot. He curls an effort towards the top-left corner from the edge of the box but Raya does brilliantly to tip it over.
89'
Madueke comes on for the final moments, with Saka making way.
90'
There are going to be a minimum of four minutes added on.
90'
Arsenal finally manage to put together a few passes and get out of their own half. Estevao shepherds the ball out of play, protecting it from Tzolis in the process, before running it over to Martinez for a quick goal-kick.
90'

Lineups

Arsenal (4-2-3-1) coached by Mikel Arteta

David Raya, Riccardo Calafiori, Gabriel Magalhaes, Ezri Konsa, Ben White, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Declan Rice, Christos Tzolis, Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz

Chelsea (3-4-2-1) coached by Xabi Alonso

Emiliano Martinez, Maxence Lacroix, Josh Acheampong, Wesley Fofana, Jorrel Hato, Roméo Lavia, Reece James, Pedro Neto, Morgan Rogers, Cole Palmer, João Pedro

Fan Votes (2)

Capiyo
voted Arsenal
Brown
voted Chelsea

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