Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal: Premier League – as it happened

Right, here’s the match report from David Hytner at Stamford Bridge and with that, this minute-by-minute will close.

We now bid farewell to Premier League football for two weeks with the November international break to begin. It’s going to be a long old fortnight folks – here’s hoping you get by without that dose of domestic goodness. We’ll see you soon.

This was a key moment for Arsenal right at the death. Wow, wow.

Cucurella speaks about ‘winning’ the battle versus Bukayo Saka. It was about 50-50 in my book but there you go:

“We know he’s a special talent but I tried to give my all to the team, to do my job”.

Neto and Cucurella chat to Sky Sports after the game.

Neto says Chelsea “are not as happy as we wanted to be … but it’s a good point against a good team”.

Cucurella agrees. “We need to keep going this way, we’re doing well, we need to try and push on,” he says.

Complain all you like about Mikel Arteta’s style but …

Cucurella received the broadcasters’ Man of the Match award but I cannot agree with that. Wesley Fofana and Moises Caicedo were Chelsea’s standout players, and it’s hard to look past the returning hero Martin Ødegaard when trying to pick out Arsenal’s best player.

FT: Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal

90 min + 4: The last chance of the game will most likely go to Chelsea. They’re attacking after winning a free-kick around 40 yards out.

It comes to nothing.

And then Arsenal have a great chance at the death with Saliba squaring from the left but nobody is there to tap it home. Trossard got a feint touch.

90 min + 3: Saliba is offside after Arsenal work the corner short. Now here come Chelsea … you can’t say they’re not giving it a go.

90 min + 2: Palmer nearly latches onto a tantalising ball by Neto, curled in with his left foot from the right. Not quite for Chelsea.

Then Arsenal win a corner after good play from Ødegaard. He’s been good on his return to the starting lineup.

90 min: It’s only five minutes to be added on.

Trossard may have been offside for that previous chance, but he would not have known that at the time. Chelsea are pushing here.

My bet is six added minutes. Let’s see …

89 min: Nkunku is on for Chelsea. Not long for him to make an impact.

88 min: It’s getting a bit messy and loose in possession again … but it’s Arsenal who have just squandered an almighty chance to win it. Leo Trossard, what have you done? The substitute has blazed over from six yards with the goal gaping.

87 min: With the darkness of a long November international break looming after this game finishes, a silver late ray of light from one of these two teams would be welcomed by the Premier League neutrals.

Of course, a point isn’t a terrible result for either side.

84 min: There’s some chaos in the Arsenal box, but Raya eventually hangs on after Jackson’s header.

Are we in for a grandstand finish here?

82 min: Reece James is on for Gusto as Chelsea switch things around at the back.

An email from Peter Oh matched my Neto pun.

He went with: “Chelsea’s high Net(o) spend policy is paying dividends.”

80 min: Concerning news for Arsenal on the injury front – again. Saka is sitting down on the ground, seemingly hurt.

Not sure if it was the clatter from Cucurella or something muscular. The Chelsea man has been booked, in any case. Gabriel Jesus has been quickly ushered on for Saka.

78 min: Partey gives it away cheaply to Gusto, with Jackson then racing down the right but crossing to nobody in particular.

It’s pretty open now, both teams sensing the chance to win it.

A Net(o) buster.

Nicolas Jackson has the ball in the net for Chelsea but he was an absolute mile offside. And he knew it.

75 min: Credit to both sides, here, the game looked like it was sliding away into the abyss, but they’ve pulled it back tremendously with two good goals and 20 minutes of excellent football.

74 min: Merino goes close again! This time he does actually make contact with it, as Sanchez sprawls to collect. Arsenal have responded to the Chelsea goal.

73 min: Mikel Merino, who is on for Arsenal in the place of Rice, almost has a tap-in for his first touch. The ball into the box just evaded the Spain international.

If anyone is in the vicinity of Gary Neville at Stamford Bridge, chuck him a Strepsil.

Pedro Neto had just tried a left-footed shot that was blocked… seconds later he decided to go again, lower, harder and more accurate this time, bursting the net behind Raya in the Arsenal goal. Maresca jumps for joy on the sidelines. Game on!

GOAL! Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal (Neto, 70)

70 min: Fofana drives forward from defence and Havertz – now sporting a black bandana – bundles into the back of the Frenchman.

Enzo hoists the resulting free-kick into the box and it’s Neto whose shot is deflected out for a corner in the end. Not quite happening for Chelsea here.

67 min: A delay in play will allow Chelsea to bring on Fernández and Mudryk, with Lavia – who’d picked up a knock – replaced, along with Madueke.

66 min: Arsenal win it high up, with Colwill caught in possession, and Chelsea look rather rattled at the moment. Timber then wriggles through midfield and unleashes a decent shot, which is whizzed just wide.