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Chelsea logo
Premier League | Gameweek 24
Jan 21, 2020 at 8.15pm UK
 
Arsenal logo

2-2

Jorginho (28' pen.), Azpilicueta (84')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Martinelli (63'), Bellerin (87')

Live Commentary: Chelsea 2-2 Arsenal - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's live coverage as 10-man Arsenal twice come from behind to earn a 2-2 draw with Chelsea in Tuesday's Premier League game in West London.
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Chelsea and Arsenal have played out a thrilling 2-2 draw in Tuesday night's Premier League showdown at Stamford Bridge.

After David Luiz was dismissed against his former club, Jorginho put the Blues in front from the penalty spot, leaving Arsenal with an uphill task.

However, Gabriel Martinelli and Hector Bellerin, after Cesar Azpilicueta had put Chelsea back into the lead, netted levellers for the visitors, who will be delighted with a share of the spoils.

Find out how all of the action unfolded in England's capital courtesy of Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates below.


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Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the Premier League between Chelsea and Arsenal. While the home side are looking to strengthen their grip of fourth position, the visitors requiring all three points to move into eighth position above neighbours Tottenham Hotspur.

As the two teams make their way out onto the pitch, let's see who features in each starting lineup...


CHELSEA XI: Arrizabalaga; Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Christensen, Palmieri; Kante, Jorginho, Kovacic; Willian, Abraham, Hudson-Odoi

CHELSEA SUBSTITUTES: Caballero, Zouma, Alonso, Barkley, Mount, Pedro Batshuayi


ARSENAL XI: Leno; Bellerin, Mustafi, Luiz, Saka; Torreira, Xhaka; Pepe, Ozil, Martinelli; Lacazette

ARSENAL SUBSTITUTES: Martinez, Holding, Maitland-Niles, Guendouzi, Willock, Ceballos, Nketiah


KICKOFF:  Arsenal get us underway!

The Gunners have started brightly, with a spell on the ball being followed by a break down the left. However, despite having options, Saka's cross evades everyone and goes out for a throw-in on the far side.

Chelsea respond through Hudson-Odoi, who wins a corner after getting the better of Saka. However, the resulting set piece comes to nothing.

Back down the other end, a mistake from Arrizabalaga leads to two corners in quick succession for the Gunners. Like with Chelsea's however, the delivery is poor.

Chelsea string together a fine move down the right, which includes several of their attacking players. The resulting shot appears goalbound, but Mustafi gets in the way to deny Kovacic. If results in a stoppage in play, which understandably leaves Chelsea frustrated at a time when they were building momentum.

CHANCE!  The Blues have their tails up, especially down the right flank. Abraham does well to win a corner for his side and although the first one comes to nothing, the second finds Christensen, who heads wide of the far post from no more than eight yards out. Big chance.

This game is currently being played at 100mph. While Chelsea remain in the ascendancy, I'm not sure if it necessarily benefits them with Arsenal ready to launch counter-attacks.

CHANCE!  Chelsea are stringing some really nice passes together, both short and long. They are keeping Arsenal on high alert at the back and it leads to another chance. Rudiger is able to head the ball back across goal for Abraham, who heads straight at Leno from close range.

OFF THE BAR!  I think this is supposed to be a cross, but Hudson-Odoi hits the top of Arsenal's crossbar with an inswinging delivery. Leno probably had it covered if it had been any lower.

Chelsea are well on top but Arsenal still look lively, especially down the left, when they are able to regain possession. It's been an entertaining game so far.

YELLOW CARD!  Palmieri deservedly goes into the book for hacking down Pepe, who had turned him on the halfway line.

We may only be a quarter of the way through this contest, but Chelsea have already had eight corners. They possess a limited threat in the air, however, so it is little surprise that Arsenal have been able to keep them out.

That said, the pace of the game has slowed somewhat, gifting Arsenal the chance to spend some time on the ball. The Blues may be grateful for the break.

PENALTY!  Chelsea have a penalty and Luiz has been sent off! A poor back-pass from Mustafi leads to Abraham being able to run through on goal. The striker took the ball around Leno, and was upended by the former Blues defender when he was about to shoot at goal with Leno stranded.

Arsenal's David Luiz is shown a red card by referee Stuart Attwell on January 21, 2020© Reuters


GOAL!  CHELSEA 1-0 ARSENAL (JORGINHO)

GOAL!  Jorginho does his usual run-up and just about finds the bottom corner, with Leno guessing the right away and almost getting a hand to it.

For the time being, Xhaka has dropped into central defence with Ozil playing in the middle of the park. It surely cannot continue like that. Chelsea are dominating possession, as you would expect.

SHOT!  What a goal this would have been. Hudson-Odoi plays a one-two with a teammate before seeing a half-volley with the outside of his foot punched clear by Leno.

Chelsea are rampant, but their end product is going astray more often now. There is too much of an eagerness to capitalise on having a man advantage.

There are no signs that Arteta is contemplate a change. It looks like the Spaniard is prepared to stick with this current 4-4-1 formation, at least until half time.

Forget that. Holding is being readied. Surprisingly, I think Martinelli is the man who is being withdrawn.

While Holding waits to be introduced, Arsenal put together a sustained spell of pressure, keeping Chelsea on the back foot. The move started through Martinelli, too.

Arsenal have bossed the ball for the last few minutes. It has certainly led to Arteta having doubts over his intended alteration. The Spaniard may decide on waiting until the break, given that Chelsea are purely on the defensive right now.

SHOT!  Chelsea eventually regain the ball thanks to Kante, who gives Hudson-Odoi the chance to gallop forward. The Blues eventually win a corner, which is headed over by Rudiger.

SHOT!  Hudson-Odoi takes on Martinelli down the right before delivering a cross for Kovacic, who sends a weak header wide of the target.

There will be two minutes of added-on time.

HALF TIME:  Chelsea 1-0 Arsenal

The half-time whistle goes at Stamford Bridge and Chelsea deservedly lead thanks to Jorginho's penalty, which came after Luiz had been dismissed for preventing Abraham from converting into a relatively empty net. Arsenal remain lively, however, so do not rule them out just out.

A quick reminder of the two benches...

CHELSEA SUBSTITUTES: Caballero, Zouma, Alonso, Barkley, Mount, Pedro Batshuayi

ARSENAL SUBSTITUTES: Martinez, Holding, Maitland-Niles, Guendouzi, Willock, Ceballos, Nketiah


There are plenty of other games taking place in the Premier League this evening. Click here to catch up with the latest scores as five matches head into the final quarter-of-an-hour.

KICKOFF:  Chelsea get us back underway. Arteta has opted against making any changes to his lineup.

The home side go straight onto the offensive, with a goalbound Kante shot being blocked by Mustafi. It hits the defender's hand, although it clearly wasn't intentional.

The Gunners have responded with some possession of their own, and Arrizabalaga puts his team in all kinds of trouble with a unnecessary risky pass close to his goal. They survive, just, but the goalkeeper shouldn't even be considering it.

This game is far too open for Chelsea's liking. They should be able to control the tempo of this game, but they are only providing the visitors with encouragement.

Despite watching his team build some momentum, it looks like Arteta is going to make his first change.

SUBSTITUTION! Guendouzi has replaced the ineffective Ozil. In all fairness, that could be perceived to be an attacking alteration.

Chelsea need to be careful that they do not give Arsenal a way back into this match. As I mentioned earlier, this contest is far too open. Even with three defensive-minded midfielders on the pitch, Chelsea are not controlling this contest.

YELLOW CARD!  Christensen goes into the book for tripping Lacazette on the halfway line. Given that he has only just avoided a caution, he was never getting away with that.

There is an argument that Chelsea need to make a change as much as their opponents. Nothing is going for them in the final third. Barkley or Mount must be the most likely introductions.

GOAL!  CHELSEA 1-1 ARSENAL (GABRIEL MARTINELLI)

Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates on January 21, 2020© Reuters


GOAL!  This is a disaster for Chelsea. Within 20 seconds of having a corner, they concede an equaliser. Martinelli ran from his own penalty area, and after Kante slipped over on the halfway line, he was through on goal. While the youngster had Lacazette to his right, he continued on his own to slot the ball into the bottom corner.

SHOT!  Chelsea attempt to provide an instant response through a 35-yard strike from Rudiger. It's a good effort, but Leno makes a fairly comfortable save.

SUBSTITUTION! Here comes Chelsea's first change, with Barkley taking the place of Kovacic.

Chelsea are still offering very little in the final third. Their crosses into the area have not been accurate since the break. Mount is imminent.

SUBSTITUTION! This is interesting. Mount is on for Kante. It's not often that the Frenchman is hauled off.

The home fans are certainly not enjoying this game, whereas the travelling Arsenal support are in full voice. They fancy their side to net a second, and who can blame them.

DISALLOWED GOAL!  Arsenal have the ball in the back of the net through Lacazette, but the forward is at least a yard offside.

SHOT!  Better from Chelsea, who manage to find Willian all on his own on the left-hand side. The Brazilian cuts infield and moves onto his right foot, with his powerful shot being turned away by Leno.

As we head into the final 15 minutes, this game remains in the balance. There isn't a lot of structure to it, which is playing into the favour of Arsenal.

YELLOW CARD!  Guendouzi is booked for a cynical kick on Mount, who was attempting to break down the left flank.

There are more changes on the way, for both clubs. Will it help restore a bit of balance? Probably not!

SUBSTITUTION! Chelsea's final switch sees Batshuayi replace Willian. I think that will lead to Mount going out onto the left.

CHANCE!  Almost a second for Chelsea. A floated ball into the middle finds Barkley, whose header on the turn is superbly tipped behind by Leno.

SUBSTITUTION! Arsenal make their third change, introducing Holding for Pepe.

Arsenal have halted that period in possession and taken the ball up the other end of the pitch. It eats up more seconds, although they still have ambitions of their own.

GOAL!  CHELSEA 2-1 ARSENAL (CESAR AZPILICUETA)

GOAL!  Chelsea regain the lead! After a short corner, Hudson-Odoi delivers an inswinging cross for Azpilicueta, who slots the ball into the bottom corner on the half-volley from eight yards.

The home side are naturally delighted that they are ahead, but Abraham is struggling with what is either an ankle or foot problem. He would be coming off if Chelsea had any changes left.

GOAL!  CHELSEA 2-2 ARSENAL (HECTOR BELLERIN)

GOAL!  Unbelievable. Arsenal are level and Bellerin, of all people, has got it with his left foot, finding the far bottom corner with a shot from the edge of the area!

CHANCE!  It's a breathless finish. Batshuayi should probably put Chelsea in front for a third time, but the substitute sends the ball wide at the near post.

SUBSTITUTION! I mistakenly thought that Arsenal had already made three changes. They hadn't. On come Willock for Martinelli.

Chelsea win a late corner but it comes to nothing as Hudson-Odoi sends a wild cross out of play. It sums up Chelsea's night.

FULL TIME:  Chelsea 2-2 Arsenal

The full-time whistle goes at Stamford Bridge and Arsenal have earned a remarkable point at the home of their rivals after playing over an hour with 10 men. While Lampard will be rightly furious, Arteta and his team will be jubilant after such a spirited performance.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this match. Thank you for joining us this evening and we hope to see you again soon.

If you would like to read our on-the-whistle match report, you can do so by clicking here. Goodbye for now.


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Tammy Abraham celebrates scoring for Chelsea on December 10, 2019
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