Arsenal visited the bus stop in Fulham standing in twelfth place at kick-off with only one win in five PL games under Mikel Arteta and only six wins all season. Mikel had said we needed to win to keep a CL place in our sights. Our last win at the bus stop was in October 2011 when both tonight\u2019s head coaches played in a 5-3 victory. The starting eleven showed only one change from the team that had started against Sheffield United only three days earlier. Hector Bellerin returned to take the captaincy after six weeks out due to an injury that cut short his return from last year\u2019s long cruciate-induced lay-off. Mustafi kept his place suggesting that Sokratis hadn\u2019t recovered from illness. Aubameyang was still suspended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
An early run from Martinelli gave us encouragement though the cross from Saka was overhit. Pepe also raised spirits with some early mazy runs. However, the first serious threat came from Chelsea with nice one-touch play in our area leading to a Kovacic shot bravely blocked by Mustafi that poleaxed him and causing Atwell to stop play for treatment. This was followed by a pair of Chelsea corners and Christensen heading wide. Saka was struggling to cope with Azpilicueta and Hudson-Odoi as Chelsea concentrated on our left flank and closed off our routes forward. At 15 minutes Leno saved Abraham\u2019s point-blank header from a Hudson-Odoi cross then had to see a Hudson Odoi cross-shot over his bar. We were looking distinctly second best except in the fan noise stakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, Pepe was still causing problems with mazy dribbles and after a series of hacks Emerson saw the yellow card. Another series of Chelsea short corners (they had 8 by 22 minutes) put more pressure on our defence while our progression through midfield was repeatedly interrupted by poor passes and interceptions. We lacked any penetration into their box and our midfielders and forwards were struggling to have any impact on the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just before the half-hour, the roof fell in. Mustafi who had already misplaced a couple of forward passes made a short pass back to Leno. Abraham latched onto it, rounded the keeper and was bowled over by Luiz as he was about to shoot. Luiz received a red card and Jorginho placed the penalty kick low to the left just out of Leno\u2019s reach. 29 minutes: 1-0 Chelsea<\/strong>, Arsenal down to 10 men. Xhaka dropped into the back four.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Leno made an athletic save from a Hudson-Odoi right-footer as we attempted to find some composure. Chelsea were the more dominant team before their goal but after their goal they lost momentum. At 38 minutes, a spirited run from Martinelli made a chance for Pepe who couldn\u2019t get his feet organised and the moment was lost. Our first corner since early-on came to naught but was followed by a spell of Arsenal possession and pressure. It looked as if Holding was coming on for Martinelli but Mikel changed his mind (good call, boss). <\/p>\n\n\n\n We then started moving the ball better and our defensive structure limited Chelsea\u2019s laboured build up and threat. The game certainly didn\u2019t have the atmosphere of a London derby as the first half drew to a close. We had had absolutely no shots from Arsenal in the first half for the first time in four and a half years but we had more possession than Chelsea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite Holding appearing poised to replace Martinelli at 35 minutes, there were no substitutions at half time. Early in the second half, Christensen barged Martinelli off the field as he broke clear and mystifyingly escaped sanction. Arsenal players were competing far better all over the pitch and the travelling fans were in good voice. Saka was the next breaking player brought down without sanction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At 54 minutes the somewhat anonymous Ozil was replaced by Guendouzi. As the hour approached Chelsea began to move the ball around more briskly and threatened but again on a break-out Lacazette was taken down by Christensen who finally received a yellow card. Of course, that should have been his second yellow, but, you know how it goes\u2026..<\/p>\n\n\n\n Xhaka made numerous important interceptions and tackles as a stand-in centre back as we soaked up Chelsea\u2019s pressure. It was an impressive performance from the whole rear-guard. Suddenly, Martinelli broke out from our box from a Chelsea corner, could not be hacked down, ran 67 yards and slipped the ball sweetly past Kepa, just 13 seconds after that Chelsea corner. Our first shot came in the 63rd<\/sup> minute! 1-1<\/strong>. Thanks Mikel, for changing your mind on that substitution. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Lampard brought on Barkley for Kovacic and Mount for Kante, aiming to pile on the pressure. However, Arsenal seemed more confident with crisper passing and Lacazette netted from Pepe but was sadly offside. Leno then saved confidently from a close-range Willian piledriver. The game began to feel more like a derby as 10 Arsenal men dug deep to match 11 opponents. Guendouzi clipped Mount near half-way and was of course booked without hesitation. From the free kick Leno dealt with an Abraham free header.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Breakouts were getting rarer, Lacazette wasting one with a poor pass towards Pepe and in the 79th<\/sup> minute Leno saved a Barkley header low to his right. With 10 minutes to go, Holding finally came on to replace Pepe and immediately had to head a cross clear. The Chelsea pressure was mounting as they pushed repeatedly forward and we simply punted clear. Then bad luck struck again at 85 minutes as Azpilicueta toe-poked a cross from a short corner past Leno. 2-1 Chelsea<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Arsenal immediately went back on the offensive. After constant pressure from the kick off, Hector curled a beautiful left foot shot into the far corner from the edge of the box. 2-2<\/strong> At 88 minutes Batshuyi poked a cross wide under pressure from Xhaka. Willock came on for an exhausted Martinelli with 4 minutes added time to play. The home team pushed for a winner with a bit more urgency but Arsenal ran the clock down and saw the game out. 2 shots, 2 goals. FT 2-2<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A superb performance by the 10 men after the early catastrophe. Martin Keown said, \u201cThe passion! The spirit! We\u2019ve been waiting for a long time!\u201d Rio Ferdinand added, \u201cThis could be a turning point, the way they\u2019ve come back from a goal down and going down to 10 men. That demands character, spirit and a certain mentality and adding quality in vital moments.\u201d Mikel Arteta added, \u201cTime will tell!\u201d Feet on the ground. I like that man. Tenth place, 10 points off fourth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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