Pedro Neto scores a screamer as Chelsea fight back to earn draw against Arsenal
WATCH NOW: Sports round-up as Chelsea and Arsenal draw at Stamford Bridge
Pedro Neto made his mark for Chelsea on Sunday, with the winger scoring a brilliant goal to secure a point against fierce rivals Arsenal at Stamford Bridge.
The Gunners had looked likely to win the showdown after Gabriel Martinelli beat Robert Sanchez from a tight angle in the 60th minute.
But Chelsea aren't the same side that struggled last term and, in the end, deserved a draw.
Neto's thunderbolt strike from the edge of the box, just 10 minutes after Martinelli's opener, earned a point with David Raya unable to do anything about it as it sailed into the bottom corner.
Pedro Neto made his mark for Chelsea on Sunday, with the winger scoring a brilliant goal to secure a point against fierce rivals Arsenal at Stamford Bridge
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Arsenal had thought they'd opened the scoring a lot earlier when Kai Havertz, playing against his old side, poked the ball past Sanchez.
The Germany international certainly felt he'd broken the deadlock, celebrating with gusto at the home of the team he won the Champions League title with in 2021.
However, following a VAR check, the goal was disallowed - prompting huge cheers from the home crowd.
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The result will fuel Chelsea's belief that they're making progress this season. They were, after all, resoundingly thumped by Arsenal just mere months ago.
Yet Enzo Maresca has started to get the best from the Blues' expensive squad and, a week after not losing to Manchester United, have come through another tough fixture relatively unscathed.
For Arsenal, however, it represents another blow in their race for the Premier League title.
While they did not lose, they have now lost more ground on leaders Liverpool - who are nine points clear of Mikel Arteta's side.
Chelsea were there for the taking when Martinelli put Arsenal ahead.
Yet the Gunners were unable to close out the match, much to Arteta's dismay, with Neto's goal simply too good.
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Pedro Neto celebrates scoring his first Chelsea goal in their 1-1 draw with Arsenal on Sunday
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It will now be intriguing to see where Arsenal go from here. They are now level on points with Chelsea, something that seemed unfeasible just weeks ago.
Had it not been for Sanchez, they could even have secured victory.
The goalkeeper is the one weak link in Maresca's side, despite making a brilliant save. Given how lavishly Chelsea spend, they're likely to pursue a new No 1 come the end of the campaign.
Arsenal went ahead against Chelsea in the 60th minute when Gabriel Martinelli beat Robert Sanchez from a tight angle
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Chelsea will be hoping to continue their impressive start to the season when they lock horns with Leicester, Maresca's old side, on November 23.
As for Arsenal, they'll face a tough test when they go up against Nottingham Forest on the same day - despite Nuno Espirito Santo's side crashing to a 3-1 defeat to Newcastle earlier on Sunday.
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