Arsenal player ratings with 'lazy defending' and three 4/10s in bruising Chelsea draw

Arsenal lost more ground on leaders Liverpool in their final game before the international break, giving up a lead to draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Gabriel Martinelli put the Gunners ahead but Chelsea levelled through a stunning Pedro Neto effort from range.

The Gunners saw a Kai Havertz goal ruled out for a close offside in the first half and had to defend patiently, with Chelsea settling the tone for the most part in the first half. Arsenal took the lead just before the hour mark when Martin Odegaard spotted a strange bunching up of Chelsea defenders on the edge of the box, allowing three players in red to roam free. The Norwegian executed a fine pass to find Martinelli, who beat Robert Sanchez at his near post.

Chelsea were level 10 minutes later when Pedro Neto, under no pressure, took aim from at least 30 yards and fired a stunning low strike past David Raya. Here we rate the Arsenal players from an entertaining clash at the Bridge.

David Raya - 6

A strong stop early on to deny Palmer from range. Little he could do about the Neto goal. He was let down by those in front of him, who did not apply any pressure to the shot.

Ben White - 4

Struggled to deal with Pedro Neto’s trickery and pace and given the run-around at times. Neto did swap sides in the second half, and White did get a little more comfortable, but Mudryk also beat him for a pace a couple of times.

William Saliba - 6

Some nice play with the ball at his feet. Not afraid to step into the midfield and set the tone. Pretty solid defensively and not at fault for the goal.

Gabriel Magalhaes - 6

Pretty solid. He did get away with one when he was given the slip from a dangerous Madueke cross seven minutes into the second half, but ultimately, there was little he could do for the goal and defended well enough otherwise.

Jurrien Timber - 4

Rarely close enough to Madueke, allowing too many free crosses - just like with the Isak goal last week. Timber looks like a centre-back playing full-back at times - Neto coming over to his side didn’t help - and you wonder whether Arteta will consider a change there.

Declan Rice (Off at 71’) - 4

Rice struggled to get a hold of the midfield here, with no real control when Chelsea ploughed through with pace. That was also Partey’s job, of course, and neither of them were in good position for the Chelsea equaliser, as good a strike as it was.

Thomas Partey - 5

Keeping in mind the above, Partey showed a little more composure on the ball than Rice here, but the midfield struggled defensively.

Martin Odegaard - 6

Superb vision for the for the Martinelli goal, quickly spotting a gap at the back post and picking him out with a fine lobbed pass. Other than that, he didn’t have much sway on the game and never really received it with space and time.

Gabriel Martinelli (Off at 71’) - 6

Showed energy on the ball, but as has often been the case this season, he lacked quality in his execution, at least until Odegaard found him at the back post and he slotted into the near post on the hour mark. He was brought off around 20 minutes from time, and he will have wanted to create more than he did.

Bukayo Saka (Off at 80’) - 5

Busy but rarely got away from Cucurella, who will be happy with the job he did on his counterpart. A slow day for Saka. He limped off 10 minutes from time.

Kai Havertz - 5

Unlucky not to score the opener, with a close offside VAR call costing him a goal. Havertz took up a defensive position for the Neto goal but was very lazy in pressing as Neto drifted past him.

Substitutions

Mikel Merino (On at 71’) - 6

Came close quickly after coming on with a scrappy effort. He was also unlucky not to score with a neat backheel-type effort, which may have been offside. Some nice passes as Arsenal stepped things up a little late on.

Leandro Trossard (On at 71’) - 5

Missed two huge chances late on, skying a rebound from close range, although there may have been an offside in the build-up. He also should have scored with a last-gasp cross that whizzed by his feet, and that may well have counted had it been turned home.

Gabriel Jesus (Off at 80’) - 6

Tough to judge based on 10 minutes. Looked busy but didn’t get much of the ball.