For once this season, Arsenal actually looked as if they wanted a victory but dodgy decisions from the referee and manager, and a lack of confidence, cost us three points.
The Gunners were given a free-kick in the seventh minute after some early pressure when Alexandre Lacazette got fouled. Alexis Sanchez took it and narrowly missed, with the ball being tipped over the bar for a corner, which obviously didn’t amount to anything.
Minutes later, Arsenal mounted a good attack with Jack Wilshere releasing Mesut Ozil, who picked out Alexis. The German steamed into the area, eager to get on the end of Alexis’ cross but the Chilean over-hit the ball and it bounced out.
Ozil playing very deep, basically next to Jack and Xhaka. Wenger matching Conte?
— Simon Collings (@sr_collings) January 3, 2018
Immediately, Chelsea raced up the other end with Shkodran Mustafi making a crucial last-second block to deny a shot.
Moses is lost at RWB so far. No clue where Alexis is.
— Stephen Bradley (@bradley08) January 3, 2018
It was then Arsenal’s turn to break and they did so brilliantly with Ozil and Jack both racing to get into the box. However, Ainsley Maitland-Niles’ cross rolled straight into the path of Thibaut Courtois.
Seconds later, Alvaro Morata was suddenly left one-on-one with Petr Cech but shot just wide.
Despite Arsenal having the better of the chances, one slip-up almost gave the winners an undeserved lead.
#Lacazette would've finished that #justsayin #AFCvCFC
— Sophie Nicolaou (@soccerdiva) January 3, 2018
The Gunners’ quickly passed their way up the other end and had a penalty claim waved away by referee Anthony Taylor shortly before Alexis hit the post. The ball rolled across to the other and out before being cleared. No one could understand how it hadn’t gone in.
https://twitter.com/ArsenalTerje/status/948646883865583616
BOTH FLIPPING POSTS!!!
— Daniel Cutting (@dcfreestyle) January 3, 2018
This game is stupid
— I bomb atomically, Socrates philosophies and hypot (@LeutrimRexhaj) January 3, 2018
HOW??!?!!??!
— Terje (@ArsenalTerje) January 3, 2018
Alexis off BOTH posts… get some popcorn ladies and gentlemen
— COPA90 (@COPA90) January 3, 2018
Replays of the penalty shout, which had been unable to be shown until this point because the match was so frenetic, showed Maitland-Niles tripped himself.
In the 23rd minute, Arsenal were kept out again after Courtois saved a shot from Laca.
The Gunners looked lively with Ozil in particular seriously busting a gut to be everywhere at once.
Cech was forced into a save against Tiémoué Bakayoko as Arsenal became sloppy around the half-hour mark. As usual, as good as the Gunners were on the attack, our three defenders, Calum Chambers, Per Mertesacker and Rob Holding, were not doing us any favours at the back.
Bellerin, as lacking in form as he is at the moment, is making Alonso look like a traffic cone.
— Stephen Bradley (@bradley08) January 3, 2018
Jack picked up a yellow card for taking out Cesc Fabregas, which the Arsenal fans loved.
Yellow for Jack who tackles Fabregas. He gets a kiss from me for that.
— Daily Cannon (@DailyCannon) January 3, 2018
When did Taylor become a good ref? Having a really good game. Only criticism is he should've booked Cesc.
— JB™ (@gunnerpunner) January 3, 2018
Wilshere is a popular player at #afc but cleaning out Fabregas for a yellow card probably still takes him up a notch.
— James Olley (@JamesOlley) January 3, 2018
The match continued to fly by with both sides having chance after chance. Ozil, however, was the highlight.
Özil has been unbelievable so far.
— Lewis (@LGAmbrose) January 3, 2018
Mesut Özil will make me cry whether he leaves or stays.
— Billy Dunmore (@Dunmoreorless) January 3, 2018
Mesut Özil in the first-half vs. Chelsea:
61 touches
52 passes
3 key passes
2 crosses
2 recoveries
1 shot[Opta] #afc pic.twitter.com/BCVduAmQjj
— afcstuff (@afcstuff) January 3, 2018
At the break, the Gunners had had six shots to Chelsea’s eight.
The second half kicked off just at chaotically with Arsenal having a go and then Cech being forced into two saves within seconds at the other end. One of which was against Cesc.
In the 52nd minute, Laca got a huge chance when Ozil but him through but he waited too long and shot right at Courtois.
https://twitter.com/ArsenalTerje/status/948658762881097730
Rob Holding then picked up a yellow for a foul on Cesc.
Two yellows for us, both on Fabregas. Don't mind it.
— Daily Cannon (@DailyCannon) January 3, 2018
With half-an-hour left, Ozil managed to finally get the ball in the back of the net but the whistle had already gone for a foul elsewhere.
Although both teams were having good chances, neither seemed to be able to score.
Until none other than Jack Wilshere thumped the ball into the back of the net and the Emirates erupted.
No way in hell he meant that but GOD DAMN
— I bomb atomically, Socrates philosophies and hypot (@LeutrimRexhaj) January 3, 2018
JACKIE WIlSHERE!!!!!
— Eduardosen (@redcannoned) January 3, 2018
YesssssssWilshhhhhhhhereeeeee
— Rob Ashdown (@RobLad1985) January 3, 2018
Seconds later Laca went close as well.
However, Bellerin kicked the back of Eden Hazard’s boot at the other end and conceded a penalty.
absolutely dog-all contact on that. been a good week.
— Wojciech Szczesny Fan Account (@Bloatyheader) January 3, 2018
Harsh decision but idiotic from Bellerín.
— Lewis (@LGAmbrose) January 3, 2018
Another. Game. With a penalty that wasn’t a penalty. IMO.
— Calluxmas (@Callux) January 3, 2018
On the law of averages, you'd think Petr Cech would dive the right way once, wouldn't you? God knows, he's had enough practice.
— Paul (@rockthecasbah77) January 3, 2018
The soft penalty left Arsenal in shock and instantly put them on the back foot, with Maitland-Niles being forced into a last-ditch interception. He did well.
Morata had the chance to put Chelsea 2-1 ahead but was useless and missed.
Arsenal sub:
Welbeck on, Lacazette off.#afc— afcstuff (@afcstuff) January 3, 2018
Unfortunately, it wasn’t long before Alonso did put Chelsea ahead thanks to terrible defending.
Better team most of the game. Concede one and confidence goes. Leggy players because we've played the same team every game because Wenger hasn't rotated. All a shambles. All predictable. All avoidable. All on the manager.
— JB™ (@gunnerpunner) January 3, 2018
https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/948667765392592896
In the last minute of normal time, Bellerin made up for his earlier mistake by scoring a brilliant equaliser.
Fortunately, we got a point, but I can shake the feeling that the penalty completely disrupted us. We should have made subs, we should have pulled our pants up and got on with it. We deserved to win.