The game had everything and for the neutrals would have been an absolute thriller, but for Arsenal and Chelsea fans the 2-2 draw at the Emirates was a nervy roller coaster ride.
From an Arsenal point of view it partly feels more like two points dropped than a great draw because, had it not been for some superb saves by Thibaut Courtois in the Chelsea goal, it could have been very different. There was also some grievance about Chelsea's penalty as the adjudged contact by Hector Bellerin was very soft. There was contact, but not enough to have taken Eden Hazard down and the Belgian also made a meal of it as the contact was not where he was holding his ankle. Both went for the ball and got it at the same time - yes there was contact, but it was soft, although it was a hard decision to call.
However, it wouldn't be my biggest complaint of the match! What frustrated me more was how much space we gave Alvaro Morata, which on another day could have ended differently, but fortunately for the Gunners the Chelsea striker had a shocker. We were missing key defenders Laurent Koscielny, Nacho Monreal and Sead Kolasinac, while Calum Chambers still concerns me a bit and had a difficult evening at times. The full-backs did impress me though with Hector Bellerin putting in a vastly improved performance compared to his last few months, while Ainsley Maitland-Niles looked composed and solid for large spells despite being outmuscled for Chelsea's second goal.
The future of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil remains uncertain, but the way they combined with Alexandre Lacazette was very impressive and at times the trio looked devastating and unplayable. Courtois made two top class saves to keep them out, but there were also times where maybe we should have done better.
Chelsea felt aggrieved by Jack Wilshere still being on the pitch after an alleged dive, after having already been booked, but in truth both sides had decisions go for and against them and the match was full of action and drama.
Considering the players missing and the performance, a draw may not seem so bad and was the least we deserved, but I can't help feel frustrated by the fact we didn't claim all three points. It was a missed opportunity to have moved above our bitter rivals Tottenham into fifth and if we are to record a top-four finish we need to be winning games like this and not dropping points.
What a game it was though and it was somewhat surprising that the scores were goalless going in at half-time. Sanchez saw an early free-kick deflect behind for a corner before Chelsea really should have opened the scoring after 13 minutes. Morata raced through on goal and seemed to have all the time in the world, but he somehow shot wide when it looked easier to have scored. What was really disappointing is how Chambers appeared distracted and stood still as the ball went over the top and into Morata's path.
Arsenal saw a penalty shout turned down after an alleged foul on Maitland-Niles in the box before Courtois produced a stunning save to keep the scores level. The Belgian international got a hand to Sanchez's powerful strike before it hit both posts and Courtois reacted quickly to claim the ball before Ozil could get to the rebound.
The hosts continued to attack and Courtois was soon called into action again as he produced another great save to parry Lacazette's turn and shot round a post.
Those missed opportunities nearly came back to bite Arsenal before the break as Tiemoue Bakayoko saw an effort tipped over the crossbar by Cech before Marcos Alonso sent a free-kick off target.
Chelsea wasted the chance to break the deadlock in the final minute of the first half after a lovely backheel from Hazard set up Cesc Fabregas, but the former Gunners midfielder fired his shot over the crossbar.
The game continued to be end to end in the second half with Chelsea being denied by a double save from Cech within three minutes of the restart. Arsenal's number one saved Hazard's shot with his legs and when the ball was worked back into the box it was met by the head of Alonso, which Cech did excellently to get a hand to.
It wasn't long before Arsenal were creating chances as Sanchez headed off target from Maitland-Niles' cross, before Courtois excellently denied Lacazette following decent build-up play from Sanchez and Ozil.
Arsenal finally opening the scoring after 63 minutes when Ozil picked up the ball from Wilshere and, after a slick passing move, the latter rifled a powerful strike in off the inside of the near post.
The lead only lasted four minutes as Chelsea levelled through the Hazard penalty I already spoke about earlier. It could have got worse for Arsenal soon after had Morata not wasted another guilt-edged chance. The Spanish forward got in behind Rob Holding and Chambers, but somehow shot off target.
The goal appeared to have kicked Chelsea into gear and N'Golo Kante saw his shot from outside of the box deflect wide before Cech got down well to stop Morata's effort getting through to a team-mate.
Despite some very positive attacking play during the game Arsenal's hard work was undone through Alonso's close-range finish six minutes from time. Maitland-Niles had been excellent for most of the game up to this point, but he was outmuscled by Chelsea substitute Davide Zappacosta, whose low ball across goal was sidefooted home by Alonso.
The game had very quickly gone from looking positive for large spells to very bleak, so it was a huge relief to see Bellerin smash in an equaliser in stoppage time. Shkodran Mustafi and Sanchez both saw late efforts blocked by the defence before Bellerin smashed a shot in on the half volley to cap a much-improved performance from the Spanish full-back.
Chelsea came close to nicking it at the death, but Cech denied Morata, who really should have done better with his effort, before Zappacosta's follow-up rattled the crossbar as this pulsating clash finished all square.
OPPOSITION VIEW
Chelsea fan Paul Gedeon enjoyed what was a great game and believes a draw was a fair result.
"Just like Stamford Bridge in September, a draw seemed a fair result in what was for me one of the most entertaining matches all season," said Gedeon. "Chelsea looked ready to play and did not deserve to go a goal down after Morata's clear misses.
"Arsenal also turned up ready to take three points. The game was free flowing and 0-0 at half-time was a fair result.
"As the second half began, both teams took it to another level and despite the fact the penalty was really soft, many Chelsea fans will say it was justice as questions raised whether Wilshere, scorer of the first goal was lucky to be on the field after a questionable dive that could have earned him a second yellow.
"Zappacosta changed the game as he came on for Moses and set up the goal for Alonso who took it so well, but then Bellerin popped up for a wonder goal in stoppage time. Chelsea should have stolen it at the death with a clear Morata miss and Zappacosta woodwork strike, but all in all, a fair result, that favoured Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester United."
MY FINAL THOUGHTS
Considering we were playing very tough opposition a draw could be seen as a decent result but, whilst there were some great positives to take from the match, it didn't hide what were some basic defensive mistakes.
Both goalkeepers produced heroics to earn a point for their sides in a game full of drama, big decisions, bad misses, great goals and questionable defending and, guess what!? Arsenal and Chelsea will play each other twice again before the end of the month with the two legs of their Carabao Cup semi-final looming.
If this is a sign of what is to come in those games it will definitely be exciting, but wasteful finishing and poor defending could be punished more by either side next time so improvements will be needed.
But before we can even think about that our focus must now immediately switch to the FA Cup and a trip to Championship side Nottingham Forest. I love the FA Cup and want us to go all the way, but being higher league opposition is no guarantee of progression and we must not take Forest lightly. I believe we should have far too much for them, but you can't take anything for granted in the FA Cup. If our front trio can combine like they did it could be an Arsenal goal fest, but I have a feeling Arsene Wenger will rotate the squad. Whoever we put out needs to go out there and do a professional job and get a positive result to put us into round four.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS
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