Arsenal stop rot at Chelsea but Liverpool real winners

One of those games where, as entertaining as it ended up, it’s hard not to look to those who weren’t on the pitch. That isn’t even Bukayo Saka, who had to go off injured. It is, of course, Liverpool, with the leaders having extended the gap over both Manchester City and Arsenal this weekend.

- MIGUEL DELANEY

Arne Slot’s side will certainly feel more satisfied about this 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge than either of the teams involved, despite positives for both. Enzo Maresca sounded happier than Mikel Arteta, as he enthusiastically spoke about how good the performance was. It was still another big game they couldn’t quite win, even as Chelsea now sit in third for the first time in three years. “Very soon we’re going to win this kind of game,” Maresca added. Arteta inevitably described himself as “disappointed” but “proud”.

Arsenal stopped the rot, scored for the first time in three games and actually moved back into the top four due to results elsewhere. They will still feel they left something out there, not least two points.

Marc Cucurella, by contrast, can feel he put everything in. He set the tone for a resolute Chelsea performance that also saw them come from behind. The only real error in an encouraging defensive display was in the chasm left for Gabriel Martinelli’s goal, but part of that was how the returning Martin Odegaard created the opening with a typically creative pass. This is what Arsenal have badly missed.

It would have been symbolic if Odegaard’s full return brought a first league win in over a month. That’s probably what should have happened, to propel momentum again.

Instead, Saka’s late injury seemed to sum up Arsenal’s season. A positive is instantly offset by a negative. Arteta said he’s “praying for no more injuries” as he described “a nightmare” of late, before all but confirming that Saka and Declan Rice won’t be on international duty this week, and then stating that he has to talk with Odegaard about whether he will join up for Norway.