Moses Struggles, Iwobi Benched As Arsenal Hold Chelsea In Emirates Thriller
Arsenal scored a late goal to salvage a point against Chelsea in a pulsating 2-2 draw in their Premier League clash at the Emirates on Wednesday night.
Super Eagles forward Victor Moses started the game and was replaced after a disappointing performance while Alex Iwobi was benched.
Moses was apparently shrugging with a knock, according to the Chelsea Twitter account.
Jack Wilshere and Hector Bellerin scored for Arsenal while Eden Hazard (penalty) and Marcos Alonso were on target for Chelsea.
The draw meant Chelsea remain in third on 46 points while Arsenal are sixth on 39.
Arsenal had the first chance on goal in the seventh minute from a free-kick in a decent area but Alexis Sanchez’s effort hit the Chelsea defensive wall and went away for a corner.
Chelsea had a chance of their own on 11 minutes through Eden Hazard whose left-foot strike inside the box was blocked away for a corner by Shkodran Mustafi.
Alvaro Morata had the game’s first big chance on 15 minutes after the Arsenal defence was caught flat from Moses’ hoofed pass but the Spanish striker failed to beat Petr Cech one-on-one.
Chelsea had two quick chances to take the lead, first from Hazard whose low shot was saved by Cech’s outstretched leg before diving full length to punch away Alonso’s goal bound header.
Lacazette should have got on the score sheet on 53 minutes after coming face to face with Courtois but hit his shot against the Belgian.
In the 63rd minute Arsenal went 1-0 up thanks to Wilshere who slammed his effort into the roof of the net after Rob Holding’s pass took a slight deflection off Alvaro Morata.
A minute later Lacazette almost doubled the lead but his shot inside the box was saved by Courtois.
Chelsea were back on level terms on 67 minutes as Hazard converted from the penalty spot after he was fouled by Hector Bellerin.
Morata had a chance to put Chelsea ahead on 70 minutes after holding off Callum Chambers but hit his effort inches over the bar.
In the 73rd minute N’Golo Kante saw his effort hit an Arsenal defender and go away for a corner.
Alonso put Chelsea 2-1 ahead in the 84th minute after slamming in Davide Zappacosta’s low cross.
In the 92nd minute Bellerin equalised for Arsenal as he blasted in Alonso’s poor clearance.
Chelsea almost won it at the death through the wasteful Morata but he hit his effort straight at Cech before Zappacosta hit the bar.