Chelsea dent Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes in London derby

Chelsea dealt a fresh blow to Arsenal’s Premier League title challenge as the Blues played a 1-1 draw with the Gunners in the London derby on Sunday.

Arsenal had taken the lead through Gabriel Martinelli’s second-half goal at Stamford Bridge.

However, Pedro Neto’s equaliser 10 minutes later earned Chelsea a deserved point and left the Gunners without a win in their last four league games.

Neto’s first Premier League goal since his move from Wolves in August kept third-placed Chelsea above fourth-placed Arsenal on goal difference.

Both teams are nine points behind leaders Liverpool, but while Chelsea will be encouraged by their position after exceeding expectations in Enzo Maresca’s first season in charge, Arsenal head into the international break assailed by questions about their malaise.

Beaten 1-0 by Inter Milan in the Champions League on Wednesday, hot on the heels of last weekend’s loss at Newcastle, Arsenal have won just three of their last nine league games.

Chasing a first title since 2004 after finishing second to Manchester City in each of the past two seasons, Arsenal lack the fluency that carried them so close to the trophy last term.

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The north Londoners’ only wins in their last seven matches in all competitions came against Shakhtar Donetsk in Europe and second-tier Preston in the League Cup.

Maresca has repeatedly claimed he does not believe Chelsea are ready to challenge for the title, but the Italian has laid impressive foundations since arriving at the underachieving club in the close season.

Although they were unable to secure a first home win against Chelsea for six years, Maresca’s young team appear to be heading in the right direction at last.

Martin Odegaard started his first Arsenal game since August 31 after returning from an ankle injury as a late substitute against Inter in midweek.

Odegaard seemed to have laid on Arsenal’s opener when his quick free-kick found Kai Havertz, who slotted past Sanchez in the 32nd minute.

But Havertz’s celebrations were curtailed by a VAR check that showed the former Chelsea striker was offside by the narrowest of margins.

The Star