Chelsea Vs Arsenal

Although Martin Ødegaard's homecoming clarifies the confusion, there are also reasons for regret.

Positively, the midfielder from Norway was excellent against Chelsea. Arsenal only has one of him, which is a drawback.

Just before the final whistle blew at Stamford Bridge, Mikel Arteta was seen rolling on his back on the touchline like a rambunctious labrador puppy after Leandro Trossard just missed getting a touch on a low cross from Jurriën Timber. Still perfectly groomed in his buttoned black anorak, with perfect hair, he was publicly tormented by such razor-thin margins. In the process, he may have changed the plot slightly in an attempt to gain some montage prominence and a final remark on this close, brutal 1-1 tie.

Here, Arsenal had one significant advantage, which was immediately followed by one significant disadvantage. Positively, Martin Ødegaard made a comeback to the starting lineup, played ninety minutes, and significantly enhanced the squad. The bad news is that there is only one of him. The pharmaceutical bag contains no further Ødegaard-shots. Some people will also lament the difference he made here, even in half-fit shape, that immediate sheen of artistry and control.

There has been a desire to exaggerate Ødegaard's significance, with crocuses growing at his feet, butterflies nestling in his incredibly well-groomed mane, and his return to the winter realm heralded as such. He is here among us, so rejoice. use the half turn to play. However, Arsenal's backing will also be called into doubt by the change in control, fluidity, and passing angles. Remember me. Why is another Aslan required?

On the hour mark, Ødegaard scored the first goal. In many respects, it was a unique occasion. On the outside of the box, too near to the Chelsea block, Ødegaard appeared to have taken the ball in a blind position. However, that left foot has a restless intelligence. After waiting half a beat, he lofted a back-spun pass into a pocket of space that appeared to be blatantly clear once you saw it. Suddenly, two Arsenal players were on the overlap.

Perhaps the ball should have been covered, but Gabriel Martinelli had time to steal inside and smash it into space at the near post. The goal was a touch strange; it was one of those times when the game seemed to unravel a bit, the stitches coming free. To put the red shirts into place like a field marshal pushing his toy tanks across the map on the war-room table, no one on this team, or many others, can move like this, find moments of clarity and silence in the midst of all that heat.

In other respects, it was a momentous occasion. Surprisingly, this was Arsenal's first away league goal of any kind since the second against Manchester City in September and their first away league goal from actual open play since Aston Villa in August. It's clear enough that this team's lack of a mobile on-field brain is related. Even though Arsenal performed better in this match, they were still recovering, and the main goal was to halt the bleeding. At kickoff, the blue steel lip of the stands was obscured by a canopy of moist white clouds, creating a rainy, chilly Sunday-like atmosphere at Stamford Bridge.

To describe this game as uninteresting would be inaccurate. The game was more furious, but impressively so, maintaining the same feeling of imprisoned wrath until the very end. The most thrilling action throughout the first 20 minutes of this type of match was Malo Gusto's performance as a somewhat inverted full-back, which led to a lot of arm waving from the touchline. You need to have been present.

When Enzo Maresca stepped outside his chalk rectangle and was reprimanded by the fourth official, it temporarily became the subject of widespread ire on the field. It was the type of game when everyone becomes extremely irate if the players halt due to a head injury. People were upset because it was real when Kai Havertz's face started to bleed. Bukayo Saka was a persistent bothersome presence for Chelsea, and Marc Cucurella handled him rather effectively. His hair flew, and he looked like a densely matted clump of seaweed.