Chelsea vs Arsenal LIVE - Latest score and goal updates as Alex Iwobi draws Gunners level before half-time

It may only be the second game of the season but Unai Emery’s Premier League baptism of fire shows no sign of letting up as he faces his first London derby with a visit to fellow newcomer Maurizio Sarri’s Chelsea on Saturday evening.

Both clubs have seen major changes at a managerial level and with their respective playing staff, and both sides’ absence from this season’s Champions League demonstrates a rebuilding phase as new eras begin in their respective club histories.

Nevertheless, their opening games could not have gone more differently. Chelsea cruised past Huddersfield with a 3-0 win, while Arsenal were given a taste of the task ahead of them with a 2-0 home loss to champions Manchester City.

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19:12

19:11

#EmeryOut 

GOAL!

19:08

80: Chelsea have the winner! (probably)

Lacazette gives the ball away, makes a loose attempt to win it back, but that all comes too late. Alonso combines with Hazard on the edge of the box and continues his run from the left into the middle, where collects the ball in space and finishes from close range. Very, very poor from the Arsenal defenders.

19:07

78: So close! Kante makes a late run into the box, beats Sokratis to the ball but heads over. Sarri thought that was the winner, it wasn't far off. 

19:06

77: Ramsey drives into the box and fires a low effort at the goalkeeper. Kepa beats the ball away and jumps on the rebound just before Lacazette and Torreira arrive on the scene. 

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19:02

73: Lacazette comes on for Iwobi and Giroud enters the action in place of Morata.

19:00

72: Torreira fouls Kovocic on the edge of the box. There's Chelsea players queuing up to take it. It'll be Luiz, Alonso or Hazard to take...

 

It is Luiz who strikes it with power but Cech is able to beat it away.

SUBS

18:56

Well then...

 

Mesut Ozil is making way for Aaron Ramsey and, well, he is not best pleased about that. He cuts a frustrated figure as the drags himself towards the touchline, he's done precious little this evening.

18:53

62: Hazard is immediately making things happen and his introduction has seemingly boosted the Chelsea players and crowd, he wins a corner which falls to Jorginho on the edge of the box. He sets himself and has a strong effort blocked.

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18:48

Willian and Barkley make way for Hazard and Kovacic, not too bad as far as replacements go.

18:45

57: Really confident play from Barkley forces a save from Cech. He touches the ball beyond Mustafi with a nice flick, then drives into the box and fires a low effort across goal, which is turned around the post by Cech.

18:41

52: Here we go. Kante works his way into the Arsenal area and is halted by Sokratis who then falls on the ball. The Chelsea bench want a penalty but the ball was miles away from touching his hands.

18:38

49: Chelsea come out the stronger side as they try and restore their lead. Hazard has started to warm up on the sideline, that would spell trouble for Arsenal if he were to come on anytime soon. 

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18:33

Second half

 

We're back underway at Stamford Bridge and Lucas Torreira is on for Granit Xhaka.

18:26

Stats of the first half

 

 

 

 

18:18

HALF TIME

18:18

Well, it's 2-2 at half time, but it really could be 4-2 to either side.

18:15

44: Arsenal almost take the lead!

 

This is mental. Iwobi gets to the byline and pulls the ball back to Aubameyang, who is positioned just inside the six yard box. He swings his left foot at it and drags the ball wide, when it should really have put Arsenal ahead. Aubameyan should really have the match ball by now, instead he has a lot of explaining to do to his teammates.

GOAL!

18:11

Alex Iwobi draws Arsenal level

 

43: Mkhitaryan has time and space on the right flank and picks out Iwobi in the middle. The Arsenal winger runs onto the ball and slams it into the roof of the net. Now it's Chelsea's turn to forget how to defend.

GOAL!

18:07

Henrikh Mkhitaryan draws one back for Arsenal

39: The ball breaks to Mkhitayran on the edge of the box and this time he is able to finish, and what a finish it was. He strides towards the ball and fires a low curling ball into the corner of the net. Kepa got a hand to it but it was not enough to keep out the powerful strike.

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Preview

Emery and his team have come in for criticism this week from former Gunners greats such as Martin Keown, Tony Adams and Jens Lehmann, and they will be keen to avoid continuing their awful away form last season which saw them win just four games from a possible 19.

A victory for Emery may be difficult to come by though, given that Sarri lost just two home Serie A games with Napoli last season. The 59-year-old will also be eager to win his first home game with his new club in order to continue their winning start to the league campaign and possibly become the early pace setters with Liverpool.

What time does it start?

Chelsea vs. Arsenal kicks off at 5:30 PM (BST)

Where can I watch it?

The match will be shown live on BT Sport 1 and BT Sport 4K UHD from 5pm. Highlights will be shown at 10:30 PM on BBC One.

It’s a big game for…

Petr Cech: The 36-year-old goalkeeper will be facing his former club this weekend and the pressure on him as gone up a notch after his mixed performance last weekend. His shot-stopping looked sharp for the most part but he was criticised for his part in Sterling’s opener, while his ball-playing ability, part of Emery’s attempt to implement a new style of play, was summarised by an attempted pass to Shkodran Mustafi that nearly ended up in his own net.

Stat…

57: The sides have drawn 57 games altogether in their history, two of which came in the Premier League fixtures last season.

Remember when…

One of Eden Hazard’s best Chelsea moments came against Arsenal in February 2017 when he beat off the challenges of three Arsenal defenders to score a solo effort that was named Premier League Goal of the Month. While a repeat may be asking a little much of someone who has had a little under two weeks of full training, do not be surprised if you see the Belgian complete take-ons against tired opposition legs in his usual elegant manner. 

Player to watch…

N’Golo Kanté: Sarri’s new system at Chelsea seems to suit the World Cup winner down to the ground, and his opening goal at the weekend capped off a near perfect performance. Arsenal’s Lucas Torreira has been compared to the 27-year-old Frenchman, and should the Uruguayan start it could make for an interesting clash between the two diminutive midfielders.

Past three meetings…

Arsenal 2 (Rüdiger OG, Xhaka) Chelsea 1 (Hazard), League Cup, January 2018

Chelsea 0 Arsenal 0, League Cup, January 2018

Arsenal 2 (Wilshere, Bellerín ) Chelsea 2 (Hazard (P), Alonso), Premier League, January 2018

Form guide…

CHELSEA: LW

ARSENAL: L

Odds…

Chelsea to win: 4/5

Arsenal to win: 16/5

Draw: 29/10

(Odds provided by 888 Sport)