Arsenal battled back from two goals down to salvage their unbeaten record and a point at Chelsea, with a full-blooded London derby eventually ending in a 2-2 draw after goalkeeper errors at both ends.
The visitors looked on course for their first defeat of the season to their rejuvenated neighbours when David Raya was caught out by Mykhailo Mudryk’s mishit cross at the start of the second half. They were already trailing to Cole Palmer’s first-half penalty and had seemed short on ideas in attack.
But Robert Sanchez’s poor pass out at the other end allowed Declan Rice to shoot into an empty net from 30 yards and Leandro Trossard sent the travelling supporters into delirium when he tucked in a wonderfully whipped cross from fit-again Bukayo Saka at the back post with six minutes of the 90 remaining.
Man City’s win earlier in the day saw the defending champions recover top spot in the Premier League table following their defeat at the Emirates before the international break but Arsenal’s fight back means they are second only on goal difference. Their comeback maintains their positive momentum.
Arteta, though, will have questions to answer about his goalkeeper. Raya looked nervous in the first half against City but survived. Against Chelsea he was exposed. Arsenal’s alternative keeper Aaron Ramsdale was at home following the birth of his son but Arteta will surely be weighing up whether to reinstate his former No 1 for Tuesday’s Champions League trip to Sevilla.
For Pochettino and Chelsea, they avoided a record fourth-straight Premier League loss at home to Arsenal but will be kicking themselves for not capitalising on another performance which demonstrated the strides they are making. They at least edge into the top 10 with this draw.
