Neto's Late Strike Secures Chelsea Draw Against Arsenal in London Derby

Chelsea salvaged a 1-1 draw in the Premier League London derby on Sunday, as Pedro Neto's equalizer dealt a fresh setback to Arsenal's title aspirations.

Arsenal, led by Mikel Arteta, had taken the lead in the 60th minute through Gabriel Martinelli's strike at Stamford Bridge. However, Neto's quick response just 10 minutes later earned Chelsea a deserved point, as Arsenal's winless streak extended to four league matches.

The goal, Neto's first Premier League goal since his move from Wolves in August, ensured Chelsea remained in third place, ahead of Arsenal on goal difference. Both teams are now nine points behind Premier League leaders, Liverpool. While Chelsea have exceeded expectations under new manager Enzo Maresca, Arsenal head into the international break under scrutiny due to their recent struggles.

Arsenal's recent form has been worrying, with just three wins in their last nine league games. Their 1-0 loss to Inter Milan in the Champions League followed by the defeat to Newcastle United last weekend has cast doubts over their title challenge. After finishing second in the league for two consecutive seasons, Arsenal are still searching for the fluency they showed last term, when they narrowly missed out on the trophy.

Chelsea, on the other hand, have shown signs of improvement. Although they couldn't secure a first win at home against Arsenal in six years, Maresca's young squad is heading in the right direction. One of the standout players was Cole Palmer, who was involved in several key moments. Palmer forced Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya into action with a 25-yard effort early in the match and led numerous Chelsea counter-attacks. Despite a few missed chances, including a header from Noni Madueke that went wide, Chelsea maintained a strong presence.

The first half saw Chelsea controlling possession and creating the better chances, though Arsenal were unlucky when a VAR review ruled out Kai Havertz's goal, disallowing it for a narrow offside call. Chelsea nearly took the lead in the opening half when Wesley Fofana volleyed over the bar after a cross from Madueke.

Arsenal's breakthrough came in the 60th minute. Martin Odegaard, who started his first match since recovering from an ankle injury, orchestrated the move, finding Martinelli with a deft pass. Martinelli's finish at the near post beat Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez to give Arsenal the lead.

Arsenal looked set to extend their advantage when Jurrien Timber's low drive narrowly missed the target, but Chelsea responded swiftly. Maresca made a tactical switch, moving Neto from the left wing to the right. In the 70th minute, the adjustment paid off as Neto cut inside and unleashed a low shot from 25 yards, finding the bottom corner of the net to equalize.

The 1-1 result leaves Arsenal with more questions to answer, especially as they head into the international break without a win in their last four league games. For Chelsea, the draw is a positive sign of progress as they continue to grow under Maresca's leadership.