Premier League: Arsenal Slips in the Title Race

Arsenal’s title aspirations took a hit after a 1-1 draw with neighbors Chelsea on Sunday in the closing match of the English Premier League’s eleventh round.

After Brazilian Gabriel Martinelli’s goal put Arsenal ahead at the 60th minute, Portuguese Pedro Neto leveled the score for Chelsea in the 70th minute.

Arsenal, runners-up in the past two seasons, remains in fourth place based on goal difference behind Chelsea, with a nine-point gap to Liverpool, the league leaders.

The Gunners are yet to win this month, following losses to Newcastle in the league and Italy’s Inter Milan in the Champions League.

The competition for the title looks fiercer this season, with Liverpool, under Dutch coach Arne Slot, off to a strong start, losing only five points across 11 games. They lead defending champions Manchester City by five points as well.

Chelsea came close to scoring early on when Cole Palmer’s long shot was saved by Spanish goalkeeper David Raya in the third minute.

French defender Malo Gusto nearly added a goal with a header from a Neto cross, but it narrowly missed the mark in the 24th minute.

Arsenal’s Martinelli attempted a shot from inside the box, but Chelsea’s Spanish keeper Robert Sanchez saved it comfortably in the 27th minute.

German Kai Havertz thought he had scored after receiving a quick free-kick pass from Declan Rice, but the VAR overturned it for offside in the 32nd minute.

Martinelli finally opened the scoring in the 60th minute with a tight-angle strike on the left, marking his third league goal this season.

Neto equalized with a powerful long-range shot from outside the box into the top left corner past Raya in the 70th minute.

Arsenal may also face further concerns as English winger Bukayo Saka requested a substitution in the 80th minute due to injury.