Arsenal took on a Chelsea team, that in mid-week had beaten Barcelona 3-1, where Moises Caicedo was dribbled past 0 times and had the most ball recoveries, with 10 in the match.
However, the Gunners came in equally fired up coming from a 3-1 victory against Bayern Munich, where Declan Rice equally shone, being also dribbled past 0 times also and was seen galloping everywhere.
Before the game, Jamie Carragher said on Sky Sports we are seeing ‘the new (Patrick) Viera vs (Roy) Keane.’ The comparison brings trophies, brings aggression, brings fight and fearlessness. Putting your body on the line and doing what’s best for the team.
The battle between the new Patrick Viera vs Roy Keane?
In a much-anticipated tie between London rivals Chelsea hosting Arsenal in match-week 13 of the Premier league, the wait certainly did not disappoint between the two world-beater midfielders in Caicedo and Rice.
Arsenal struggled to create any dominance with their usual fluid passing and midfield prowess at the start of the first-half. The Rice and Caicedo debate however was looking a tasty battle, with both doing what was needed to create a tough game, winning duels and tackles, disrupting play and meaning for a scrappy start for both sides.
Rice proved to be the saviour in a Chelsea attack that looked dangerous, where Caicedo started the attack with a challenge on Mikel Merino before the sending off in the 16th minute, where this time going it was a good challenge. The English powerhouse glided round the back of Malo Gusto and swung a right leg, sliding challenge to end the danger.
In talking about aggression and fight that Keane and Viera, the Ecuadorian showed this in a different way where Caicedo provided a reckless challenge on Merino, which ended high and straight legged on the Spaniard’s ankle. The challenge ultimately, upon a VAR review in the 39th minute, was deemed to be a sending off. The Ecuadorian showed too much aggression in a game that would have put his side three points behind the Gunners if they had won.
Just before half-time, Rice also created a great opportunity to make it 1-0, where he placed a simple pass to Gabriel Martinelli, on the edge of the box, who slotted a shot to Robert Sanchez’s strong right hand.
What’s next for Arsenal
Declan Rice played the full 90-minutes, helping the Gunners take a point at Stamford Bridge. The match ended 1-1, with Arsenal needing a goal through Merino to level the game.
READ MORE: Chelsea vs Arsenal – Clash at the Bridge!
After seeing the likes of Martin Odegaard, Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyokeres make their Premier League returns, where Gabriel Jesus also returned to the bench, we could yet see the three feature this Wednesday, when Arsenal face Brentford at home.
With Kai Havertz still yet to come back from his injury and now Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba injured, the next few games against the Bees, and Aston Villa within the next week could seem more important than ever to get through and bring all three points.