As It Happened: Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal

Good afternoon and welcome to Nigerianeye's live commentary of the Premier League clash between Chelsea and Arsenal.


Since losing to Burnley on the opening weekend of the campaign, Chelsea have recorded three straight victories in the Premier League.

Arsenal, meanwhile, have lost each of their two away league games this term, but the Gunners did record a 3-0 win over Bournemouth at the Emirates last weekend.

Stay tuned for live minute-by-minute updates from Stamford Bridge.

OFFICIAL LINE-UPS

CHELSEA: Courtois; Azpilicueta, Luiz, Cahill; Moses, Kante, Fabregas, Alonso; Willian, Morata, Pedro

ARSENAL: Cech; Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal; Bellerin, Xhaka, Ramsey, Kolasinac; Iwobi, Lacazette, Welbeck

















































The referee brings the second period to a close with Arsenal holding Chelsea to a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea stay third in the table on 10 points, while Arsenal are up one position to 12th. Thanks for joining our live coverage!


90 min+5 FULL-TIME: Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal

90 min+4 Sanchez goes down just outside the Chelseal box, but the referee says no.

90 min+3 BOOKING! Bellerin (Arsenal) is booked for a foul on Bakayoko.

90 min+3 Fabregas delivers a free kick into the Arsenal box, and Cech is on hand to claim. End-to-end football in the latter stages as both teams continue to search for what would be a winning goal.

90 min+2 We are into the second of four additional minutes at the end of the 90 here.

90 min+1 BOOKING! Kolasinac (Arsenal) is booked for a late challenge on Hazard.


90 min Monreal has a goal-bound strike blocked as Arsenal threaten in the latter stages.

89 min CHELSEA SUB! Christensen replaces Morata for Chelsea.

88 min Luiz is given a straight red following a heavy challenge on Kolasinac!

87 min RED CARD! LUIZ!

87 min Moses has a goal-bound strike blocked, and Arsenal can clear their lines once again.

87 min Fabregas flashes a cross towards the far post, but it is deflected behind, and Arsenal are under more pressure in the final stages of this match. A goal at this stage would surely win the contest.

85 min BOOKING! Elneny (Arsenal) is booked for a foul on Hazard.

85 min Chelsea just cannot find a route through this Arsenal defence as Koscielny steps ahead of Morata to make the challenge, before Mustafi pumps the ball clear. Still all square with 85 on the clock.

83 min Still a good 10 minutes of football to be played in London, and you still get the feeling that there is going to be a winner in this match. In truth, a point apiece is just about right at the moment.

81 min ARSENAL SUB! Elneny replaces Iwobi for the away side.

79 min SAVE! Cech manages to keep out a strike from Hazard after a mazy run from the Belgian, who had undone the Arsenal defence. The atmosphere is building as we approach the 80th minute.

77 min It is Chelsea's turn to attack as Fabregas finds himself free from a short corner, but Mustafi is on hand to clear. It is a manic period of the match at Stamford Bridge, and still we stand at 0-0.

75 min GOAL DISALLOWED! Mustafi heads home for Arsenal, but the flag is up!

75 min Little over 15 minutes of football remaining in London, and still we wait for the first goal.

73 min ARSENAL SUB! Giroud replaces Welbeck for Arsenal.

73 min Welbeck does not look happy at all. Arsenal might well be forced into their second change.

73 min Welbeck looks to have a groin problem after going down in a challenge with Luiz.

72 min Sanchez uses his pace to drive behind the Chelsea defence, but Luiz is back to make the challenge, and Chelsea have a goal-kick. Still goalless with 72 minutes on the clock in London.

69 min CHELSEA SUB! Hazard replaces Willian for Chelsea.

68 min Wouldn't it be just like Sanchez to come up with a winner for Arsenal this afternoon? Still no sign of Hazard, but we will surely see the Belgian in the final 15 minutes or so. You still get the feeling that there is going to be a late goal in this match, with both teams committing players forward.

66 min ARSENAL SUB! Sanchez is off the Arsenal bench too replace Lacazette.

66 min BOOKING! Morata (Chelsea) is booked for dissent.

65 min Arsenal are coming under real pressure at the moment as Chelsea continue to deliver into the away side's penalty box. You do get the feeling that a goal is coming in this match.

63 min Morata goes down on the edge of the Arsenal box, but the referee is not interested. The away side then break down the other end with Kolasinac, but Azpilicueta is across to make the challenge. End-to-end football with 62 minutes on the clock. Still no sign of Sanchez or Hazard here.

60 min Willian makes an angle for the shot, but his effort is well wide of the Arsenal post.

59 min Welbeck looks to feed a pass into Ramsey, but the weight is just too strong, and Courtois is on hand to collect. This match is on a knife-edge at the moment as the score remains level.

57 min Chelsea still with the option of Hazard, Arsenal with the option of Sanchez. Both are players that are capable of winning this match for their respective teams. Little over 30 minutes to play in London.

55 min Alonso has a dig after super work from Bakayoko, but Ramsey is across to make the challenge. Chelsea are just starting to dominate the ball once again as Arsenal sit a touch deeper here.

54 min Koscielny is still on the deck, but it appears that the Frenchman will continue, which is great news. It was brave defending from the centre-back, that is for sure. Mertesacker is warming-up here.

53 min BOOKING! Luiz (Chelsea) is booked for a high boot.

53 min Luiz has just almost taken Koscielny's head off with an attempted over-head kick!

51 min It is all very frantic at the start of the second half, with both teams committing players forward. You do get the feeling that the first goal this afternoon - if there indeed is one - could be vital.

49 min Morata looks to feed Willian as Chelsea threaten once again, but Mustafi is across to make the challenge. Arsenal then break down the other end, but Lacazette cannot feed Iwobi after a strong run from Welbeck. End-to-end football in the early stages of the second period here.

47 min SAVE! Cech is down to keep out a powerful strike from Willian.

46 min... CHELSEA SUB! Bakayoko has replaced Pedro for Chelsea.

46 min RESTART! Arsenal resume the action here...


The referee brings the first period to a close with the two teams level at 0-0. Chelsea made the brighter start to proceedings, but Arsenal ended the first 45 minutes extremely well, and really should have made the breakthrough. A very even first half of action in London!


45 min+2 HALF-TIME: Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal

45 min+1 Monreal drills the ball back to his own goalkeeper after beating Morata for pace, and Cech does well to control on his chest. Almost a very embarrassing moment for the visitors! Arsenal then break down the other end, and Luiz has to clear ahead of the waiting Lacazette at the near post.

45 min+1 We are into the first of two added minutes at the end of the first period.

44 min Chelsea need to regroup at the interval. Pedro and Willian have been invisible for the last 20 minutes or so, and Conte will surely be considering introducing Hazard at the interval.

42 min That miss from Lacazette was incredible. Arsenal really should be ahead in this match.

41 min CHANCES! Oh my word! Wonderful chance for Arsenal as Ramsey dances into the Chelsea box before poking the ball towards the far corner, it hits the post, and Lacazette somehow smashes the rebound over the crossbar. It is a quite incredible miss from the striker!

41 min Chelsea were very impressive in the early stages of this match, but Arsenal have been comfortable for some time now, with the Gunners enjoying lots of possession in Chelsea's half of the field. Just a reminder that Alexis Sanchez is on the Arsenal bench this afternoon. We will surely see him at some point.

38 min Koscielny loops one wide of the Chelsea post after Moses had failed to clear his lines.

38 min Morata does well to clear an Iwobi free kick, which had been threatening to find the head of Welbeck inside the Chelsea box. Arsenal are currently enjoying a really good spell here.

36 min Pedro is a touch fortunate to escape a yellow card for a late challenge on Xhaka, with the referee deciding to have a word with the Chelsea attacker rather than issue a booking. Not too much to report in terms of chances in the last few minutes as both defences stay on top in London.

34 min Chelsea's pace has slowed down over the last five minutes or so, and credit must go to Arsenal after a difficult start for the Gunners. It is a very even game with 34 minutes on the clock here.

32 min CLOSE! Xhaka just misses the Chelsea post with an effort from distance.

31 min Fabregas looks to find Luiz with a super cross towards the far post, but the centre-back cannot grow tall enough, and Arsenal manage to clear their lines once again. Still goalless in London.

28 min 'Chelsea! Chelsea! Chelsea!' rings out around the stadium as the home side's supporters look to rally a team that is currently allowing Arsenal a lot of possession in potentially dangerous areas. Welbeck and Iwobi are starting to find space in wide positions, while Lacazette has been a threat.

26 min Just a reminder that a win for Chelsea would take them into second, while Arsenal would jump to fifth with all three points this afternoon. Both sides have had a couple of good opportunities to make the breakthrough at Stamford Bridge, but the score remains goalless with 26 minutes on the clock.

24 min You do get the feeling that the first goal - if there indeed is one - could be vital this afternoon. Arsenal have certainly improved after a difficult start to the match. It is a very enjoyable game.

22 min Morata heads over the Arsenal crossbar after another super cross from Moses. End-to-end football in the last few minutes, but the score remains goalless at Stamford Bridge.

21 min SAVE! Wonderful chance for Chelsea to take the lead as Pedro breaks into a one-on-one situation following a super Fabregas pass, but the Spaniard cannot beat Cech!

21 min SAVE! Courtois has to get down to keep out a strike from Kolasinac as Arsenal continue to threaten. The Gunners have had three opportunities in the last few minutes at Stamford Bridge.

20 min Pedro looks in real pain here, and the Spaniard surely cannot continue.

19 min Chelsea have a concern over Pedro here, who is still on the deck after a challenge from Monreal.

17 min SAVE! Cech has to keep out Lacazette, who met a low cross from Bellerin!

17 min CHANCE! Brilliant chance for Arsenal as Bellerin finds the head of Welbeck with a super cross from the right, but the England forward can only send his effort over the crossbar!

17 min Arsenal come under more pressure as Moses delivers a dangerous cross into the away side's box, but Koscielny manages to head clear, and eventually Willian runs the ball out of play. There is no question that Chelsea are carrying the bigger threat in the final third of the field here.

15 min So, still goalless with 15 minutes on the clock. Chelsea have had the better moments, but Arsenal have shown little bits and pieces in the final third of the field. Lacazette's touch and link play has been impressive in the early stages, although Courtois has been unmoved between the home side's sticks.

12 min Morata heads just wide of the Arsenal post, but the striker was in an offside position.

11 min Bit of possession for Chelsea as they pass and probe in a central position, but Morata cannot collect a through ball from Fabregas, allowing Arsenal to build from the back through Cech.

9 min Zappacosta has been sent to warm up as Moses hobbles around. Chelsea might well be forced into an early change. Lacazette, on the other hand, is now moving freely in Arsenal's final third.

8 min Lacazette rises to his feet, but Moses does not look too pleased.

7 min Lacazette and Moses are both on the deck after a knee-on-knee clash down the left.

6 min Chelsea continue to counter Arsenal, and a sensational pass from Alonso releases Moses, but Kolasinac is across to clear behind. Fabregas meets the resulting corner at the near post, but his effort is just wide of the post. The Gunners are already looking extremely vulnerable here.

4 min SAVE! Cech has to remain alert to keep out a strike from Pedro.

4 min Chelsea have already looked to break on Arsenal on a couple of occasions, but Mustafi and Koscielny have both done well to clear under pressure. As expected, it is the home side looking to dominate the ball in the early moments, with Pedro and Willian buzzing around near Morata.

2 min... a win for Chelsea would temporarily take them into second position in the table, with Manchester United not playing until later this afternoon - at home to Everton. Arsenal, meanwhile, would jump from 12th to fifth with all three points. Let's hope for an entertaining London derby here.

0 min KICKOFF! Chelsea kick things off in the capital...