Neto's first Premier League goal earns Chelsea derby draw against Arsenal

Mikel Arteta's Gunners now trail leaders Liverpool by nine points

Chelsea's Pedro Neto celebrates after scoring his side's first goal against Arsenal to make it 1-1 in the Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, November 10. AP

Chelsea's Pedro Neto scores to make it 1-1. AFP

Chelsea's Pedro Neto, center, celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge stadium in London, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2021. (AP Photo / Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli celebrates scoring their first goal. Reuters

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reacts after a missed chance. Action Images

Gabriel Martinelli of Arsenal scores his team's first goal under pressure from Malo Gusto of Chelsea. Getty Images

Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli celebrates scoring their first goal. Action Images

Cole Palmer of Chelsea takes a free kick that is blocked by the Arsenal wall of Kai Havertz, Gabriel, Ben White and Declan Rice. Getty Images

Kai Havertz of Arsenal puts the ball past Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez to score a goal that was later disallowed for offside by VAR. Getty Images

Chelsea's Pedro Neto is shown a yellow card by referee Michael Oliver after Arsenal's Kai Havertz scored a goal that was later ruled out by VAR for offside. PA

Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli misses with an attempt at goal. AP

Chelsea's Malo Gusto misses a chance. PA

Arsenal's Martin Odegaard battles with Chelsea's Moises Caicedo. Action Images

Pedro Neto dealt a fresh blow to spluttering Arsenal's Premier League title challenge as the Chelsea winger's superb strike rescued a 1-1 draw in the London derby on Sunday.

Mikel Arteta's side had taken the lead through Gabriel Martinelli's second-half goal at Stamford Bridge.

But Neto's equaliser 10 minutes later earned Chelsea a deserved point and left the Gunners without a win in their last four league games.

Neto's first Premier League goal since his move from Wolves in August kept third-placed Chelsea above fourth-placed Arsenal on goal difference.

Both teams are nine points behind leaders Liverpool, but while Chelsea will be encouraged by their position after exceeding expectations in Enzo Maresca's first season in charge, Arsenal head into the international break assailed by questions about their malaise.

Beaten 1-0 by Inter Milan in the Champions League on Wednesday, hot on the heels of last weekend's loss at Newcastle, Arsenal have won just three of their last nine league games.

Chasing a first title since 2004 after finishing second to Manchester City in each of the past two seasons, Arsenal lack the fluency that carried them so close to the trophy last term.

The north Londoners' only wins in their last seven matches in all competitions came against Shakhtar Donetsk in Europe and second-tier Preston in the League Cup.

Maresca has repeatedly claimed he does not believe Chelsea are ready to challenge for the title, but the Italian has laid impressive foundations since arriving at the underachieving club in the close season.

Although they were unable to secure a first home win against Chelsea for six years, Maresca's young team appear to be heading in the right direction at last.

Cole Palmer, the jewel in Maresca's crown, quickly forced David Raya into action with a 25-yard drive that the Arsenal keeper tipped over.

Astutely dropping deep to take possession in midfield, Palmer led several Chelsea counter-attacks that had Arteta fretting on the touchline as Malo Gusto's shot was blocked and Noni Madueke's header looped wide.

Gusto should have put Chelsea ahead midway through the first half when Neto teased Ben White with some nimble footwork before whipping in a pin-point cross that the defender somehow headed over from close range.

Chelsea had imposed their will on Arsenal with a tenacious display featuring some bruising challenges.

But their propensity for overplaying from their own goal kicks nearly proved fatal when Levi Colwill's sloppy pass led to Martinelli forcing a good stop from Robert Sanchez.

Martin Odegaard started his first Arsenal game since August 31 after returning from an ankle injury as a late substitute against Inter in midweek.

Odegaard seemed to have laid on Arsenal's opener when his quick free-kick found Kai Havertz, who slotted past Sanchez in the 32nd minute.

But Havertz's celebrations were curtailed by a VAR check that showed the former Chelsea striker was offside by the narrowest of margins.

Despite that narrow escape, Chelsea had enjoyed a strong spell and they went close to earning a tangible reward when Wesley Fofana volleyed just over from Madueke's cross early in the second half.

Arsenal kept plugging away and snatched the lead on the hour.

Surrounded by defenders on the edge of the Chelsea area, Odegaard cleverly worked just enough space to clip a sublime pass to the unmarked Martinelli and the Brazilian's close-range strike beat Sanchez too easily at his near post.

It was exactly the sort of magical moment that Arsenal had so sorely missed in Odegaard's absence.

Suitably inspired by his captain, Jurrien Timber almost doubled Arsenal's lead with a buccaneering run that ended with a low drive that whistled just wide.

But Arsenal's lead was short-lived as Maresca's tactical switch paid dividends in the 70th minute.

Moving Neto from the left to the right flank allowed the Portugal winger to cut inside for a blistering low strike that arrowed into the bottom corner from 25 yards and left Arteta holding his head in frustration.

Chelsea goalscorer Neto, told Sky Sports afterwards: "We wanted to win, but we knew we had hard work in front of us because they are a good team. We came to win, so we're not as happy as we wanted to be, but we didn't want to lose and it's a good point against a good team.

"We read the game well. We had moments we could have been better but we've done a good job and we want to keep improving at this level.

"I am really happy to help the team. This is a group that works really hard each day. I work every day to improve, I'm trying to improve and go to my best level."

Chelsea manager Maresca told BBC Sport: "I enjoyed it, absolutely. The performance was good. We know them quite well and we competed pretty well. The performance is very important for us in this moment and it was good. We can rest now and go again.

"The performance from Pedro [Neto] was very good, all of them, complete. We played in the way we wanted to, brave, and try and play from the back always."