- Friendly: Arsenal 1-2 Chelsea
- Xhaka 69; Havertz 26, Abraham 72
Perhaps it was a way to make a 25,000-strong crowd feel at home. The goal that afforded Chelsea half-hearted bragging rights on an afternoon of rollicking entertainment felt like a tribute act to Arsenal failings past; in the present it rather demonstrated that, with a dozen days remaining until the new season, the unresolved issues around this part of north London persist in significant volume.
Anatomising the winner in a friendly, in this case the first match in a three-team series that also involves Spurs, would generally be folly. This one, though, told a few stories simultaneously. Héctor Bellerín, who would like to leave Arsenal but has been offered a new contract in the absence of a bid that would make them sell, attempted a pass deep inside his own half towards Granit Xhaka, whose employment situation is identical. It was wayward and Tammy Abraham, who might leave Chelsea and has been linked with a move to Arsenal, was played through to make the score 2-1 with a coolness the hosts may have found seductive.
Related: Arsenal sign £50m Ben White and want Bellerín and Xhaka to extend contracts
An entertaining 2-1 win for Arsenal Women over Chelsea Women on Sunday was marred by an injury to Jordan Nobbs. The Arsenal midfielder was stretchered from the pitch with what appeared to be an ankle injury, although the prognosis is unknown. Young substitute Freya Jupp scored the winner after Reanna Blades had cancelled out Katie McCabe’s goal. Both managers were absent, with recent Arsenal appointee Jonas Eidevall quarantining and Chelsea’s Emma Hayes feeling unwell. Nick Ames
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