Arsenal vs. Chelsea, Premier League: Half-time report

A ridiculously open game somehow remains scoreless, thanks largely to a few shocking misses from Chelsea and a couple great saves from Thibaut Courtois.

Alvaro Morata has missed yet another shocking 1-v-1 with no one around for miles thanks to a defensive breakdown. And it wasn’t even close. Morata should’ve had another one but was just inches late on a Moses cross. He’s not alone in big misses however, with Bakayoko shooting straight at Cech with either side gaping and Fabregas putting his clear chance high, wide, and not so handsome. Hazard worked one very good chance for himself, but his shot was blocked well by Mustafi. Not even Marcos Alonso has managed to hit the target from a free kick, though in fairness, it was perhaps a bit too close to be ideal.

Meanwhile, at the other end, Ozil and Alexis are running rampant, with a couple timely interventions from the defenders so far preventing them from creating too many chances. But the few they did create all look heart-stopping and required several excellent saves from Courtois, including one that he pushed onto the post (and then saved again after it rebounded off both uprights).

It’s literally anyone’s game at this point, with neither defense looking particularly strong. Chelsea started well, but Arsenal also had several periods of ascendancy. Chelsea “should” be winning just based on clear cut chances, but our finishing has been woeful once again, and that might be understatement.

Improvement required.

COME ON, CHELSEA!