Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal: 3 takeaways after Arsenal dropped more Premier League points

Arsenal continue to haemorrhage points in the Premier League after letting a one-goal lead slip in no time at all against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

A classy opener from Gabriel Martinelli gave the Gunners the lead, thanks in no small part to the imagination and technique of returning talisman Martin Odegaard, but Pedro Neto hit back with a stylish equaliser.

Neto's goal meant the points were shared, and a point apiece was about all either side deserved from a fairly drab affair. The monotony was only enlivened by some typical flourishes from Odegaard, who not only underlined Arsenal's over-reliance on his vision and craft, but also showed up the more pedestrian parts of a disjointed midfield.

Things might have gone better for those in the middle if their primary target hadn't been so off the pace. Unfortunately, Kai Havertz continued to look out of sorts, prompting real concern his once laudable transition to striker might have hit a wall.

Ultimately, the price of a fourth-straight league game without a win is Arsenal entering the annoying and needles international break nine points behind leaders Liverpool. The following takeaways from this overly-cautious London derby explain why the Gunners remain so far adrift.

3 takeaways from Arsenal's disappointing draw at Chelsea

1. Arsenal have a Kai Havertz problem

A goal ruled out and celebration cut short for offside, a booking and re-opening his head wound. All in all, Havertz endured a bit of stinker on his return to the Bridge.

What's worrying is the German's struggles on Sunday were the latest missteps in a growing pattern. Havertz hasn't scored nor provided an assist in any of his last three league matches, per WhoScored.com.

His struggle to get involved enough as the closer for Arsenal's attacking moves has lent weight to all those argument about the need to spend big on a 'proper' striker. Havertz was beginning to look like one of those during the business end of last season, but now the 25-year-old isn't making the right runs nor timing his movement.

Those are essential qualities for any striker. So is the instinct to anticipate where chances will develop and suddenly break.

Havertz is one step off at the moment. Enough so that manager Mikel Arteta should be thinking about brining Gabriel Jesus in from the cold. Or, and whisper it, trying Martinelli through the middle.

Either ways, Havertz looks like he needs a few games out of the firing line.

2. Gunners lacking courage and invention in midfield

Havertz would likely find his job easier if there was better supply from midfield. It's a vicious circle, since those in the engine room obviously struggle to find a striker not making the right runs at the right time, but that doesn't absolve Thomas Partey and Declan Rice from the bland and timid way they passed the ball against Chelsea.

Partey appeared allergic to a forward pass, too often willing to let defenders carry the fight going forward. It's not difficult to spot the flaw in that strategy.

As for Rice, he was typically buccaneering, but there was a distinct lack of composure and ideas on the ball. That's difficult to accept from a player with a £105m price tag, even if artful passing isn't exactly a cornerstone of Rice's game.

Hiding behind that excuse is too easy when Rice is still only 25. He's a young(ish) player Arsenal paid a king's ransom to sign, so it's not unreasonable to expect more growth from him as a distributor.

The Gunners need more progression from deeper areas if they're going to avoid being completely tethered to the player at the tip of midfield.

3. Martin Odegaard is the key to keeping Arsenal involved in the title race

Nobody should be handing out prizes to those who predicted Arsenal's title challenge would fall flat without Odegaard. Prolonged struggles while the Norwegian nursed injury were inevitable thanks to Artera's approach to squad building.

The approach values height and brawn over skill and flair. The result has been a tradeoff of sorts. Arsenal are a more stable team, but a functional one that struggles to turn on the style unless its lone creative force in on song.

It's almost as if selling Emile Smith Rowe, loaning Fabio Vieria back to Porto and crossing fingers Odegaard would stay fit for a whole season was a needlessly reckless strategy...

Thankfully, Odegaard was on form in west London. His polished technique and keen eye for a pass made Martinelli's goal possible.

While there were no more goals to come, Odegaard still finished with an assist and two "big chances" created to his credit.

Just as important as those numbers was how Odegaard helped increase the pace and fludity of Arsenal's game in the final third. Quick and nifty combinations of passes only occurred in patches at the Bridge, but things should flow easier and more consistently once Odegaard is fully up to seed with teammates who've looked lost without him.

READ THE LATEST ARSENAL NEWS HERE!