Arsenal receive title boost despite Chelsea draw as Mikel Arteta has every piece to fight on

Arsenal were unable to take the chances that came their way as they dropped two more points, taking the total to 10 in the last four matches. The result leaves them in fourth place, nine off the lead and four behind Manchester City in second.

The Gunners thought they had scored when Kai Havertz had the ball in the back of the net. However, it was determined by VAR that the German international had indeed gone a split-second too soon and the goal was rightly ruled out.

When Arsenal did indeed take the lead, the chance came from a pass which could, narratively speaking, only come from one man: Martin Odegaard. While it may have been strong work from his teammates Bukayo Saka and Thomas Partey who would get the ball to him, when it came to the moment to pick the pass, it was on a dime.

READ MORE:Arsenal's next fixtures compared to Liverpool and Man City after Chelsea draw

READ MORE:Every word Mikel Arteta said on Odegaard return, Rice fitness, Saka injury, Arsenal title race

It had been pondered when Odegaard was absent from Arsenal in the aftermath of the September international break whether the skipper in some ways restrained the side? At least, that is what some supporters said, but most saw the reality.

That reality would be a dark one and after navigating some tough games like the North London Derby and even coming seconds away from winning at Manchester City, the creativity dip began to tell.

The performances at Bournemouth and Newcastle were particularly tough, and the Gunners lacked the edge they needed to score. Arsenal again failed to score in the third away game in four, the midweek clash before Chelsea.

Cross after cross was sent into the Italian side's box but there was no invention. Odegaard entered the fray with minutes remaining and even then looked somewhat dangerous and a second wind felt in the side that sadly couldn't tell on the night.

Come this game Sunday, however, and Odegaard was in the team. While the performance was far from the glittering best that we had seen last season with the Norwegian starring as usual, but there was a greater speed about some of the interchanges we saw.

It is evidently going to take some more time before we see Mikel Arteta's side regain their shine. It may have even come too late as far as the title race is concerned with Liverpool so far ahead, even at this early stage.

Arteta has often pointed to the injuries suffered by his side during the opening weeks when he is asked about the inconsistency of his side and the subsequent comparative drop in point-collecting. However, with the international break here, a chance for players to recover and reset, a blank slate awaits and Odegaard can indeed find his way into the fold with the Gunners looking to find their winning formula again.