THE NOTEBOOK: Chelsea legend Eden Hazard is honoured before kick-off, the happy reason behind Aaron Ramsdale’s absence for Arsenal and the Blues mark the passing of Bobby Charlton with half-time tribute
- Chelsea unveil new sponsor Infinite Athlete at Stamford Bridge on Saturday
- Aaron Ramsdale noticeably absent from squad following birth of his new son
- Sir Bobby Charlton and Eden Hazard both honoured during pre-match tributes
Chelsea hosted Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening, brandishing their new sponsor Infinite Athlete.
The stadium saw the Blues go 2-0 up heading into the second half, though with 15 minutes to go it was new summer signing Declan Rice who halved the deficit for the visitors.
David Raya looked nervous throughout the game, with Aaron Ramsdale a noticeable absentee.
The match also saw Sir Bobby Charlton honoured, alongside those who have lost their lives in Israel and Gaza.
Here, Mail Sport’s Adrian Kajumba takes you through some of the stories you might have missed from Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening.
Saturday marked the first time Chelsea supporters were able to get their hands on the club’s newly Infinite Athlete-branded shirt from the club shop
A giant Eden Hazard banner in the stands during the Premier League match at Stamford Bridge
Declan Rice had kickstarted the comeback after latching onto Robert Sanchez’s poor pass and sweeping home magnificently
Cole Palmer coolly opened the scoring in the first half from the penalty spot following William Saliba’s handball
Arsenal’s visit marked the first time Chelsea supporters were able to get their hands on the club’s newly Infinite Athlete-branded shirt from the club shop on match day. It was not until last month that Chelsea finalised whose logo would be on the front of their tops, delaying official replicas being available for sale in the club’s shops.
In fact, it felt like an Infinite Athlete takeover at Stamford Bridge with their branding everywhere you looked. Thanks to the US-based data company, a collectors’ edition of the matchday programme was free for fans and handed out by distributors with t-shirts also bearing the brand’s name and logo.
Aaron Ramsdale not making Arsenal’s starting XI is always a talking point these days but there was a happy reason behind his absence from Mikel Arteta’s matchday squad at Chelsea. Ramsdale was missing as his wife Georgina gave birth to a baby boy.
Eden Hazard was honoured ahead of kick off following his recent retirement with a huge banner unfurled and passed above the heads of supporters in the lower tier of the Matthew Harding Stand.
‘Eden Hazard, a true Chelsea great,’ the message said. And the accompanying image picked was a fitting one too – a recreation of Hazard’s knee-sliding celebration following an iconic solo goal against Arsenal in 2016/17.
Cole Palmer opened his Chelsea account from the spot last time out against Burnley but that did not appear to guarantee he would get the next one.
Players observe a minute silence to honour football legend Bobby Charlton prior to kick-off
Aaron Ramsdale not making Arsenal’s starting XI is always a talking point these days but he was missing as his wife Georgina gave birth to a baby boy
He had to get the ball off his former Manchester City teammate Raheem Sterling before putting it down to wrong-foot David Raya from 12 yards and score the first goal Arsenal have conceded away from home this season. Enzo Fernandez appeared to play a part too by seemingly urging Sterling to let Palmer take the kick.
Chelsea ensured they marked the passing of Sir Bobby Charlton with a half-time tribute. Their pre-match plans involved remembering those who lost their lives in Israel and Gaza so the 1966 World Cup winner was honoured separately.
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