Ten-man Chelsea earn draw with Arsenal
Chelsea 1Chalobah (48′)
Arsenal 1Merino (59’)
Moises Caicedo was sent off but 10-man Chelsea battled to a well-earned draw against league leaders Arsenal.
Trevoh Chalobah opened the scoring for the hosts, before Mikel Merino nodded in an equaliser to ensure the points were shared at Stamford Bridge.
The result means the Gunners remain six points ahead of Enzo Maresca’s team in the Premier League table.
Arsenal, without their preferred centre-back pairing of Gabriel and William Saliba, absorbed plenty of early pressure in a lively first half that saw five yellow cards dished out – four of which were shown to the visitors.
Estevao blasted over from close range in the 17th minute and was off-target again soon after. Enzo Fernandez also saw an effort saved comfortably by Gunners keeper David Raya, while Bukayo Saka had Arsenal’s best chance of the opening exchanges.
Chelsea were on top heading towards the break, but momentum turned in favour of the visitors when Caicedo was sent off in the 38th minute.
The midfielder caught Merino late, and high, on the ankle. Referee Anthony Taylor initially showed a yellow card, but following a lengthy injury break and VAR review, upgraded it to red for serious foul play.
Gabriel Martinelli came close to opening the scoring on the stroke of half-time, but saw his low effort saved well by Blues keeper Robert Sanchez.
It was 10-man Chelsea, though, who came out firing for the second half. Joao Pedro saw a header saved soon after the break, and the Blues stunned Arsenal from the corner that followed.
Chalobah outjumped Declan Rice at the front post to meet Reece James’s delivery and loop a header over Raya.
Arsenal were level on the hour mark, when Merino headed past Sanchez from close range after good work from Saka on the right wing.
The Gunners then went in search of a winner, and Saka fired over the bar in the 71st minute. Substitute and former Chelsea man Noni Madueke also threatened down the flanks but was mostly kept at bay.
The hosts were also a consistent threat on the counter, and tried to stretch Arsenal by sweeping forward in numbers.
Liam Delap, who came off the bench, saw a weak effort saved, and Pedro Neto curled a long-range shot over the bar.
Sanchez made a smart save late on to deny Merino a second, and secured the point when he pounced on the follow-up as Viktor Gyokeres smashed into him.
Chelsea: Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; James, Caicedo; Estevao (Garnacho 45), Fernandez, Neto; Joao Pedro (Delap 54).
Subs not used: Jorgensen, Acheampong, Tosin, Badiashile, Santos, Palmer, Gittens.
