Mikel Merino came to Arsenal’s rescue as the Premier League leaders battled to a 1-1 draw against 10-man Chelsea in a fiercely contested London derby on Sunday.
Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo was sent off late in the first half for a reckless challenge on Merino, leaving the Blues a man short at Stamford Bridge.
Despite the numerical advantage, Arsenal fell behind early in the second half when Trevoh Chalobah headed Chelsea into the lead. Merino’s equalizer later ensured the Gunners left the capital with a share of the spoils.
The result keeps Arsenal five points clear of second-placed Manchester City, who defeated Newcastle on Saturday, and six points ahead of third-placed Chelsea.
While Arsenal remain firm favourites for their first Premier League title since 2004, Chelsea’s combative display showed they remain a formidable challenge.
Both sides came into the clash with recent European successes—Chelsea had beaten Barcelona 3-0 in the Champions League midweek, while Arsenal secured a 3-1 victory over Bayern Munich a day later—but the positivity from those results quickly gave way to a bruising domestic battle.
The match featured a flurry of fouls and bookings, reflecting the intensity and stakes of the encounter.
Arsenal were without injured centre-back William Saliba, and both teams repeatedly tried to impose themselves, with Martin Zubimendi, Reece James, Marc Cucurella, Joao Pedro, and Riccardo Calafiori all involved in key fouls.
Despite the heated nature of the game, Arsenal remain unbeaten in 17 matches across all competitions, winning 14, while Chelsea have gone seven games without defeat. The point leaves Arsenal in control of the title race but ensures Chelsea remain a serious contender.
