Mikel Merino saved Arsenal as the Premier League leaders struggled to draw 1-1 at 10-man Chelsea in the London derby.
Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo was sent off for a serious foul on Merino at the end of the first half at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
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Despite Caicedo being dismissed, Trevoh Chalobah gave Chelsea the lead in the second half, but Merino’s second-half equalizer ensured Arsenal emerged with a point from a bruising encounter between the title rivals.
Arsenal are five points clear of second-placed Manchester City, who beat Leeds United on Saturday, and six points above third-placed Chelsea.
When the dust settled on a contest of relentless intensity, Arsenal were regretful of missing a chance to extend their lead over Chelsea in the title race, while the Blues were relieved to avoid a damaging defeat.
Arsenal remain favorites to win their first Premier League title since 2004, but Chelsea’s combative performance suggested they could emerge as the biggest threat to the Gunners’ title aspirations.
Arsenal are unbeaten in 17 matches in all competitions, winning 14, while Chelsea have won seven matches without losing in all competitions.
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has kept his young team’s title hopes in check as they go head-to-head with Arsenal, who were without injured centre-back William Saliba.
There was tremendous booking in the first half, in which both teams tried to impose themselves.
Gunners midfielder Martin Zubimendi brought down Reece James, Chelsea left-back Mark Cucurella hit Bukayo Saka, Mosquera pole-axed Joao Pedro and Ricardo Calafiori roughed up James.
Saka got immediate revenge from Cucurella with a powerful strike which was saved by Robert Sanchez at his near post.
Teenage sensation Estevan Willian started for Chelsea after his star role in the 3-0 win over Barcelona in midweek.
However, the 18-year-old could not repeat his spectacular goal against Barça as he missed Chelsea’s first serious chance when he headed wide from 9 meters (10 yards).
Enzo Fernandez tested Arsenal keeper David Raya from the edge of the area as Chelsea began to put pressure on the visitors’ changed defence.
The clash turned ugly in the 38th minute when Caicedo caught Merino on the ankle with a vicious foul that was upgraded from a booking to a dismissal after a VAR review.
It was the Blues’ sixth red card in all competitions this season.
A dangerous Hincapie elbow on Chalobah following the Ecuadorian midfielder’s premature exit led Chelsea to demand a red card, which was ignored.
Gabriel Martinelli almost caused Chelsea trouble with a fierce blast early in half-time, which forced a good save from Sanchez.
Arsenal arrived as the best set-piece team in the league with 10 goals in 12 matches.
But Chelsea finished second with eight and Chalobah added his ninth in the 48th minute.
It was a goal straight from the Arsenal playbook as James turned a corner to the near post and Chalobah rose to the top inside the six-yard box to glance his header into the far corner.
Arteta responded by sending off Martin Odegaard and Nonny Madueke, who were greeted with chants of “Chelsea reject” and jeered upon their return to their former club.
Arsenal’s changes paid immediate dividends as Merino scored the equalizer in the 59th minute.
Saka teed up Cucurella with a mesmerizing run and cross, picking out Merino for a powerful close-range header that passed past Sanchez.
It was Merino’s fourth goal this season as Arteta once again used the Spain midfielder as a makeshift striker.
Sanchez made brilliant stops to deny Saka and Merino in a frantic finale, but Arsenal could not deliver the knockout blow.
Chelsea captain Reece James told Sky Sports he was “disappointed” not to get the three points, but the sending off limited his side’s chances.
“Arsenal have been on top for the last few years. We knew it wasn’t going to be easy. Their midfield is tough. We did what we could today to show our game and hurt them with the ball,” he said.
He added: “(Maresca) changed the formation a little bit, and he knew they were going to come at us. So we tried to withstand the pressure, and then try to catch them (on the counter).
“I’m proud of the boys. Today we got power on the bridge. We’re happy about that.”
Merino said Arsenal were also disappointed not to win.
When you wear this shirt, you want to win every game. he told Sky Sports. “It’s a really difficult stadium to come and take a point. We could have done things better but the team showed good mentality.
Elsewhere on Sunday, Liverpool’s record signing Alexander Isak scored his first Premier League goal for the Reds as the under-pressure football champions secured a much-needed 2-0 win over West Ham United.
Manchester United ended Crystal Palace’s nine-month unbeaten home run with a 2–1 comeback win, Aston Villa moved into the top four with a 1–0 win over weak Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Brighton won 2–0 at Nottingham Forest to move up to fifth.
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