STILL five points clear, now unbeaten in 17, and proof that these Gunners do not fold even if their two defensive kingpins are missing.
Mikel Merino’s header ensured Mikel Arteta and his men left the Bridge still looking like the team the rest have to beat.
But surely the Arsenal boss will rue this one as a missed opportunity.
After all, you don’t often get the chance to play for 52 minutes against big opponents down to 10 men, after Moises Caicedo was rightly sent packing for a shocker on Merino’s left ankle.
All the more so when, despite being without both Gabriel and William Saliba, everything else has fallen the right way.
Even when they fell behind, Merino’s close range finish gave the leaders more than half an hour to finish off a stunning week in the grand manner.
FEELING BLUE
Moises Caicedo sent off for horror tackle on Arsenal star Mikel Merino
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On the Chelsesa pitch where Barcelona were battered on Tuesday, you’d have put your house on “Arselona” to go through the gears.
Especially as Arteta was able to call on Martin Odegaard, Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyokeres off the bench.
Yet despite dominating possession, only Merino’s late shot, parried by Robert Sanchez before he was clattered by Gyokeres, tested the home keeper, a mark of Chelsea’s resilience and character.
And while Arsenal lost nothing from an afternoon which pulsated with raw energy, spite and bite and gave referee Anthony Taylor a thankless task, they will perhaps look back by reflecting they could have gained far, far more.
Especially given that dismissal of Caicedo, which looked like the turning point.
The Ecuadorean’s jumping, studs-first lunge into Merino’s exposed ankle was beyond ugly – although in keeping with the brutal intensity of much of what had gone before.
Piero Hincapie and Cristhian Mosquera might have been a new-look defensive pairing for Arsenal but this felt like a throwback to the passion play of the Mourinho versus Wenger era.
Seething animosity from the fans, relentless physicality from the players, Taylor’s book in danger of being filled before the interval.
Cautions for Martin Zubimendi, Marc Cucarella – for his second foul on Bukayo Saka – and Mosquera, for hauling back Moises Caicedo, came inside 13 minutes.
There was some football, too, although neither keeper was really tested in the opening period.
Arsenal ratings: Bukayo Saka has Cucurella in his back pocket but stand-in Mosquera on a tightrope after early booking
ARSENAL missed the chance to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League after a frustrating 1-1 draw against ten-man Chelsea.
The Gunners produced an under-par display at Stamford Bridge but were given the advantage when Moises Caicedo saw red for a horror challenge on Mikel Merino.
But the Blues stunned their rivals by taking the lead shortly after the break thanks to Trevoh Chalobah‘s header.
And Arsenal eventually got level when Merino powered home Bukayo Saka‘s cross.
But Mikel Arteta‘s men were forced to settle for a five-point lead over Manchester City after failing to break down a stubborn Chelsea side.
Here’s how SunSport’s Jack Rosser rated the visitors on a difficult night at a freezing Stamford Bridge…
Saka would have been offside after VAR review when he shot at Sanchez and Estevao Willian blazed over, although Chelsea’s willingness to go long and then press high discomforted the Gunners.
One turnover resulted in Enzo Fernandez stinging David Raya’s hands before Caicedo, eventually, and after Taylor’s long march across to the screen – both he and Merino writhed on the ground – was shown red.
The correct call, as was Taylor’s decision to only book Hincapie after he accidentally caught Trevoh Chalabah as they challenged in the air.
Two minutes after the interval, though, Chalobah made an impact that really mattered.
Raya, caught in two minds from Reece James’ free-kick, made a spectacular clawing leap – although Joao Pedro’s header was actually going wide.
And when James arced the inswinger from the Chelsea left, Chalobah stole a march to get the first touch in front of the near post, Raya helpless as it flashed past him.
Maresca replaced Joao Pedro with Liam Delap to occupy the stand-in Arsenal centre-backs physically, as Arteta responded by sending on his heavy brigade.
And within seconds, they were level.
Saka twisted Cucarella both ways before teasing into the six yard box and either Merino or Madueke could have headed home with Malo Gusto outnumbered, the Spaniard getting the killer touch.
Now Arsenal were in the ascendant, that class off the bench allowing them to take a grip, Gyokeres’ arrival a signal of Arteta’s ambition to win it, even if Delap’s snapshot at the other end saw Raya scrambling to save.
What they struggled to do, though, was fashion the clear opening they were seeking, Chelsea’s defending desperate but effective.
At times, it seemed that Arsenal would have to break through.
Chelsea ratings vs Arsenal: Reece James shines in new roaming role as Caicedo lets team-mates down
TEN-MAN Chelsea escaped a feisty London derby against Arsenal with a point at Stamford Bridge.
A cagey first half was fiercely battled out between the two teams.
There were no goals, but five players were cautioned before half-time, and Chelsea were already down to ten men after a reckless challenge by Moises Caicedo on Arsenal’s Mikel Merino.
That ‘no goals’ dilemma was put to bed early in the second half by an unlikely scorer.
A deep Chelsea free-kick was turned behind brilliantly by David Raya after Joao Pedro directed a header goalwards, only for the resulting corner to be nodded in by Trevoh Chalobah.
That lead didn’t last long as Arsenal equalised through Mikel Merino, who headed home to grant Bukayo Saka his first assist in a year after doing what Lamine Yamal couldn’t – getting the better of Marc Cucurella.
Find out how SunSport Chelsea Reporter Lloyd Canfield rated the Blues…
Yet this time they lacked the clinical edge that had proven far too good for both Spurs and Munich over the past week.
Credit to Chelsea, who never lacked the desire to get forward, even if their opportunities were limited.
It was only two minutes from the end that the Blue wall might have been breached.
But Sanchez, down to his left, denied Merico from the only clear opening, taking a whack from Gyokeres for his pains.
The roar from the home fans that greeted the final whistle told the story.
They screamed as if their side had won. Arsenal, by contrast, seemed deflated. Yet they are firmly in the box seat, still.
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