Chelsea fought for a hard-earned 1–1 draw against Premier League leaders Arsenal at Stamford Bridge, surviving more than 50 minutes with 10 men after Moisés Caicedo’s first-half dismissal.
Caicedo saw his initial yellow card upgraded to a red following a VAR review for a studs-up challenge on Mikel Merino, making him the fourth Chelsea player sent off this season. Despite the setback, Enzo Maresca’s men stunned Arsenal just three minutes into the second half when Trevoh Chalobah glanced in a near-post header from a Reece James corner.
Arsenal eventually forced a response. Bukayo Saka created the equaliser with a clever turn and cross from the right, finding Merino, who guided a precise header into the corner to level the contest. With over half an hour to play against depleted opposition, the league leaders appeared poised to push for a winner.
But the Gunners lacked cutting edge in the final third. Their best chance for a second also fell to Merino, who forced Robert Sánchez into a sharp save from distance. Arsenal managed only eight attempts to Chelsea’s 11, as the hosts defended with discipline and urgency.
Mikel Arteta’s side were also without key centre-backs William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães for just the second time in 162 league matches—a gap that showed in their defensive solidity and overall control. The visitors’ frustrations boiled over into six yellow cards, four of them coming during a tense, stop-start first half.
The draw trims Arsenal’s lead at the top to five points, with Manchester City overtaking Chelsea into second place after their 3–2 home win over Leeds.
