Mikel Merino cancels out Trevoh Chalobah’s opener to spare the Premier League leaders’ blushes at Stamford Bridge.
Mikel Merino has rescued Arsenal as the English Premier League leaders battled to a 1-1 draw against 10-man Chelsea in a bad-tempered London derby.
Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo was sent off for a crude foul on Merino late in the first half at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Despite Caicedo’s dismissal, Trevoh Chalobah headed hosts Chelsea into a second-half lead. But Merino’s second-half leveller 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 sit six points above third-placed Chelsea.
When the dust had settled on a contest of relentless intensity, Arsenal were left to rue a missed opportunity to extend their lead over Chelsea in the title race, while the Blues were relieved to avoid a damaging defeat.
Arsenal remain the favourites to win their first Premier League crown since 2004, but Chelsea’s combative display suggested they could emerge as the biggest threat to the Gunners’ title aspirations.
Arsenal are unbeaten in 17 games in all competitions, winning 14 of those matches, while Chelsea have gone seven matches without losing in all competitions.
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca had played down his young side’s title hopes, but they went toe to toe with Arsenal, who were without injured centre back William Saliba.
A thunderous first half included a rash of bookings as both teams tried to impose themselves.
Gunners midfielder Martin Zubimendi hauled down Reece James; Chelsea left back Marc Cucurella crunched into Bukayo Saka; Cristhian Mosquera pole-axed Joao Pedro; and Riccardo Calafiori cynically tugged James.
Saka almost exacted immediate revenge on Cucurella with a stinging strike that Robert Sanchez saved at his near post.
Teenage sensation Estevao Willian started for Chelsea after his star role in their 3-0 midweek win over Barcelona.
The 18-year-old could not replicate his stunning goal against Barca, however, as he lashed over from 9 metres (30 feet) to squander Chelsea’s first serious chance.
Enzo Fernandez tested Arsenal keeper David Raya from the edge of the area as Chelsea began to exert pressure on the visitors’ reshuffled defence.
The war of attrition turned ugly in the 38th minute when Caicedo caught Merino on the ankle with a nasty foul that was upgraded from a booking to a dismissal after a VAR review.
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