Arsenal were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against a 10-man Chelsea side after an intense London derby showdown at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
The Blues took a surprise lead early in the second half through Trevoh Chalobah, before Mikel Merino equalized for the league leaders moments later.
The Gunners were dealt a major blow before the match with the absence of William Saliba, who had picked up a knock in training.
It was just the second time in their last 162 EPL games that the Gunners played without either the Frenchman or his defensive partner – Gabriel Magalhaes.
Both sides traded early opportunities, but the major talking point came later in the first half when Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo was sent off for a dangerous tackle.
The midfielder was issues a yellow card by Anthony Taylor after he caught Mikel Merino in a studs up challenge, but the caution was upgraded to a red card after a VAR review.
Despite being a man down, it was the Blues who took the lead just three minutes into the second half when Trevoh Chalobah flicked on a corner kick from Reece James.
Arsenal equalized moments later through Mikel Merino, who headed in a cross from Bukayo Saka after the winger had gotten the better of Marc Cucurella.
David Raya then saved from substitute Liam Delap, before Merino once again tested Robert Sanchez, who was equal to the task.
The game ended in a 1-1 draw at full-time as both sides headed into their next encounters with a point apiece.
Arsenal remain top of the league standings with 30 points, while Chelsea drop to third with 24 points.
The Gunners face host Brentford at the Emirates on Wednesday in their next encounter, as Chelsea face Leeds United on the same day.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
