Ten-man Chelsea hold rattled Arsenal in testy derby

Referee Anthony Taylor signals for a VAR check for a challenge by Chelsea's Moises Caicedo on Arsenal's Mikel Merino which results in a red card for the Chelsea player. Picture: John Walton/PA Wire.

Premier League: Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal

The battle between the world champions and the so-called best team in Europe failed to live up to its high-quality billing as it descended to a cracking, old-fashioned physical London derby between two teams with pride as well as points to play for.

Chelsea played with only ten men for most of the match after key midfielder Moises Caicedo was sent off for a violently dangerous tackle on Mikel Merino shortly before half time.

Enzo Maresca’s side, either side of that pivotal event, were good, strong, determined, physical and cynical. All worthy attributes in a testy derby with a suggestible referee against the Premier League’s in-form title leaders and deserved their draw, if not more.

Their players and supporters celebrated the full-time whistle as if they had won not just a match, but a trophy to go with it. Arsenal looked crestfallen to a man, their supporters silent behind the Shed End goal.

For Arsenal, it proved one match too far at the end of a week in which they had the hugely demanding occasions of a north London derby this time last weekend and a barnstorming Champions League clash with previously unbeatable Bayern Munich on Wednesday night.

Leggy does not even come close to describing how strangely off the pace and disjointed their play was. Had Caicedo not seen the red, they might not have got away with a point That said, they had the fortitude to come from behind to maintain their lead at the top of the table with Merino heading in after Trevoh Chalobah.

Referee Taylor played himself into a red card corner by booking three players inside the opening 12 minutes of a constantly disrupted game. The real cruncher worthy of disciplinary action came as Caicedo went over the top on Merino. Taylor missed it at first but saw the error of his ways on the pitch-side monitor and sent the Ecuador midfielder off.

Piero Hincapie was booked moments later for an arm in the face of Trevoh Chalobah, with the Chelsea defender doing everything he could to persuade Taylor to reach for his red again.

Gabriel Martinelli, recalled after injury for Leandro Trossard, had a low shot brilliantly saved by Robert Sanchez from an Arsenal break on the stroke of 45 minutes.

Arsenal’s task now was to remain patient enough to work the advantage of their extra man and avoid being lured into any rash challenges that might reduce their numerical advantage.

Myles Lewis-Skelly came on for Riccardo Calafiori at half-time, presumably as the Italian left back was on a yellow card. Maresca’s men were not bothered and just continued their attacking tactics, scoring within two minutes of the restart.

Beating Arsenal at the set piece game for once, Chalobah rose the near post to flick on a Reece James corner. If only they had someone standing at the far post to clear the line – an old-fashioned tactic yet to be reborn.

Arteta’s response from the dug-out positioned just in front of the press box was to take a step onto the pitch and raise and lower both arms in a gesture aimed at telling his players to remain calm, Mentally, that was just what Arsenal needed to do. This ragged 11, however, needed more than mental fortitude, they needed some fresh energy too. Arteta supplied it in the form of former Chelsea winger Noni Madueke and fit-again captain Martin Odegaard as substitutes for Martinelli and a strangely below-par Martin Zubimendi.

They were level two minutes later. Neither new player had a role in the move as Bukayo Saka out-skilled Marc Cucarella on the right wing and curled in a perfect cross for Merino to head into the back of the net in front of the travelling Arenal fans.

There were a few half chances at either end of that, but Arsenal failed to make the most of their extra man and seemed happy to take the point and get out of here without any further collateral damage ahead of a home match with Brentford next Wednesday. Chelsea, who finish the weekend a place down in third, go to Leeds the same evening.

This was not the composed, assured Arsenal we have become accustomed to seeing in recent week as Chelsea’s high-pace persistent press and rapid attacks clearly unsettled Arteta’s men. The match was as frantic and frenzied as the atmosphere as the sets of rival London supporters traded insults and boasts on behalf of their teams.

CHELSEA: Sanchez 7, Gusto 7, Chalobah 6, Fofana 6, Cucurella 5, Caicedo 5, James 9, Neto 6, Fernandez 7, Estevao 5 (Garnacho 46), Joao Pedro 5 (Delap 55). Subs: Jorgensen, Acheampong, Tosin, Badiashile, Andrey Santos, Palmer, Gittens.

ARSENAL: Raya 7, Timber 8, Mosquera 6, Hincapie 6, Calafiori 7 (Lewis-Skelly 46), Zubimendi 5 (Odegaard 57), Rice 7, Eze 6 (Gyokores 72), Martinelli 6 (Madueke 57), Merino 6, Saka 6. Subs: Kepa, White, Norgaard, Nwaneri, Jesus.

Ref: Anthony Taylor 5