Are you not entertained? Gunners restore five-point as title race to go the distance

Chelsea were reduced to 10 men once more in a battling display at Arsenal. 

Arsenal's Jurrien Timber celebrates after the win. Pic: Nick Potts/PA Wire.

Premier League: Arsenal 2 Chelsea 1  

Pundits who have dismissed this season as dull might want to reconsider. If the title race continues like this over the final 10 matches, it will be remembered as an all-time classic – even if Arsenal’s goals keep coming from corners.

A breathless second half at the Emirates featured Jurrien Timber heading the winner to restore Arsenal’s five-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League, before Pedro Neto’s reckless red card reduced Chelsea to 10 men and effectively ended their resistance. It was their ninth sending-off of the season.

Yet this was far from straightforward. A superb stoppage-time save from David Raya and a disallowed Liam Delap effort ensured Mikel Arteta’s side survived a finale that could easily have ended in a damaging draw, or worse.

Relief poured out of players, staff and supporters at full time. Timber, beaming after his decisive contribution, said: “We have to enjoy it. It is a privilege to be standing here with my teammates, fighting for these titles. Game by game and at the end hopefully something beautiful.” 

Arteta struck a more measured tone, defending his side’s continued success from set pieces, which now account for 16 league goals this season.

“It is every team, to be fair, if you look at where they are in terms of goals they score,” he said. “We haven’t scored set-pieces for a few weeks but we’ve scored many in open play. Today was an option to score from this situation. We’ve done it so well, and we conceded as well.” 

This fourth meeting between the London rivals this season, with the tantalising possibility of a Champions League final still to come, was the most compelling yet. Chelsea, beaten in the League Cup semi-final, arrived with renewed belief under Liam Rosenior following his appointment after Enzo Maresca’s dismissal.

For long spells they matched Arsenal and briefly threatened to end a nine-match winless run in this fixture. Ultimately, however, their familiar flaws resurfaced.

Rosenior did not hide his frustration.

“We need to improve as a group, including me,” he said. “To concede two goals from set pieces, which has cost us the game, is really disappointing. And to have another red card, I’m really disappointed. They’re not things we haven’t spoken about. I don’t want to sit here saying how well we play without picking up points. We have to take more accountability for our discipline.” 

Neto’s dismissal encapsulated Chelsea’s problem. Booked for dissent, he then lunged recklessly at Gabriel Martinelli within four minutes of Arsenal retaking the lead. It left his team chasing shadows. 

There was a suggestion afterwards the Portuguese didn't realise he had already been cautioned but captain Reece James admitted the pattern is becoming hard to ignore.

“We’ve spoken about it a number of times,” he said. “Every time it’s someone different. Internally we need to review and keep improving. It’s a problem. You play 11 v 11 in this league and it’s tough – 11 v 10 is even harder, no matter who you’re playing. It didn’t go our way today but we need to regroup and go again.” 

Arsenal had earlier taken a deserved 21st-minute lead when William Saliba powered home from close range after Gabriel nodded Bukayo Saka’s corner back across goal, a now trademark routine executed with ruthless precision.

Chelsea, however, were handed an unlikely equaliser when a wicked inswinging corner from James caused chaos and flew in off Arsenal defender Piero Hincapie. Outplayed for much of the half, they were suddenly level.

Arteta reacted to a subdued Leandro Trossard by introducing Martinelli, seeking more directness. 

The breakthrough came on 66 minutes and, inevitably, from another corner. Declan Rice whipped it in from the left; Robert Sanchez lost his footing, and Timber rose to head in.

Rice soon limped off with a muscle concern, joining a growing list of walking wounded that includes Raya, who required treatment late on after his decisive intervention.

Chelsea refused to fold. A curling Alejandro Garnacho cross almost looped in before Raya produced a stunning fingertip save. Moments later Delap thought he had snatched an equaliser after another Raya stop fell kindly, only for João Pedro to be ruled offside in the build-up.

“I had the perfect view and my heart nearly stopped,” Arteta said of the late double scare.

On a day when Arsenal supporters celebrated an early St Totteringham’s Day, their goalkeeper might equally have been the figure honoured. “We needed David to win us the game,” Arteta admitted.

Chelsea travel to Aston Villa on Wednesday searching for renewed discipline as much as points. Arsenal head to Brighton knowing the margins are fine but the momentum remains with them.

If the title race maintains this intensity, only the cold hearted will be calling it dull.