Arsenal would surely have taken a draw beforehand against a Chelsea team that have emerged as surprise title rivals in recent weeks – and especially when they realised they had to play without William Saliba, who injured himself in training on Saturday.
It was a different story when everything changed in the 38th minute, Chelsea reduced to 10 men after Moisés Caicedo’s X-rated challenge on Mikel Merino. It was one of those that made you wince upon each replay, the stand-in Arsenal striker fortunate to emerge unscathed.
Reece James' reaction
We’re disappointed to come away with only a point. We had more of the ball 11 v 11 and I think today was a big statement – even though we wanted to win, there’s loads of positives to take from the game.
There were seven or eight players on yellow cards so I thought there might be another red. It’s a London derby (smiles) – everyone wants to win this game. I haven’t seen the [Caicedo red card] yet.
I’m proud of the boys. The atmosphere was electric. We take a point and move forward.
In other news
What It All Means ™
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 13 | 18 | 30 |
| 2 | Man City | 13 | 15 | 25 |
| 3 | Chelsea | 13 | 12 | 24 |
| 4 | Aston Villa | 13 | 5 | 24 |
| 5 | Brighton | 13 | 5 | 22 |
Full time: Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal
That’s all she wrote. Before the game this would have been a bad result for Chelsea. Now it feels like an iffy one for Arsenal, who played against 10 men for an hour after Moises Caicedo was sent off.
Trevoh Chalobah headed Chelsea ahead, Mikel Merino equalised for Arsenal, who move five points clear at the top.
90+4 min Hincapie gets to the byline on the left and stands up a beautiful cross that is taken off Gyokeres’ head by his teammate Timber. That was a big chance, or would have been.
90+2 min Hincapie’s deep cross is headed down by Saka… who’s offside.
90 min There will be four minutes of added time.
88 min: Fine save by Sanchez! Merino’s shot from the edge of the area is superbly saved by Sanchez, who had to change direction very late in the day. The ball runs loose and Sanchez dives on it a split-second before Gyokeres whacks him in the hand and then the face. He is booked.
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87 min A quick throw from Sanchez released Pedro Neto, who runs 60 yards before curling wide from the edge of the area. Chelsea still fancy their chances of winning this.
85 min Fernandez takes a return pass from Garnacho and tries to dance through the Arsenal defence. He’s denied by a good challenge on the edge of the area but Chelsea win the ball back. Gusto then overhits his cross.
82 min You still wouldn’t know it’s 11 v 10. I can’t decide whether Chelsea have been brilliant, Arsenal rubbish, or both. What I do know is that everyone you know, someday, will die Reece James has been majestic in midfield.
81 min “‘From a neutral perspective’,” writes Nick, quoting something I wrote in the 73rd minute. “Really?”
Yep. I can happily confirm that I do not give a solitary one – about anything, never mind who wins this game. And if you think I’m an Arsenal fan, you can’t have seen my lamentable behaviour on 1 February 2005/
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79 min With the ball down the other end of the pitch, David Raya and Enzo Fernandez begin a Hegelian dialectic. No idea what it’s about but neither man looks full of the joys of human interaction.
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78 min If it stays like this Arsenal will be five points ahead of Manchester City and six clear of Chelsea and Aston Villa. A fine position to be in, for sure, but this feels like a game to win.
Saying which, as I type Delap smacks a fine shot from 22 yards that is saved to his left by the diving Raya.
77 min More of the same. Chelsea are doing a terrific job defensively, limiting Arsenal to very few openings, never mind chances.
73 min Apologies, we’re having a few technical problems. You haven’t missed much – Arsenal are huffing and puffing without creating any clear chances. But this, from a neutral perspective, reeks of a late, statement™ Arsenal winner.
Oh, Viktor Gyokeres came on for Eberechi Eze as well.
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66 min You wouldn’t really know it’s 11 v 10 from the balance of play – Chelsea are having plenty of the ball and certainly haven’t decided to play for a draw.
62 min If Arsenal win this game, and go on to win the league, the abundant noggin of Mikel Merino will have played a big part: he also headed the equaliser at Newcastle in a win that injected new life into Arsenal’s season.
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GOAL! Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal (Merino 59)
Makeshift striker my arse: Mikel Merino gives yet another demonstration of his finishing prowess, heading in emphatically from six yards after superb play by Bukayo Saka. He turned Cucurella and teased a beautiful cross to the far post, where Merino arrived decisively to score.
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57 min: Arsenal substitutions Noni Madueke and Martin Odegaard replace Martin Zubimendi and Gabriel Martinelli.
55 min: Chelsea substitution Liam Delap replaces Joao Pedro up front.
54 min The outstanding Reece James gets away from Lewis-Skelly, who bundles him over and is booked.
54 min Still plenty of time for Arsenal but Mikel Arteta must be perturbed by their lack of penetration so far. He has plenty of options on the bench, including Messrs Odegaard, Gyokeres and Jesus.
50 min Saka’s shot takes a deflection off Cucurella; Sanchez scrambles past his near post to save the corner.
GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Arsenal (Chalobah 48)
James lofts the corner towards the near post, where Trevoh Chalobah helps the ball on and into the far corner of the net. Ten-man Chelsea are ahead!
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47 min James flips the resulting free-kick to the far post, where Joao Pedro’s header is clawed round the post by Raya. No matter because…
46 min Ten seconds into the second half, Joao Pedro goes down holding his face after an aerial challenge with Hincapie.
Hincapie, who has been booked, tried to win the ball with his head and caught Joao Pedro on the side of the face. Joao Pedro isn’t happy.
46 min Chelsea get the second half under way.
Both teams have made a half-time substitution
Chelsea Alejandro Garnacho for Estevao
Arsenal Myles Lewis-Skelly for Riccardo Calafiori
“Is it me,” writes Kate, “or are those Chelsea puffer jackets giving strong tardigrade energy?”
I definitely didn’t have to google tardigrade. Nope.
Half-time reading
The last action of the half was Enzo Fernandez landing a hand on the chin of Mosquera as he tried to hold him off. VAR didn’t get involved this time; I’d like to see it again though.
Half time: Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal
A rancid first half at Stamford Bridge was symbolised by the nasty challenge on Mikel Merino for which Moises Caicedo was given a straight red card. Chelsea were the more dangerous team when it was 11 v 11 but now Arsenal have a great chance to go seven points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Fine save by Sanchez!
45+1 min Arsenal break dangerously through Martinelli, who plays a one-two with Rice and drives a low shot from 20 yards. Sanchez sees it late but gets down smartly to his right to make a terrific one-handed save.
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45+1 min There will be five minutes of additional filth.
45 min With Caicedo sent off, Chelsea have moved Fernandez a bit deeper in what is essentially a 4-4-1 formation.
44 min Chalobah has a burgeoning shiner, which he displays to the referee when he gets to his feet.
43 min “This,” says Justin Kavanagh, “is Sunday league stuff (with no discernible midfield), played on a manicured pitch with a professional ref, who is, so far, its most impressive participant.”
42 min A few Chelsea fans wanted a red card for Hincapie but it was reckless rather than malicious. While Chalobah receives treatment, Anthony Taylor has a long chat with the Chelsea captain Reece James and a few other players. So far he has handled the game really well in the circumstnaces.
41 min Chalobah is caught by a stray elbow from Hincapie, who is booked. This is a disgusting game of football, utterly vile.
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39 min Chelsea’s tackling machine has malfunctioned at a crucial moment in ah huge game. He can’t really have any complaints.
38 min: Caicedo is sent off!
He tried to nick the ball off Merino, missed and plunged his studs into Merino’s shin. The more you look at it, the worse it gets.
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36 min Caicedo has been booked by Anthony Taylor – but VAR have recommended a video review.
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35 min A very poor tackle from Caicedo on Merino is being checked by VAR for a potential red card.
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33 min “I’m not watching but I’ll take your word for it about the quality so far, Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “Are they playing with a pink ball?”
No that’s in the Ashes. Anyone know when that starts btw?
32 min Estevao leads a Chelsea break and plays the ball back to Enzo Fernandez, whose shot from 20 yards is straight at Raya. Nicely struck but too straight.
Chelsea have carried the greater threat so far.
30 min Chelsea have chance to change that when Joao Pedro nicks the ball off Hincapie on the edge of the D, but he delays and then overhits a pass to Enzo Fernandez.
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29 min This is rubbish. The only shot on target so far is that Saka shot in the 13th minute, and that would have been ruled out for offside had he scored.
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27 min James nicks the ball off Calafiori, who pulls him back and is booked.
26 min This is not a great advert for the Premier League. Yet.
22 min It’s still very scruffy. Arsenal are dominating possession but Chelsea have looked more threatening in transition.
Talking of which, Joao Pedro lobs a good pass to Enzo Fernandez, who is waiting for the ball to drop on the edge of the area when Timber makes an important challenge.
19 min Estevao tries to make amends with a curler from distance. Goalkick to Arsenal.
18 min: Chance for Chelsea! Estevao was the first clear chance, blootering into orbit from 12 yards when a low cross from Joao Pedro is only half cleared by Mosquera.
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16 min Estevao’s low ball into the box almost breaks for Neto, who is about to shoot from six yards when Rice stretches to make a terrific challenge.
13 min Rice’s long throw is half cleared to Eze on the edge of the area. He plays a good pass to Saka, whose right-foot drive is kicked away by Sanchez. Looks like Saka was offside so any goal wouldn’t have counted.
Chelsea break and Mosquera is booked for a foul on Joao Pedro.
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11 min In a shocking development, Marc Cucurella is booked for a foul on Bukayo Saka.
This game is muck, a kicking match with the odd bit of football.
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8 min Timber goes over after a challenge from Caicedo. The referee gives a throw-in to Chelsea, to the distaste of Mikel Arteta. It’s been a niggly start to the game.
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5 min Zubimendi is booked for a cynical foul on James.
5 min All a bit stop-start for now, with another stoppage when Rice is penalised for a foul on Caicedo.
Caicedo then shoves Merino (I think) out of his way off the ball.
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3 min Cucurella waves his hands angrily after being penalised for a robust challenge on Saka.
1 min And they’re off, Arsenal kicking from left to right as we watch.
A reminder of the teams before they take the field
Chelsea (4-1-2-3ish) Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo; James, Enzo; Estevao, Joao Pedro, Pedro Neto.
Subs: Jorgensen, Acheampong, Tosin, Badiashile, Andrey Santos, Palmer, Gittens, Garnacho, Delap.
Arsenal (4-1-2-3ish) Raya; Timber, Mosquera, Hincapie, Calafiori; Zubimendi; Eze, Rice; Saka, Merino, Martinelli.
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Lewis-Skelly, White, Odegaard, Norgaard, Nwaneri, Madueke, Gyokeres, Jesus.
Referee Anthony Taylor.
The updated Premier League table
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 12 | 18 | 29 |
| 2 | Man City | 13 | 15 | 25 |
| 3 | Aston Villa | 13 | 5 | 24 |
| 4 | Chelsea | 12 | 12 | 23 |
| 5 | Brighton | 13 | 5 | 22 |
| 6 | Sunderland | 13 | 4 | 22 |
| 7 | Man Utd | 13 | 1 | 21 |
| 8 | Liverpool | 13 | 0 | 21 |
| 9 | Crystal Palace | 13 | 6 | 20 |
| 10 | Brentford | 13 | 1 | 19 |
| 11 | AFC Bournemouth | 13 | -2 | 19 |
| 12 | Tottenham Hotspur | 13 | 5 | 18 |
| 13 | Newcastle | 13 | 1 | 18 |
| 14 | Everton | 13 | -3 | 18 |
| 15 | Fulham | 13 | -2 | 17 |
| 16 | Nottm Forest | 13 | -9 | 12 |
| 17 | West Ham | 13 | -12 | 11 |
| 18 | Leeds | 13 | -12 | 11 |
| 19 | Burnley | 13 | -12 | 10 |
| 20 | Wolverhampton | 13 | -21 | 2 |
Today’s Premier League results
Aston Villa 1-0 Wolves
Crystal Palace 1-2 Man Utd
Nottm Forest 0-2 Brighton
West Ham 0-2 Liverpool
Mikel Arteta is confident the best is to come from Declan Rice as Arsenal prepare for their top-of-the-table showdown at Chelsea.
The England midfielder was outstanding in Arsenal’s victories against Tottenham and Bayern Munich over the past week and will face the club where he spent seven years before being released aged 14. Arsenal lead second-placed Chelsea by six points and Arteta has not lost at Stamford Bridge in six visits as a manager.
Arteta signed Rice from West Ham in 2023 and said even he had been surprised by the 26-year-old’s progression since the £105m move. He was asked whether he thought Rice had reached his peak.
“Probably yes, a year or two ago, yes,” Arteta said. “But now being with him every single day and understanding and connecting with him in the way that I’ve done, we’re going to get more. Because he wants more and he’s going to get more. The team knows him better, his role is growing around the team, the impact that he has on the team is huge and we’ll find ways to make it even better.”
The worst way for Chelsea to respond to their demolition of Barcelona would be to believe the hype. The problem is that emotions in football swing from one extreme to another, as the people running things at Stamford Bridge have quickly come to appreciate.
They have faced plenty of ridicule for their alternative approach since buying the club from Roman Abramovich three years ago, so perhaps they are entitled to be a little sceptical now that Chelsea are being praised for their transfer strategy and talked up as potential title challengers before hosting Arsenal on Sunday.
Team news
Cole Palmer is on the bench for Chelsea, who make one change from the win over Barcelona: Joao Pedro replaces Alejandro Garnacho.
Arsenal’s William Saliba was injured in training and is replaced by Piero Hincapie. Gabriel Martinelli and Riccardo Calafiori come into the team for Leandro Trossard and Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Chelsea (4-1-2-3ish) Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo; James, Enzo; Estevao, Joao Pedro, Pedro Neto.
Subs: Jorgensen, Acheampong, Tosin, Badiashile, Andrey Santos, Palmer, Gittens, Garnacho, Delap.
Arsenal (4-1-2-3ish) Raya; Timber, Mosquera, Hincapie, Calafiori; Zubimendi; Eze, Rice; Saka, Merino, Martinelli.
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Lewis-Skelly, White, Odegaard, Norgaard, Nwaneri, Madueke, Gyokeres, Jesus.
Referee Anthony Taylor.
Updated
Preamble
Hello, good day and welcome to live, minute-by-minute coverage of Chelsea v Arsenal at Stamford Bridge. Big game, this. If Arsenal win, the title race will have the unsatisfactory* whiff of a done deal. Right now they are the best team in England, arguably Europe.
Not that Chelsea are far behind: they drilled Barcelona 3-0 on Tuesday – and that was without Cole Palmer, who will return in some capacity today. If all that wasn’t saliva-inducing enough, these clubs don’t love one another. It’s been a while since they put the needle on the record; given the stakes – low in the grand scheme, high for the end of November – today could be the day.
Kick off 4.30pm.
* To everyone but Arsenal fans
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 12 | 18 | 29 |
| 2 | Man City | 13 | 15 | 25 |
| 3 | Chelsea | 12 | 12 | 23 |
| 4 | Sunderland | 13 | 4 | 22 |
| 5 | Aston Villa | 13 | 4 | 22 |
