Home SPORTS Chelsea (10) 1-1 Arsenal: Points Shared in Feisty London Derby

Chelsea (10) 1-1 Arsenal: Points Shared in Feisty London Derby

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Chelsea Vs Arsenal
10-Man Chelsea Hold Arsenal to 1-1 Draw

A Premier League classic was in prospect as leaders Arsenal travelled across the capital to take on third-placed Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.


Mikel Merino's late header secured a point for Arsenal against 10-man Chelsea in a feisty London derby...




The match lived up to its billing, with both teams showing plenty of fire and passion. Despite being reduced to 10 men, Chelsea held their own and managed to share the points with Arsenal, the game ending in a tense 0-0 draw.


Arsenal's Unbeaten Streak Against Chelsea

Arsenal had been unbeaten against Chelsea since 2021, with a impressive record of not losing to them in seven matches dating back to August 2021. During this period, the North Londoners had outscored their West London rivals, netting 17 goals and conceding just six.




Chelsea's Recent Form

The Blues, meanwhile, were unbeaten in three league games themselves, and had also won a number of plaudits for the way in which they'd dismantled European giants Barcelona in their midweek Champions League clash.



Chelsea's Strong Home Record

Chelsea had a strong home record, collecting 10 points from a possible 18 at Stamford Bridge this season. They had won five and lost just one of their six home games in 2025/26, making them a tough opponent for Arsenal.


Arsenal's Impressive Defensive Record

Arsenal, on the other hand, had an impressive defensive record, conceding just six times in 12 English top-flight games this season, making them the team with the most miserly defense in the league. Their only loss of the season came at Anfield against Liverpool.



Arsenal's Defensive Duo Miss Derby

Arsenal's strong defense was missing key players William Saliba and Gabriel, marking only the second time in their last 162 collective league matches that they've been absent together.


Early Drama Unfolds 

The visitors showed their intent from the start, with Martin Zubimendi receiving a fifth-minute yellow card, the earliest shown to an Arsenal player in a Premier League game since Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain against Middlesbrough in April 2017.



Yellow Cards Fly Thick and Fast

Chelsea's Marc Cucurella would also soon find himself in the referee's book, the fourth time in his last five appearances against the Gunners that he's done so.


It would take until the 12th minute for either side to have a shot on target, Bukayo Saka's effort the only time in the game he managed to work Robert Sanchez.


Yellow cards were brandished like confetti, with another one given to Cristhian Mosquera, making it the earliest in a Premier League fixture in 2025 that three cards have been dished out.


Chelsea Take Control

Chelsea's players took the game by the scruff of the neck, with Estevao having two of three Blues attempts in a three-minute window, showing their intent to get back into the game.


The Brazilian, an undoubted star of the show against Barcelona, was making his fifth Premier League start for the club. At 18 years and 220 days old, he became the second-youngest player to do so after Jody Morris (18y 115d).






The hosts' dominance was evidenced by the fact that Gabriel Martinelli, so often a decent attacking outlet for the Gunners, had touched the ball just six times in the opening half hour.



Red Card for Caicedo

Chelsea were reduced to 10 men when Moises Caicedo went over the top of the ball and his studs connected with Mikel Merino, earning him a red card. The Ecuadorian, who had only made a single interception and touched the ball 22 times, could have no complaints.


Chelsea's Disciplinary Concerns

A fourth red card for Chelsea in their 13 league games this season is a concern for Enzo Maresca, highlighting the team's disciplinary issues. This is only one less than the five red cards given against them in the entire 2015/16 campaign, something the manager may need to address moving forward.


The Italian may well point to his side harnessing their physicality in the right manner, given the 42 one-on-one duels that Malo Gusto, Enzo Fernandez and Reece James alone attempted, winning the majority of them.


Right on half-time, Martinelli finally got a goal-bound shot away, but it was expertly palmed away by Robert Sanchez, who had set himself to dive to the opposite side but somehow managed to get a hand on the effort. For a keeper that's been roundly criticised of late, it was one of three saves, equalling David Raya at the opposite end.


Alejandro Garnacho joined the fray for the second 45, and in so doing became the youngest South American player to reach 100 Premier League appearances (21y 152d).




Martinelli's effort was one of just two Arsenal shots in the first half; their fewest in the opening 45 minutes of a Premier League game since October 2023, also against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.


Alejandro Garnacho's contribution was underwilling, with just one touch in the Arsenal box, despite his perfect pass accuracy from 10 attempts. Trevoh Chalobah scored Chelsea's goal just two minutes into the second half, rising highest to flick a corner into the net and sending Stamford Bridge into ecstasy.


Trevoh Chalobah had an excellent game, winning most of his duels, gaining possession four times, clearing his lines six times, and winning all his tackles. Arsenal's midfielders, Declan Rice, Zubimendi, and Eberechi Eze, controlled the game's tempo with impressive passing accuracy, registering 93.1%, 88.5%, and 88.9% respectively.


Mikel Merino scored a header against Chelsea, equalizing for Arsenal in the 59th minute. He headed home Bukayo Saka's pinpoint cross, his second successive goal against Chelsea with a header. This was one of Merino's four touches in the Chelsea box, making him the joint second-highest player with touches in the box that day.




Merino's goal showcased his aerial prowess, with seven of his 10 Premier League goals coming from headers. He's nearing a unique record, with only one non-defender in Premier League history having a better headed-goal ratio. Arsenal fans are praising Merino's form, calling him one of the Premier League's best-performing auxiliary strikers.


Only James Scowcroft (71% - 10/14) has a higher ratio of headed goals among non-defenders with 10+ goals in the Premier League. Chelsea's second-half surge saw Liam Delap, Pedro Neto, and Wesley Fofana all go close, testing Arsenal's defense. Despite dominating possession, Arsenal struggled to break through Chelsea's defense in the second half.


Reece James had a standout performance, winning nine duels, the most in the match, which likely contributed to Arsenal's lowest shot count in a Premier League game since September 2024 against Manchester City. The 1-1 draw will likely be seen as a point gained for both teams rather than two dropped, given the intense London derby atmosphere.


The match was a physical and intense encounter, with Chelsea's defensive efforts, led by James, limiting Arsenal's attacking opportunities. Mikel Merino's equalizer for Arsenal was a rare highlight in a game where both teams showed aggression and intensity.



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