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Arsenal secured a hard-fought 1-1 draw against ten-man Chelsea in a fiercely contested London derby on Sunday, with Mikel Merino’s second-half header cancelling out Trevoh Chalobah’s opener.
Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo was sent off late in the first half for a crude foul on Merino, yet the Blues took the lead shortly after the interval through Chalobah’s header from a Reece James corner. Arsenal responded with Merino rising to meet Bukayo Saka’s cross, restoring parity in the 59th minute and ensuring the Premier League leaders avoided defeat.
The draw keeps Arsenal five points clear of second-placed Manchester City and six ahead of third-placed Chelsea, who were relieved to salvage a point despite the numerical disadvantage.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta praised his side’s resilience after a draining week that included victories over Tottenham and Bayern Munich. “Two teams that play with a lot of intensity and aggression, you could sense it in every tackle. We scored a brilliant goal and created multiple chances. It’s been a massive week emotionally and physically,” he said.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca acknowledged his team’s efforts under pressure. “We were a much better team than them 11 v 11, but with 10 players it is difficult. We dealt with it outstandingly,” he said.
The first half saw both sides battling fiercely, with Arsenal reshuffled due to William Saliba’s absence. Saka tested Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, while Enzo Fernandez had a shot blocked by David Raya. Caicedo’s foul on Merino led to his dismissal after a VAR review, the sixth red card Chelsea has received this season. The Blues also felt aggrieved after an elbow by Piero Hincapie on Chalobah went unpunished.
After falling behind, Arteta introduced Martin Odegaard and Noni Madueke, whose presence paid immediate dividends as Merino headed home Saka’s precise delivery. Despite further chances in a frantic finale, Arsenal could not find a winner, leaving the points shared.
Arsenal remain unbeaten in 17 matches across all competitions, winning 14, while Chelsea have gone seven games without defeat. Both sides enter the final weeks of the year as strong contenders in the Premier League and European campaigns.
