Chelsea hold Arsenal despite going down to ten men

Chelsea showed remarkable resilience at Stamford Bridge, earning a hard-fought draw against Arsenal despite playing with ten men for more than half the match. Moisés Caicedo was sent off in the 38th minute, but Enzo Maresca’s side refused to collapse, while Mikel Arteta’s league leaders pushed to avoid an upset.
Early in the second half, the Blues stunned the visitors. From a well-delivered corner, Trevoh Chalobah rose highest and steered a precise header into the net to make it 1–0. But the advantage didn’t last long: just ten minutes later, Bukayo Saka burst down the right and delivered a pinpoint cross, allowing Mikel Merino to guide a powerful header past the goalkeeper for the equaliser.
The match finished 1–1, with no further breakthroughs. Arsenal remain top of the Premier League, holding a five-point cushion over Manchester City, while Chelsea move level with Aston Villa as they share third place in the table.
2025-26, England - Premier League
Chelsea - Arsenal 1:1 (0:0)
Goals: Chalobah, 48 (1:0); Merino, 59 (1:1)
Chelsea: Sanchez Ro.; Chalobah; James R.; Gusto; Fofana W.; Cucurella; Fernandez E.; Caicedo M. (till 38); Estêvão (Garnacho, 46); Pedro Neto; João Pedro (Delap, 55)
Substitution: Garnacho (from 46); Delap (from 55)
Bench: Jörgensen F.; Adarabioyo; Badiashile B.; Acheampong J. K.; Palmer Co.; Andrey Santos; Bynoe-Gittens
Yellow Cards: Cucurella 11
Red cards: Caicedo M. 38'
Arsenal: Raya; Mosquera Cr.; Hincapie; Timber J.; Calafiori (Lewis-Skelly, 46); Zubimendi (Odegaard, 57); Saka B.; Eze (Gyökeres, 72); Merino; Rice; Martinelli (Madueke, 57)
Substitution: Lewis-Skelly (from 46); Odegaard (from 57); Madueke (from 57); Gyökeres (from 72)
Bench: Arrizabalaga; White B.; Nørgaard; Nwaneri; Gabriel Jesus
Yellow Cards: Zubimendi 5; Mosquera Cr. 13; Calafiori 27; Hincapie 41; Lewis-Skelly 54; Gyökeres 88
