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Arsenal remain clear at the top. Chelsea captain Reece James said his side delivered a “statement”, but Mikel Arteta felt the Gunners “should have won”. Here’s why both sides can be broadly happy with Sunday’s 1-1 draw…
A positive point for Arsenal – even if two dropped in circumstances
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Watch Mikel Merino head Arsenal level
There will be frustration from Arsenal that they couldn’t capitalise on Moises Caicedo’s red card after 38 minutes, but the Gunners were far from their best at Stamford Bridge.
Arsenal, who were also missing both first-choice centre-backs in William Saliba and Gabriel, struggled for attacking rhythm throughout the game. Chelsea have also been in fine form themselves and even with 10 men they caused Arsenal plenty of problems. To keep the gap to the Blues to six points cannot be a bad thing for Arsenal.
Once the dust settles, they will surely look back on this as a positive point. It’s a point gained on the performance but two points dropped in the circumstances of the game.
It also comes at the end of a tough week of fixtures for Mikel Arteta’s side, where they produced big victories over north London rivals Spurs and Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
They didn’t manage to find a winner to create a perfect week, but to stay unbeaten in three tough games has to be a positive for the Gunners, who extend their unbeaten run in all competitions to 17 games.
Finally, in terms of the Premier League, Stamford Bridge is another difficult away trip ticked off for the Gunners. They have now been to Old Trafford, Anfield, St James’ Park and Stamford Bridge, and to still hold a five-point advantage at the top of the Premier League, Arteta would have taken that.
Oliver Yew
Chelsea shed soft underbelly to show true mettle
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Watch Moises Caicedo see red for a high challenge on Mikel Merino before half-time
This week, and this result especially, feels the culmination of something Enzo Maresca has been trying to build for some time. Chelsea have their bite back. Too much, in one case.
The past five days have been a tale of two red cards. Whereas Barcelona capitulated following Ronald Araujo’s first-half dismissal at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night, Chelsea were galvinised by Moises Caicedo’s sending off against Arsenal, becoming just the second team from 14 to deny them victory.
It would have been easy to use the red card as an excuse. Striking first less than three minutes after half-time is quite the opposite.
Throughout the early Todd Boehly era, questions have been raised about Chelsea’s mentality and a weak dressing room, not aided by the logistics of a ballooning squad.
Even under the gradual rebuilding of Mauricio Pochettino, their soft underbelly remained their biggest Achilles’ heel. It has dogged Maresca at times too.
But 18 months into his reign, this performance, as much as any other, will be used as a benchmark. A mentality blueprint.
Chelsea rolled up their sleeves, did the dirty stuff, the dark arts, got stuck in and showed Arsenal they were here for a battle even at 10 vs 11. For the last hour especially, they displayed an edge even beyond their Club World Cup win and return to the Champions League last season.
Those drew on Maresca’s tactical nous; this added the fight.
Ron Walker
