Diehard Arsenal Battle Hard to Rescue Point From Resilient 10-Man Chelsea

Arsenal were forced to dig deep on Sunday as Mikel Merino’s late strike earned the Premier League leaders a hard-fought 1-1 draw against a determined 10-man Chelsea side at Stamford Bridge.

The match, billed as a heavyweight clash in the title race, lived up to expectations with intensity, drama, and contentious moments. Chelsea were reduced to 10 men in the 38th minute after Moisés Caicedo was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Merino, catching the Spanish midfielder on the ankle.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Chelsea showed remarkable resilience and took the lead shortly after the restart.

In the 48th minute, Trevoh Chalobah rose highest to meet Reece James’ well-delivered corner, nodding the ball beyond the Arsenal goalkeeper to send the home crowd into a frenzy.

Arsenal dominated possession thereafter but struggled to break down Chelsea’s disciplined defensive structure.

Their persistence finally paid off in the closing stages when Merino, who had been at the centre of the first-half drama, fired home the equaliser to salvage a crucial point for Mikel Arteta’s men.

The draw keeps Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table, though the dropped points tighten the race at the summit. Chelsea, meanwhile, will take pride in their spirited display, especially after being reduced to 10 men for more than 50 minutes.

Both sides now shift focus to their midweek fixtures as the title and top-four battles continue to intensify.