10-man Chelsea frustrate Arsenal in bruising, breathless draw

Mikel Merino rescued Arsenal as the Premier League leaders battled to a 1-1 draw against 10-man Chelsea in a bad-tempered London derby on Sunday.

Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo was sent off for a crude foul on Merino late in the first half at Stamford Bridge.

Despite Caicedo's dismissal, Trevoh Chalobah headed Chelsea into a second half lead, but Merino's leveller ensured Arsenal emerged unscathed from a bruising encounter between the title rivals.

Arsenal are five points clear of second-placed Manchester City, who beat Newcastle on Saturday, and sit six points above third-placed Chelsea.

When the dust had settled on a contest of relentless intensity, Arsenal were left to rue a missed opportunity to extend their lead over Chelsea in the title race, while the Blues were relieved to avoid a damaging defeat.

"I think we showed we are heading in the right direction. We were a much better team than them 11 v 11 but with 10 players, it is difficult. But we dealt with it outstandingly," Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca said.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta added: "Two teams that play with a lot of intensity and aggression, you could sense it in every tackle.

"We scored a brilliant goal. We had two or three big chances. It's been a massive week emotionally and physically."

Arsenal remain the favourites to win their first Premier League crown since 2004, but Chelsea's combative display suggested that they could emerge as the biggest threat to the Gunners' title aspirations.

Arsenal are unbeaten in 17 games in all competitions, winning 14 of those matches, while Chelsea have gone seven matches without losing in all competitions.

Chelsea swept to a 3-0 win over Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday, while Arsenal enjoyed a 3-1 victory over Bayern Munich 24 hours later.

The positivity from those results was quickly forgotten as a bitter battle broke out at the Bridge.

Maresca had played down his young side's title hopes, but they went toe-to-toe with Arsenal, who were without injured centre-back William Saliba.

War of attrition

A thunderous first half included a rash of bookings as both teams tried to impose themselves.

Bukayo Saka's stinging strike was saved by Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez at his near post.

Enzo Fernandez tested Arsenal keeper David Raya from the edge of the area as Chelsea began to exert pressure on the visitors' reshuffled defence.

The war of attrition turned ugly in the 38th minute when Caicedo caught Merino on the ankle with a nasty foul that was upgraded from a booking to a dismissal after a VAR review.

It was the Blues' sixth red card in all competitions this season.

The Ecuador midfielder's premature exit was followed by a dangerous Piero Hincapie elbow on Chalobah, provoking Chelsea cries for a red card that went unheeded.

Gabriel Martinelli nearly added to Chelsea's angst on the stroke of half-time with a fierce blast that forced a fine save from Sanchez.

Arsenal arrived as the best set-piece team in the league with 10 goals in 12 matches.

But Chelsea ranked second with eight and Chalobah grabbed their ninth in the 48th minute.

It was a goal straight from the Arsenal playbook as James curled a corner to the near post and Chalobah rose highest inside the six-yard box to glance his header into the far corner.

Arteta responded by sending on Martin Odegaard and Noni Madueke, who was jeered and barraged with chants of "Chelsea reject" on his return to his former club.

The Arsenal changes reaped an instant reward as Merino snatched the 59th minute equaliser.

Saka danced past Marc Cucurella with a mesmerising run and cross, picking out Merino for a powerful close-range header that flashed past Sanchez.

It was Merino's fourth goal this season as Arteta once again used the Spain midfielder as a makeshift striker.

A frantic finale featured Sanchez making superb stops to deny Saka and Merino, but Arsenal could not land the knockout blow.