In a bruising Stamford Bridge encounter, 10-man Chelsea held Premier League leaders Arsenal to a 1-1 draw. The match was defined by relentless intensity and physical confrontations, culminating in Moises Caicedo receiving a red card late in the first half for a nasty foul on Merino.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Chelsea surprisingly took the lead shortly after the break when Trevoh Chalobah headed in a Reece James corner. However, Arsenal responded quickly. Bukayo Saka’s brilliant run set up Merino, playing as a makeshift striker, to head home the equalizer. Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez made crucial saves late on to deny Saka and Merino, preserving a hard-fought point for the Blues.
The result keeps Arsenal five points clear of Manchester City and six ahead of Chelsea. While Mikel Arteta’s side missed an opportunity to extend their title advantage, Enzo Maresca’s combative team proved their resilience, suggesting they remain serious title contenders.