Chelsea held league leaders Arsenal to a 1-1 draw in a heated top-of-the-table encounter at Stamford Bridge. The Blues were reduced to ten men in the first half when Moises Caicedo was sent off for a dangerous challenge on Mikel Merino.
Referee Anthony Taylor was busy with his cards on a feisty afternoon, but the first half was relatively low on clear goalscoring opportunities. Robert Sanchez made smart saves to deny Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli before the break.
Chelsea took the lead on 48 minutes when Trevoh Chalobah flicked home Reece James' corner at the near post. However, Arsenal equalised just before the hour as Merino rose highest at the far post to head in from a delicate Saka cross.
Sanchez came to Chelsea's rescue late on, denying Martin Odegaard's low drive. The home side were incensed by a challenge from returning striker Viktor Gyokeres on Sanchez as he went for the rebound. The result leaves Chelsea third in the table, one point behind Manchester City and six adrift of Arsenal.
