Arsenal leaned once again on their formidable set-piece armoury to grind out a 2-1 win over 10-man Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium, restoring their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League. William Saliba and Jurrien Timber both scored from corners, while Chelsea’s equaliser also came via a dead ball as Piero Hincapie flicked Reece James’ delivery into his own net, before Pedro Neto’s dismissal left the visitors chasing the game with a man down.
Under intense pressure after Manchester City had trimmed their advantage to two points by beating Leeds on Saturday, Mikel Arteta’s side did not find the free-flowing form that demolished Tottenham a week earlier. Instead they scraped over the line, surviving a furious late Chelsea rally, a spectacular David Raya save from Alejandro Garnacho and a disallowed Liam Delap goal, to ensure the champions-elect kept control of the title race. Chelsea, meanwhile, departed north London with nothing to show for a bold second-half display that keeps them three points behind fifth-placed Liverpool in the battle for Champions League qualification.
Corners carve open a tight first half
For 20 cagey minutes there was little sign that this derby would turn into a masterclass – and occasionally a cautionary tale – in set-piece execution. Arsenal, feeling the weight of City’s win at Elland Road, probed without incision until Bukayo Saka lined up an inswinging corner from the right in the 21st minute. Gabriel Magalhaes attacked it with a monstrous leap, towering above Joao Pedro and Reece James to head the ball back across the six-yard box.