Arsenal have restored their five-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League with a hard-fought victory against Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium
Gabriel Magalhaes
Arsenal now appear to have the mentality to seal the Premier League title(Image: Getty Images)
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These are the sort of games that win you titles. The scrappy, hard-fought, ugly victories which are torturous but say a lot about mentality.
Three set-piece goals, one red card for Chelsea’s Pedro Neto and three precious points for Arsenal in their pursuit of the title. Incredibly, Neto’s red was Chelsea’s ninth in all competitions this season and going down to ten men cost them once again. But they still pushed Arsenal all the way.
By the final whistle, Arsenal’s players looked so drained they could barely lift their arms to celebrate with the relieved crowd in the Emirates. There has been much made about the nerves in the Emirates this season but the fans were sensational this time as they got behind the team - and stuck with them right until the end.
And boy, did they need them. Make no mistake, this game was a war of attrition. There was not much entertainment or flair. Just grit and bloody mindedness.
Arsenal have now got nine games left, they probably only need six more wins and, after Manchester City put the pressure on by winning at Leeds to cut the gap to two points, this was some response. Two defenders, William Saliba and Jurrien Timber, were on target for Arsenal from two corners - well, what else do you expect - and it needed them to step up.
Others did, too. David Raya made two incredible saves. Piero Hincapie was terrific even though he headed into his own net under pressure from a Chelsea corner as Liam Rosenior’s men played Arsenal at their own game.
Declan Rice was a prime example because, late on, he chased back to stop a Chelsea break, he was so drained that he put a simple back pass horribly into touch for another corner. And he has been Arsenal’s Duracell bunny this season.
Mikel Arteta
Mikel Arteta was delighted with the result(Image: Getty Images)
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If Arsenal do go on to clinch the title, this will be remembered as key. And bizarrely, it probably shows that having a free week - as Arsenal did - is not always a good thing. Maybe they relaxed too much.
They do have an incredible record over Chelsea - they have not lost to their London rivals since August 2021 - and that probably gave them some confidence.
Chelsea did not start well and keeper Robert Sanchez was at the heart of that. He looked edgy and made his own defence look nervous.
Arsenal were ahead after 21 minutes. Bukayo Saka’s deep corner went all the way to Gabriel at the back post, the Arsenal defender out jumped Reece James, William Saliba then headed towards goal and it deflected in off Mamadou Sarr.
David Raya
David Raya made a host of crucial saves(Image: Getty Images)
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But Arsenal did not put their foot on the gas. Viktor Gyokeres and Eberechi Eze - who starred last week at Tottenham - struggled to have the same impact. Arsenal had possession - but just did not shoot or create enough.
Arsenal also looked shaky at corners themselves. James whips in a brilliant corner. Arsenal got away with one when the ball clearly hit Rice’s arm and Raya made a super save. It should have been a penalty - but somehow wasn’t.
The reprieve was short-lived. James put another corner in the box, Hincapie mistimed his jump and then his back header went into his own net in first half injury time.
Arsenal were living on their nerves. Raya made a super save from Joao Pedro’s point blank header. Then Arsenal got their second after 64 minutes.
Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice
Arsenal have nine games left to navigate(Image: Getty Images)
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Rice put over a corner, Timber was allowed to head in amid the jostling. That was their 31st set-piece goal this season. Neto got a yellow for his complaints and then got a second four minutes later for a blatant trip on Gabriel Martinelli.
That should have been that. But this is Arsenal. Raya made a fabulous save to deny Alejandro Garnacho’s cross which was curling into the far corner.
Chelsea boss Rosenior was celebrating in injury time when substitute Liam Delap put the ball in the net only for VAR to intervene as it was clearly offside.
One more torturous moment of drama - but this time Arsenal survived.
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