Arsenal vs Chelsea; Premier League
Arsenal vs Chelsea. Premier League.
Emirates StadiumAttendance60,296.
Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea: Jurrien Timber and William Saliba score from corners as Pedro Neto sent off for Chelsea
Report and free highlights as Jurrien Timber and William Saliba secure a 2-1 win for Arsenal; Chelsea received their seventh red card of the season in the Premier League when Pedro Neto was sent off; Gunners reopen their five-point lead over Man City having played a game more
Sunday 1 March 2026 18:49, UK
Arsenal reopened a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League table as their set-piece prowess helped them to a 2-1 victory over 10-man Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium.
With the Gunners under pressure to win following Manchester City's victory over Leeds on Saturday, William Saliba and Jurrien Timber forced home their 15th and 16th goals of the season from corners to secure a third straight win over Liam Rosenior's side.
Chelsea scored from a corner of their own in between those two goals when Piero Hincapie flicked a wicked delivery from Reece James into his own net in first-half stoppage time, but their hopes of fighting back for a second time were hit by a red card to Pedro Neto.
The Chelsea winger was shown a second yellow card for a cynical foul on Gabriel Martinelli just three minutes after being booked for dissent as he became the seventh Chelsea player to receive a red card in the Premier League this season.
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While Robert Sanchez struggled in goal for Chelsea, appearing to duck under Declan Rice's cross for Timber's goal, Arsenal were indebted to David Raya for some vital saves, including in stoppage time, when he tipped a Alejandro Garnacho cross-shot wide.
Raya also clawed a goalbound corner around the post shortly before Chelsea's equaliser, although Chelsea were aggrieved not to be awarded a penalty after that James delivery appeared to strike the arm of Rice, who had his arms around his marker.
Arsenal survived some nervy moments in the closing stages as the 10-man visitors pushed for another equaliser but in the end their one-goal advantage proved sufficient, allowing them to keep their noses in front of Manchester City in the title race
As they restore their five-point lead at the summit, having played a game more than second-placed Manchester City, Chelsea are left three points behind fifth-placed Liverpool in the race for Champions League qualification.
More to follow...
