Key stats
- Arsenal's 16 goals from corners in the Premier League this season is the joint-most by any side in a single campaign, alongside Oldham in 1992/93, West Brom in 2016/17, and the Gunners themselves in 2023/24.
- Chelsea have had seven players sent off in the Premier League this season, more than any other team in the competition.
- Only Sunderland in 2009/10 (eight) and Leicester City in 1994/95 (eight) have had more different players receive a red card in a Premier League season than Chelsea's seven in 2025/26.
Highlights
Analysis
Arsenal enjoyed large spells in terms of momentum en route to victory against Chelsea.
Match report
A confidence-boosting 4-1 win against rivals Tottenham was the perfect tonic for Arsenal, whose recent dropped points had seen Manchester City close in on the league leaders.
Nonetheless, it was the visitors who created the first genuine chance of the game, with Mamadou Sarr – making his first PL start for Chelsea – finding himself in a promising position from a set-piece delivery, only to miscue off-target.
At the other end, Robert Sánchez wasn’t looking entirely comfortable, and he was almost caught out in spectacular fashion as Eberechi Eze’s lofted attempt from near the halfway line dropped marginally wide.
Despite this, Liam Rosenior would have been largely content with the start his side had made, but that good work was undone when Gabriel Magalhães won a header at the back post to redirect the ball across goal, where William Saliba nodded home.
Undeterred, Chelsea came agonisingly close to levelling before HT when David Raya clawed away what would have been a Declan Rice OG, but just moments later, the resulting corner found its way into the back of the net via Piero Hincapié, who inadvertently helped on Reece James’ cross over the line.
Aiming to make it 19 wins in their last 26 PL London derbies (D6, L1), the onus was on the hosts to retake the lead as the second half got underway.
However, it was Chelsea who were threatening to go ahead as Enzo Fernández tested Raya with a drilled strike before João Pedro kept the goalkeeper alert with a close-range header.
Perhaps struggling to wrestle back their advantage, Arsenal benefited from yet another corner – a league-high 16th – to restore their lead, with Jurriën Timber meeting Declan Rice’s delivery to beat Sánchez.
Just four minutes later, the Blues were in an uncomfortably familiar situation as they were once again reduced to 10 men, adding to the worst disciplinary record in the PL as Pedro Neto was dismissed for a second yellow card, taking out Gabriel Martinelli on the break.
That proved to be the nail in the coffin for Chelsea, whose depleted side couldn’t muster another equaliser, seeing Raya palm away an Alejandro Garnacho cross-shot and Liam Delap have a goal ruled out for offside in the closing stages.
Arsenal are now unbeaten in six league games (W4, D2), five points clear of Man City, who have a game in hand in an increasingly engrossing title battle.
As for Chelsea, a valuable point in the race for UEFA Champions League qualification slips through their fingers, ending Rosenior’s unbeaten league start after seven games (W4, D2).
Flashscore Man of the Match: Reece James (Chelsea)
Post-match comments
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to Sky Sports:
"Big win. I am very happy. We performed in an excellent way for big periods.
"The margin should have been bigger at half-time. The moment we conceded was painful, but it is the quality of Chelsea.
"After the red card, we should have managed the situation better."
Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior to Sky Sports:
"Its been the same story for the last three games. You have performances to get results and it is the same story. In the ascendancy for all three games.
"We are together because what I never do whether we win or lose games is start pointing fingers at players. But it is clear what we need to improve. It is not our football or attacking play, we need to make sure we are ruthless in both boxes.
"To concede two goals from corners and get another red card, that has been the story of our season. It has been the story of the last few games."