Chelsea held on for a 1-1 draw against Premier League leaders Arsenal despite Moises Caicedo's first-half red card in a fiery London derby at Stamford Bridge.
2025/2026 Premier League
1-1
Match Report
Arsenal went into Sunday's derby aiming to move seven points clear at the summit, but they had to settle for a share of the spoils despite playing the majority of the contest with a numerical advantage.
After a frantic opening 30 minutes in which Bukayo Saka tested Robert Sanchez and Enzo Fernandez looked dangerous at the other end, Caicedo saw red not long before half-time.
Caicedo snapped in on Mikel Merino, but his studs were up and his challenge was late. After a VAR review, referee Anthony Taylor upgraded his initial yellow card to a red.
Yet Chelsea started the second half brilliantly, with Trevoh Chalobah heading home from Reece James' excellent corner in the 48th minute.
Arsenal restored parity 11 minutes later, though, with Saka getting the better of Marc Cucurella before crossing in for Merino, who headed in from close range. Seven of the Spain international's 10 Premier League goals have now come with his head.
70% - Mikel Merino has scored his 10th Premier League goal, seven of which have been headed (70%). Among all non-defenders with 10+ goals in the competition's history, only James Scowcroft (71% - 10/14) has scored a higher ratio with his head. Bonce. pic.twitter.com/kaYg3664uE
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 30, 2025
Sanchez made a diving stop to deny Merino a second, and prevent Arsenal from taking all three points, in the 88th minute, as Chelsea held firm for a result that proves they are certainly able to compete with the title favourites.
Data Debrief: Chelsea show their grit
For only the second time since the start of the 2022-23 season, Arsenal started a Premier League game without either of Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba, and though David Raya was not tested early on, the Gunners' defence did seem shaky, with Fernandez and Estevao looking sharp for the hosts.
But Caicedo became the seventh Chelsea player to receive a red card against Arsenal in the Premier League, and the first since David Luiz in September 2017, and that made the Blues' task even harder.
Yet Chelsea, who have now drawn three straight home games against the Gunners, can take plenty of pride from their defensive work. Arsenal managed just eight shots, which was their fewest in a Premier League game since October 2024 at Bournemouth (six).
Indeed, the Gunners failed to win a Premier League game in which their opponents received a first-half red card for the first time since August 2010 against Liverpool, a 1-1 draw with Joe Cole sent off for the Reds.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
3' Saka thinks he's won a corner off Neto but the referee says no
5' Yellow Card! Reece James goes past Zubimendi, who brings him down and booked
11' Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella is booked for chopping down Bukayo Saka
12' Saka fires in an effort from 12 yards out, saved by the feet of Robert Sanchez
12' A third booking of the game already as Mosquera stops Pedro's counter-attack
15' Neto is denied a shooting chance by a sliding challenge from Rice
18' Mosquera doesn't clear Pedro's cross and Estevao's shot over the bar
27' James bursts past Calafiori and the Arsenal defender pulls him back and booked
29' Joao Pedro overhits a simple pass which costs the Blues a chance
31' Enzo's shot from outside the box following Estevao's cutback is straight at Raya
33' Marc Cucurella fouls Bukayo Saka but avoids a second booking
38' Red Card! Moisés Caicedo sent off as he catches Mikel Merino with a tackle
40' Piero Hincapie catches Trevoh Chalobah in the face and gets booked
43' Trevoh Chalobah shows the referee a lump under his eye
46' Martinelli hammers in a low shot from 20 yards which is saved
48' GOAL! Chalobah heads home from corner to open the scoring! Chelsea 1-0 Arsenal
48' A couple of crosses go astray & Saka holds off Cucurella well near his own goal
50' Mosquera goes down holding his face after Enzo Fernandez gave him a shove
54' Another Arsenal yellow card as Lewis-Skelly bundles over James to stop a counter
54' Chelsea send on Liam Delap for Joao Pedro up front
57' Madueke is booed on as he replaces Martinelli & Odegaard is on for Zubimendi
58' GOAL! Merino powers a close-range header from Saka's cross! Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal
62' Lovely run by Neto to carry the ball into the box where he's tackled by Hincapie
67' Match Event for Chelsea vs Arsenal
71' Bukayo Saka beats Marc Cucurella and shoots over but he was offside anyway
72' Arsenal send on striker Gyokeres, his return from injury, for Eberechi Eze
73' Match Event for Chelsea vs Arsenal
78' Liam Delap's shot from outside the box is saved
78' David Raya getting in arguments with Chelsea players
Line-ups
Chelsea XI: Cucurella, Trevoh Chalobah, Reece James, Robert Sánchez, Pedro Neto, Wesley Fofana, João Pedro, Enzo, Caicedo, Gusto, Estêvão
Subs: Adarabioyo, Badiashile, Cole Palmer, Jørgensen, Garnacho, Liam Delap, Gittens, Andrey Santos, Josh Acheampong
Arsenal XI: David Raya, Merino, Rice, Eberechi Eze, Martín Zubimendi, Martinelli, Saka, Timber, Calafiori, Hincapie, Cristhian Mosquera
Subs: Christian Nørgaard, Kepa, Ødegaard, Jesus, Viktor Gyökeres, Ben White, Madueke, Nwaneri, Lewis-Skelly