Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea: Jurrien Timber and William Saliba rating from corners as Pedro Neto despatched off for Chelsea

Arsenal reopened a five-point lead on the prime of the Premier League desk as their set-piece prowess helped them to a 2-1 victory over 10-man Chelsea on the Emirates Stadium.

Below strain to win following Manchester Metropolis’s victory over Leeds on Saturday, Arsenal scored their fifteenth and sixteenth nook targets of the season by William Saliba and Jurrien Timber to beat Liam Rosenior’s aspect for the third time in six weeks.

Chelsea scored from a nook of their very own in between these two targets when Piero Hincapie flicked a depraved Reece James supply into his personal internet in first-half stoppage time, however their hopes of preventing again for a second time have been hit by a crimson card to Pedro Neto.

The Chelsea winger was proven a second yellow card for a cynical foul on Gabriel Martinelli simply three minutes after being booked for dissent as he grew to become the seventh Chelsea participant to obtain a crimson card within the Premier League this season.

Whereas Robert Sanchez struggled in aim for Chelsea, showing to duck below Declan Rice’s cross for Timber’s aim, Arsenal have been indebted to David Raya for some very important saves, together with in stoppage time, when he brilliantly tipped a Alejandro Garnacho cross vast.

Raya additionally clawed a goalbound nook across the submit shortly earlier than Chelsea’s equaliser, though Chelsea have been aggrieved to not be awarded a penalty after that James supply appeared to strike the arm of Rice, who was grappling along with his marker.

Arsenal skilled some nervy moments within the closing levels because the 10-man guests pushed for an additional equaliser, however in the long run their one-goal benefit proved adequate, permitting them to maintain their noses in entrance of Manchester Metropolis within the title race

As Arsenal restore their five-point lead on the summit, having performed a sport greater than Metropolis, Chelsea are left three factors behind fifth-placed Liverpool within the race for Champions League qualification.

Arteta delights at ‘large win’

Arsenal supervisor Mikel Arteta to Sky Sports activities:

“Big win. I am very happy. We performed in an excellent way for big periods.

“The margin ought to have been greater at half-time. The second we conceded was painful, however it’s the high quality of Chelsea.

“After the red card we should have managed the situation better.

“The best way we’ve got reacted after that disappointing consequence towards Wolves has been prime.

“There are things we have learned about ourselves. The manner we have dealt with that is top. Let’s keep going.”

Rosenior: It is the story of our season

Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior to Sky Sports activities:

“It’s been the same story for the last three games. You have performances to get results but it’s the same story.

“We are together because what I never do, whether we win or lose games, is start pointing fingers at players.

“However it’s clear what we have to enhance. It isn’t our soccer or attacking play, we want to verify we’re ruthless in each bins.

“To concede two goals from corners and get another red card, that has been the story of our season.”

Evaluation: Arsenal’s corners are a game-breaking weapon

There was a palpable sense of anticipation contained in the Emirates Stadium when Timber gained Arsenal’s first nook towards Chelsea. Moments later, they have been forward. One nook, one aim. Their mastery of set-pieces continues to reward them.

Saliba’s opener, nodded house after Saka’s back-post supply had been headed throughout aim by his centre-back associate Gabriel, was their fifteenth nook aim of the season and their sixteenth adopted when Timber pressured house Rice’s centre.

“The first goal is top,” conceded Rosenior to Sky Sports activities afterwards. He mentioned Chelsea had spent additional time on set-piece preparation within the lead-up to the sport however they don’t seem to be the primary aspect to be undone by Arsenal’s corners and they won’t be the final.

Arteta was desirous to level out that almost all of Arsenal’s targets have come from different sources these days. All 4 towards Spurs have been scored from open play. However their set-pieces, and particularly their corners, proceed to be a game-breaking weapon.

Saliba’s header was Arsenal’s ninth opening aim from a nook within the Premier League this season. Timber’s was their ninth match-winning aim from a nook. The set-piece emphasis just isn’t for everybody however there isn’t any doubting its worth to Arsenal in marginal video games.

Their Premier League rivals are nonetheless struggling to search out options.

Arsenal’s lethal corners in stats

Arsenal’s whole of 16 targets from corners within the Premier League this season is the joint-most by any aspect in a single marketing campaign, together with Oldham in 1992/93, West Brom in 2016/17, and the Gunners themselves in 2023/24.
This was the ninth time within the Premier League this season that Arsenal have scored a match-winning aim from a nook, now the outright most by a staff in a single marketing campaign (overtaking Manchester United’s eight in 2012/13).
Arsenal have gone 1-0 up from a nook on 9 events within the Premier League this season, the joint-most by a staff in a single marketing campaign, together with Southampton in 1994/95.
Gabriel Magalhaes has been instantly concerned in 25 targets within the Premier League (20 targets, 5 assists), now the outright most by an Arsenal centre-back within the competitors, overtaking Laurent Koscielny, on 24.