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.
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
William Saliba nodded in Gabriel’s header across goal for the opener
As they restore their five-point lead at the summit, having played a game more than City, Chelsea are left three points behind fifth-placed Liverpool in the race for Champions League qualification.
Arsenal’s deadly corners in stats
- Arsenal’s total of 16 goals from corners in the Premier League this season is the joint-most by any side in a single campaign, along with Oldham in 1992/93, West Brom in 2016/17, and the Gunners themselves in 2023/24.
- This was the ninth time in the Premier League this season that Arsenal have scored a match-winning goal from a corner, now the outright most by a team in a single campaign (overtaking Manchester United’s eight in 2012/13).
- Arsenal have gone 1-0 up from a corner on nine occasions in the Premier League this season, the joint-most by a team in a single campaign, along with Southampton in 1994/95.
- Gabriel Magalhaes has been directly involved in 25 goals in the Premier League (20 goals, five assists), now the outright most by an Arsenal centre-back in the competition, overtaking Laurent Koscielny, on 24.
Rosenior: It’s the story of our season
Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior to Sky Sports:
“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.
“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.”
WATCH: The key moments
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Chelsea equalised through Piero Hincapie’s own goal from a corner
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Arsenal opened the scoring when William Saliba scored from a corner
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Jurrien Timber scored the decisive goal from another corner
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Pedro Neto was sent off for two yellow cards in three minutes
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David Raya pulls off magnificent 90+2′ save to maintain Arsenal’s lead against Chelsea
