Arsenal continued their good run as they strengthened their grip on the Premier League title race after a dramatic 2–1 victory over Chelsea. After a sensational stoppage time save from David Raya, manager Mikel Arteta admitted his “heart almost stopped”.
The tense London derby was played in the closing stages of a fiercely competitive Premier League season. This victory has highlighted Arsenal's growing reputation as the division’s most dangerous set-piece team.
Set-piece mastery proves decisive again
The contest hinged on dead-ball situations. Arsenal struck first thanks to a well-rehearsed corner routine by William Saliba as he nodded home after a flicked header at the near post.
Chelsea briefly found a way back when Piero Hincapié accidentally diverted the ball into his own net and this cancelled out Arsenal’s early advantage. However, the hosts restored control in the second half when Jurriën Timber powered in a decisive header from a delivery by Declan Rice.
It was another reminder of how deadly Arsenal have become from corners. The club have now scored 16 league goals from corner routines this season. This is more than any other team and they have produced nine match-winning goals directly from corners.
Chelsea indiscipline turns the tide
Things took a further downturn for Chelsea in the 70th minute when Pedro Neto was given his marching orders after making a reckless tackle and receiving a second yellow card for dissent.
The London club has accumulated seven red cards this season in the league and nine overall, which is a worrying sign regarding discipline and control during critical situations.
Raya's save and Arteta's comments
Arsenal, despite being up a man, struggled to cope with the pressure from the opposition towards the end of the game. In the stoppage time, Alejandro Garnacho unleashed a fierce shot which seemed to be heading into the bottom corner.
Raya made an incredible save by stretching his entire frame to save the ball from going into the net and securing all three points for his team. Arteta hailed his goalkeeper's mentality, calling him one of the leaders of the team.
The Arsenal manager admitted that his team should have been more careful towards the end of the game and stated that the margin between the top teams is very small and that concentration is key as the season reaches its defining stage.
Are Arsenal too dependent on corners?
Former players were split over the Gunners’ style. Chris Sutton went so far as to call Arsenal a potential “ugly” title-winning side should they go on to win the league this season, given their overreliance on corners.
But Arteta dismissed this idea. He explained that “adjusting to the opponent, using the strength of the opponent to our advantage, that’s part of playing a beautiful game.”
Osman agrees with the manager’s assessment. He said that “any team who’s going to challenge for the title, they should be embracing what they do best.”
Title race momentum and what’s coming next
The win puts Arsenal five points ahead of Manchester City, though the Gunners have played a game more. It also follows a crucial reaction to the Gunners’ 2-2 draw at Wolves. Arsenal’s league wins over Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea were also noteworthy.
The positives were compounded by the return of Kai Havertz for the final 15 minutes of the match. Viktor Gyökeres also created some good opportunities, though they were unable to score.
With Arsenal going into a European campaign unbeaten, a domestic cup final looming, and a busy schedule coming up in March, the late Raya save might prove to be a defining moment of the title race.
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Comments (42)
Great analysis! I think the toss will be crucial. If India bats first and puts up 300+, it's game over for NZ.
Don't underestimate the Black Caps! We've won in India before. Williamson's leadership will make the difference.