Arsenal showed the “togetherness and leadership” that Mikel Arteta is demanding as they overcame David Luiz’s red card to twice fight back and share the spoils in an eventful London derby. Luiz was sent off against his former club for shoving Tammy Abraham in the penalty area as the Chelsea striker looked set to score following a terrible backpass by Shkodran Mustafi when the game was goalless. Jorginho scored from the resulting spot-kick before 18-year-old Gabriel Martinelli scored a brilliant equaliser after a slip by N’Golo Kante only for Cesar Azpilicueta to restore Chelsea’s lead late on. Yet 10-man Arsenal capped a spirited display when Hector Bellerin marked his return from injury with a dramatic equaliser from the edge of the penalty area.
Arsenal remain 10 points off a Champions League spot and, despite this battling performance, they have won just one of their last eight Premier League games. They also face the prospect of finishing outside the top six for the first time since 1994-95. In addition, Arteta remains without an away win since taking charge in December yet he witnessed a gutsy response from his side, who played better with 10 men than they did with 11. Luiz, who has given away three penalties in the Premier League this season – more than any other player – was left with little choice after Mustafi’s under-hit pass let in Abraham. Mustafi made up for his error with a clearance from a Chelsea corner which allowed Martinelli to burst forward and, after Kante’s slip in the centre circle, produce a sublime finish under Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Chelsea looked like they had secured a first top-flight double over their London neighbours in four years when Azpilicueta restored their lead in the closing minutes but Arteta’s side were not done. Having dropped 13 points from winning positions in the Premier League this season, they showed a determination that has been missing and, with just their second shot of the game, Bellerin rifled in an equaliser to seal a fourth successive away league draw. Bellerin’s goal for Arsenal was his first in the Premier League in 737 days, since netting at Bournemouth in January 2018.