Chelsea rue missed opportunity to beat EPL leaders Arsenal

New Delhi: Chelsea were down to 10 men for the better part of their English Premier League game against Arsenal, yet after emerging with a point from a 1-1 draw, they were left with a feeling of a lost opportunity to win against the table toppers.

Chelsea were left a man short after a VAR check on Moises Caicedo’s crunching tackle on Mikel Merino forced referee to flash the red card in the 38th minute.

Though three minutes after the break, defender Trevor Chalobah sneaked into the near post and flicked a header into the far post from an accurate corner by Recce James.

Arsenal equalised a minute before the hour mark through Merino’s header from inside the area to a Bukayo Saka cross.

Chelsea captain James said he was proud of the way they soaked up the pressure and countered and could have even grabbed all three points.

"We played 60 minutes with 10 men, having to cope with all of their players – they are a very good team, they’re the league leaders at the moment," James told Chelsea's website.

"We knew the game was going to be tough, but to be honest it was a game we felt we probably could have won. It was difficult to only walk away with a point considering how well we did."

The shared points kept Chelsea third in the standings with 24 points, six behind Arsenal, and will next meet Leeds United in an away game on Wednesday.

"I think we showed we are heading in the right direction. I always say the same. The performance has been fantastic. We were a much better team than them 11 v 11. With 10 players it is difficult but we dealt with it outstandingly,” Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca said.

"We tried to exploit the best solution, the best space. We knew the space was for Malo and Estevao on that side. Tonight we can be happy even if we didn't win.

Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta said he was disappointed at lost opportunity to capitalise even with a man up.

"Right from the beginning you could sense how much was at stake. Every duel and action was full gas, very short sequences of play. With the 10 men we expected a different game, we planned it, and we went through it in the second half. They got a free kick and they scored.

"Then it becomes a very tricky game to play. Overall I think that when you don't win with 10 men for 45 minutes you have to be disappointed. But you have to know the week we had with tough opponents," he said.