EPL: Arsenal beat Chelsea to restore five-point lead at top
Arsenal scored from two trademark corners to regain their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League by beating 10-man Chelsea at Emirates Stadium. Manchester City had heaped pressure
Arsenal scored from two trademark corners to regain their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League by beating 10-man Chelsea at Emirates Stadium.
Manchester City had heaped pressure on the Gunners by cutting their lead to two points with victory at Leeds on Saturday.
But after a cagey start with few chances, Arsenal opened the scoring from a corner in the 21st minute.
Centre back Gabriel Magalhaes headed Bukayo Saka's corner back across goal to his defensive partner William Saliba, whose header struck Mamadou Sarr on the arm before going into the net.
Chelsea grew into the match after going behind and threatened with their own set-pieces - scoring from a corner themselves just before half-time as Piero Hincapie flicked Reece James' delivery into his own net.
Chelsea started the second half better than their hosts - creating a nervy atmosphere inside the stadium - before Jurrien Timber headed in Declan Rice's corner.
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Timber's goal, Arsenal's 16th from a corner this season, secured three crucial points in the title race.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta had introduced Gabriel Martinelli from the substitutes bench and when the winger looked to launch a counter-attack, he was brought down by Pedro Neto.
It meant the Chelsea forward, who was already on a yellow card, saw red with 20 minutes left to play.
Liam Delap thought he had snatched a point late on for the away side when he bundled the ball in but Joao Pedro was well offside in the build-up and the goal was ruled out.
The win puts Arsenal on 64 points, five clear of Manchester City, having played a game more than their rivals.
BBC SPORT
