Inside five minutes, Robert Sanchez almost handed Arsenal the opener with a loose pass under pressure. It summed up a jittery start from the visitors.

Chelsea tried to settle. Cole Palmer dragged one wide from distance, while Martin Zubimendi sent a long-range effort over the bar. Arsenal responded through Bukayo Saka, who cut inside and fed Declan Rice, but the midfielder could not keep his shot down.

The breakthrough arrived in the 21st minute. From a curling corner, William Saliba rose above the crowd and thumped a header beyond Sanchez to put Arsenal ahead.

Chelsea levelled in first-half stoppage time, though fortune favoured them. Another Arsenal corner caused chaos and Piero Hincapie, under pressure, diverted the ball into his own net to make it 1-1.

The visitors nearly turned the game after the restart. Enzo Fernandez tested David Raya from range, then Pedro forced a sharp stop from close quarters after the Arsenal keeper collided with him while claiming a corner.

Arsenal regained control through the route that had already hurt Chelsea. In the 66th minute, Jurrien Timber met a corner with a firm header that left Sanchez stranded and restored the lead.

Four minutes later, Chelsea’s hopes grew smaller. Pedro Neto, already booked, lunged into a challenge and was shown a second yellow card as the Blues were reduced to ten men.

Tempers flared as bookings followed for Palmer, Jorrel Hato, Gabriel and Enzo. Chelsea pushed late on, probing for an equaliser, but Arsenal stood firm.

Eberechi Eze nearly added a third in the closing stages, only for Sanchez to produce a fine save to keep the scoreline respectable.

The result lifts Arsenal to 64 points from 29 matches as they continue to set the pace at the summit of the Premier League table. They remain five points above second-placed Manchester City, who have a game in hand. Chelsea remain sixth on 45 points after 28 games.