LONDON — Would Chelsea have been this good if Moises Caicedo hadn’t thrust them into such attempting circumstances? That may stay a query for fan fiction. What we do know for sure is {that a} man down earlier than the halftime whistle, Chelsea rallied in excellent trend. Their tempo on the counter robbed the most effective group within the land of the possibility to carry court docket within the ultimate third; their goalkeeper was distinctive beneath strain they usually have been far superior within the duels.

Apply all these qualities with 11 males and this group would absolutely have been much more superior to an Arsenal that might not fairly energy via a 3rd nice take a look at of the week. Within the 37 minutes earlier than Caicedo went slamming into Mikel Merino’s ankle, Chelsea had been the higher group. For a lot of the match that adopted, they might lay declare to that description. It is simply that there is solely so significantly better you may be when you’ve 10% fewer outfielders. There are solely so many assaults you may repel. Marc Cucurella on the cusp of a pink card is not going to have the ability to cease each Bukayo Saka cross.

“Eleven vs. eleven, I feel we’re a greater group than them,” stated Enzo Maresca. “We managed the sport, we created possibilities, we did not concede something. The pink card modified the dynamic, however even with that, the way in which the gamers handled that has been excellent.”

That’s exactly the issue for Chelsea, certainly one of maybe solely two popping out of the ultimate whistle. [The other, of course, being that Reece James isn’t fit enough to play like this every week]. They have been exceptionally positioned on this recreation and never for the primary time this season they made it tougher for themselves. The place would possibly they be if they’d a gentle veteran on the again to knock heads collectively on the key moments?

This efficiency ought to imbue Chelsea with optimism for the season forward. As in opposition to Liverpool, as in opposition to Barcelona, they’ve confirmed themselves capable of higher Europe’s finest. At the moment, nevertheless, was the day to show that into factors. A six-point deficit to Arsenal is nowhere close to unbridgeable with 25 video games to play however there isn’t a higher probability to regulate the desk to your benefit than at dwelling to the league leaders.

And nonetheless, this end result serves to reaffirm that one doubt about Chelsea. Their expertise shouldn’t be up for dispute. For this group to win the most important prizes would require a self-discipline and battle-hardened edge that they’ve but to develop. As a substitute, their lack of composure appears endemic. When Caicedo noticed pink, so did his teammates. Heads went to Uranus. Enzo Fernandez got here out swinging within the incorrect manner. Foolish fouls let Arsenal ease up the sector.

Possibly Chelsea would not have saved this up with out Caicedo’s pink. They performed with apoplectic vitality, hitting the challenges with the depth of the aggrieved. Their second half spoke to some extent they have been intent on proving. They knew they’d been the higher at 11 vs. 11. They wished to do the identical with out Caicedo. If he hadn’t gone off perhaps they’d not have discovered that further gear after the interval and would have fallen to the sheer power in depth Mikel Arteta might deploy. Maresca’s phrases ring more true than that supposition, although. Chelsea had been the higher group. All they wanted to do was adapt to the way in which the sport was heading. As a substitute, they slipped into dangerous habits for the time being their high quality ought to have shone via.

One thing had been brewing from early on. Anthony Taylor set his stall out in completely affordable trend; there was to be no adjusting for the blood and thunder of a London derby. A yellow card problem would lead to…a yellow card. Solely affordable however when he had dished them out to 3 of Arsenal’s again six in addition to Cucurella, Saka’s defender in chief, it delivered a curious timbre to the sport. For a time, it grew to become certainly one of foul looking, both sides much less intent on working their manner via midfield than baiting a foul that may have Taylor reaching for his pocket once more.

It was right here that Chelsea outfielders appeared every single day of their common sub-24 years. The distinction with the expertise of Martin Zubimendi, admittedly solely 26 however with effectively over 300 senior video games for Spain and Actual Sociedad, didn’t look favorable for Maresca’s facet. He might need been booked with 85 minutes to play however he had accomplished this typically sufficient to know the way he might sneak in to steal possession with out making a gift of a foul. Loads of his teammates additionally understood the way to keep on the fitting facet of the road too.

The one that did not, Piero Hincapie, might need been fortunate to nonetheless be on the pitch when his elbow appeared to attach with Trevoh Chalobah’s head. “I requested the referee, he stated no that was not an elbow,” stated Maresca. “He has a black eye, he was with ice at half time. [The referees] judged differently.”

Chalobah would get his revenge. Hincapie remained however conceded the free kick in an advantageous place, what Mikel Arteta termed a “nook”, that handed Chelsea the lead. As with every little thing else he did, Reece James’ supply was sensational, Trevoh Chalobah’s header looping excessive over David Raya.

It gave Chelsea one thing to defend and defend it they did in spectacular trend. For all the fitting causes, you would inform that this was pink card quantity seven (together with Maresca) of the final 15. The supervisor knew the way to adapt his group. In got here Alejandro Garnacho and Liam Delap, the Blues supervisor refusing to observe the cautious method that he had tried in opposition to Manchester United. Arsenal’s corners are purported to have the opposition cowering within the nook. Maresca wasn’t the primary to place attackers upfield in hope of a counter however few have caught their entrance three on the midway line when a person down.

With James pulling the string in midfield, there have been possibilities for Chelsea, who have been totally intent on profiting from the absence of each William Saliba and Gabriel. Swapping in Piero Hincapie and Cristhian Mosquera introduced a level extra unpredictability on the again however maybe the best issues got here as they tried to construct possession. Missing the development that Saliba particularly offers, Arteta felt compelled to sometimes drop each of Declan Rice and Zubimendi deep to help with build-up.

Forward of them have been drained legs and minds who had fought laborious to earn their assertion wins over Tottenham and Bayern Munich. Maybe they understood that right this moment was a day when a draw would do them advantageous. Maybe they felt unable to commit the our bodies ahead most groups would with a person’s benefit, acutely conscious that it solely took one mistake from Hincapie, Mosquera or Myles Lewis-Skelly for the sport to be 10 on 10. Regardless of the rationalization, they weren’t who they are often.

They nonetheless bought the type of end result they wanted, given the circumstances. It isn’t a foul signal to come back away from Stamford Bridge feeling disillusioned to have solely earned a solitary level. “

That is the sensation that now we have and that is the requirements that we set for ourselves,” stated Arteta.

“In all probability it is due to the spirit and the starvation and the way a lot they need it. It is so unbelievable that we are going to overcome every little thing.”

On this event, Arsenal overcame themselves even when they did not fairly overcome Chelsea. Nonetheless, it augurs effectively for a group which have in any other case confirmed themselves to be the most effective in Europe proper now that even when they’re off coloration, they’ll discover a manner to not lose. A defeat right here might have gone down as a considerably damaging one for the leaders, a gap smashed wider by a younger group who’ve confirmed their skill to outplay the most effective.

As a substitute, that proved to be past 10 males. The unanswerable query is whether or not it might need been doable for 11.