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Arsenal have won their last three Premier League games at home to Chelsea and another would take the Gunners a step closer to the title
Miguel Delaney at the Emirates & Michael JonesSunday 01 March 2026 20:34 GMT- Bookmark
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Close popoverFantastic recent record against Chelsea, but "that doesn't change the preparation" says Gunners' boss ArtetaArsenal kept up their momentum in the Premier League title race with a deserved 2-1 victory over Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners made use of their exceptional set pieces to score twice against their London rivals and ensure that they did not drop points in their pursuit of the top-flight trophy.
The first came to William Saliba after a corner kick was whipped into the Chelsea penalty area. Gabriel leapt above Reece James to nod the ball across to his teammate and Saliba headed at goal to put the hosts in front.
Chelsea, who where poor in the first half, still managed to score from a set piece of their own as Piero Hincapie flicked in a corner from James to send the teams level at the break.
The decisive moments came in the second half however. Jurrien Timber powered home another corner to edge Arsenal ahead before two quick yellow cards for Pedro Neto effectively ended Chelsea’s challenge.
The Gunners win the three points and move five clear of second placed Manchester City.
Relive the updates from Arsenal v Chelsea in the Premier League, below
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Arsenal v Chelsea LIVE: Latest Premier League updates
- Arsenal beat London rivals Chelsea in Premier League | Live on Sky Sports
- 69' RED CARD! Neto is sent off after second yellow card (ARS 2-1 CHE)
- 66' GOAL! Timber heads Arsenal back into the lead (ARS 2-1 CHE)
- 45+2' GOAL! Hincapie's own goal brings an equaliser (ARS 1-1 CHE)
- 21' GOAL! Arsenal score opener for set piece (ARS 1-0 CHE)
Arsenal’s set-piece specialists could force a defining shift of style into the Premier League
A corner turned for Arsenal in the title race? No one will be able to say for certain until the season is definitively concluded but this 2-1 win over Chelsea does feel like it will be held up as a defining game in a wider Premier League shift. All three goals came through set-pieces, and none of them especially clean either. It was that kind of game, as Chelsea now have to dig in and turn a corner of their own.
Mikel Arteta disputed that the victory was “ugly” but he did talk about how all teams currently have to “suffer”.
How Arsenal’s set-piece specialists could redefine the Premier League
Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea: The Gunners scored both their goals against the Blues from corners as they saw off the threat of their London rivalsMiguel Delaney1 March 2026 20:34Arteta impressed with how Arsenal bounced back from Wolves draw
He said: "The way we have reacted to that disappointing result has been top. The manner we dealt with that was top. I thought we were good, good human beings and wanting to win, but the level they are in now is another one.
"The feeling that you have to continue to win and win and win, you win so many games but it is not enough to open a gap. This is the beauty and the level of this league."
Mike Jones1 March 2026 20:00Arteta on set pieces:
"Very important, Chelsea are the second best with one less goal, look at the talent they have. We have lost points to long throws, lately we haven't scored from many set-pieces. Today we did it, to have these options is great.
"They can be a nightmare to defend against. On tactics boards we can resolve any situation, but when it's live and they are so aggressive, pushy, effective, difficult to handle, it's very tough.
Mike Jones1 March 2026 19:54More from Mikel Arteta
The Arsenal boss told Sky Sports: "Big win, I'm very happy. For big periods the team performed in an excellent way, the margin should have been bigger at half-time. The moment we conceded was painful, but the quality of Chelsea.
"After their red card we should have managed that situation better but we will talk about this tomorrow.
"They have so much quality, even when they use the keeper they can get out of situation with 10 men. We didn't adjust too well, sometimes you take things for granted. Something to improve there.
"They [Chelsea] have players who can occupy various spaces - Cole [Palmer] can play false nine and occupy these spaces, he needs just one square metre to turn and activate players. they have quality, big personalities, they are really well coached. They are so good a turning in tight spaces, Caicedo, Enzo [Fernandez], Cole. It's impressive, they are a top side."
Mike Jones1 March 2026 19:49Chelsea want to win games of football
"I don't want to push the league leaders very hard,” Rosenior said.
“We're Chelsea, we want to win games of football. Between both boxes, we were very, very good. I felt we were the better team by far in the second half but we weren't ruthless in the moment.
“Their goalkeeper makes very good saves and at the other end we concede two goals from corners."
Mike Jones1 March 2026 19:45Rosenior to address discipline
On Pedro Neto the Chelsea boss said: "Probably not to be honest, it's very simple.
“It's something that we need to address, not just Pedro but as a team to make sure we have 11 men on the pitch."
Mike Jones1 March 2026 19:40Rosenior addresses Chelsea's red card issue
He explained: "I have respect for the previous manager Enzo [Maresca]. I don't speak about what happened before but it is starting to happen with me.
“That's something I felt we had addressed, we went 10 games without a red card, now two in two games and that's a problem we need to solve and the set play issue is something we need to keep working on."
Mike Jones1 March 2026 19:36Where are things going wrong for Chelsea?
Liam Rosenior said: "It's a difficult thing to put your finger on. We get paid to win football matches and if you think we haven't addressed that, it's crazy.
“I thought the pain of dropping two points against Leeds and Burnley would have got us going.
"I thought the set-up tactically was good. Arsenal didn't cause any problems until set plays.
Mike Jones1 March 2026 19:32Post match reaction from Liam Rosenior:
"It's been the same story for the last three games. It's the same story. In the ascendancy in all the games. What I never do is start pointing the finger, but it's clear what we need to improve. We need to make sure we are ruthless in both boxes and to concede from two corners and get another red card, it is the story of our season.
"The first goal is top. Arsenal are probably the best team in the world at them. The second one is just disappointing. We have to do better. I don't want to keep coming out here nd saying all the good that we do. There is a lot to sort out before we go to Aston Villa.
"It's a combination. The marking, the zone players. The goalkeeper is involved. I won't single out. I will address it on the training ground.”
Mike Jones1 March 2026 19:28Saliba talks scoring against Chelsea
The Arsenal defender said: "We should not concede the goal before half time but we did well to score in the second half. We have to keep going and we are happy to win today in front of our fans.
"It's been a while that I haven't scored and it is unusual to score from one yard so I am so happy and I hope I will keep going like this."
Mike Jones1 March 2026 19:23Newer1 / 9OlderMore about
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