Despite playing with 10 men for almost an hour, Chelsea were held to a 1-1 draw by Premier League leaders Arsenal at Stamford Bridge.
Moises Caicedo was sent off after 36 minutes for a terrible challenge on Mikel Merino and at that point Chelsea could have gone down, just as they have done before this season when they had a man off before half-time.
This time they stood manfully and bettered Arenal’s will to win with an unwavering desire not to lose and be kicked out of the championship race.
Trevoh Chalobah put 10 men ahead shortly after half-time, and although Merino equalized for Arsenal before the hour mark, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca can take plenty of encouragement from the way his side refused to lie down against the leaders.
The first half was a study in tense and nervous drama.
Marc Cucorella took out Bocayo Saka, Caicedo flattened and then passed to Merino – a foreshadowing of the game’s defining moment – then Martin Zubimendi was booked for a cynical foul in midfield, all before the fourth minute.
Determined to make his presence felt for Saka, Cucurella was himself booked in the 10th minute for another foul on the England striker. Saka escaped from the full-back moments later and produced the first save of the match from Robert Sanchez, keeping his foot well at the near post.
Steaua almost put the ball on the roof of the Shed End with a free kick from 10 yards out. Undeterred, he went closer but still cleared the crossbar with a curling effort from the right.
Chelsea were a better team before they lost their most powerful midfielder.
Caisdo’s stud that landed hard on Merino’s ankle looked bad in real time and worse on review, a view shared by referee Anthony Taylor who upgraded his yellow card to red after consulting the touchline monitor.
Sanchez saved well from Gabriel Martinelli in stoppage time to score the first 45 minutes of chances but chances that were whispered bitterly.
Chalobah had ended a bloody and bitter half when Piero Hincapie’s stray elbow did not deserve a red card. He started the second with his fists in justification.
Enzo Fernandez took a corner near the post and Chalobah rose to watch a clever over-the-shoulder header go wide and into the net.
The leadership was short-lived. Just before the hour, Saka finally beat Cukorella – who was struggling with his early yellow – to cross from the right. Malo Gusto was leaving two players, one of whom was Merino, and he headed Sanchez.
Merino might have won it late on with a low drive that was parried away by Sanchez. He then went down with a knee to substitute Victor Giocres trying to grab the rebound as Chelsea stayed alive for the title challenge.
