Hector Bellerin earned 10-man Arsenal a point as they battled back to draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues had twice taken the lead through Jorginho’s penalty and Cesar Azpilicueta’s tap in.
The Italian was given the chance from the spot after David Luiz had upended Tammy Abraham after he had rounded the keeper – the former Blues defender handed a red card.
Gabriel Martinelli then put the Gunners level with a break away goal, after N’golo Kante slipped, but Cesar Azpilicueta poked home what looked like a winner.
But Bellerin, making his first appearance since December slammed in a last gasp leveller – to keep the Gunners’ slim top four dreams alive.
1. 10 men are better than 11
(Image: Mike Hewitt)
Who knew that the thing that would settle Arsenal ’s defence down would be to have a defender sent off?
After Luiz’s dismissal, the Gunners reshuffled and became resolute.
There was naturally some confusion at first, with Rob Holding shivering on the touchline for five minutes waiting to come on – only for Arteta to change his mind.
Granit Xhaka teamed up with Mustafi at centre back and for some reason it worked a treat – with the Swiss looking particularly assured.
They soaked up pressure well, until Azpilicueta’s strike from a corner.
Martinelli offered them an out on the counter and it seemed odd that this wasn’t the original gameplan.
2. David Luiz’s night out in west London
(Image: Action Images via Reuters)
It was not a pleasant return to Stamford Bridge for David Luiz.
Every one of his 21 touches of the ball he was booed, he got a rollicking from Mikel Arteta for piling extra pressure on his side by taking the wrong pass option during a high press and then he was sent off.
All that in 26 minutes.
In fairness, his dismissal wasn’t really his own fault, rather his hapless sidekick Shkpdran Mustafi.
Mustafi’s abysmal attempt at a back pass saw Tammy Abraham gallop in behind, circumnavigated Bernd Leno and would have scored had it not been for Luiz’s intervention.
It was as if Mustafi stepped on the rake and Sideshow Luiz received a handle in the face.
Once back into the warmth of the away dressing room the centre back may well have heard the faint chants of “David Luiz, he’s one of our own” from the home support.
3. Top four up for grabs
(Image: Chris Lee – Chelsea FC)
Liverpool and Manchester City have, barring a cataclysmic second half to the season, booked their spots in next season’s Champions League.
Leicester are well positioned to join them, which leaves one place wide open.
Chelsea and Manchester United are the next two but both are wildly unpredictable.
The Blues lost to Newcastle at the weekend and dropped two points against 10-men here.
The Red Devils aren’t much better but can close the gap against Burnley on Wednesday.
On the other hand, despite saving a point, Arsenal are closer to the relegation zone than the top four, even the five-point gap to the Europa League places looks like the Grand Canyon.
4. Arteta’s woes
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Like his mentor Pep Guardiola, the Spaniard is not one to hide his emotions on the touchline.
Throughout the first half Arteta turned to his assistants Albert Stuivenberg and Steve Round to angrily react to mistakes from his players.
Sometimes it was a face of thunder, occasionally a glance of ‘what are you doing with these lads on the training ground’ and on one occasion – when Nicolas Pepe allowed a cross to come in – he screamed “what is the f****** point.”
On that last expletive he may have a point.
Arteta has been in the Gunners dugout for seven matches and not a lot has changed – despite the morale boosting victory over United.
Alexandre Lacazette hasn’t score outside of north London for 11 months, Mesut Ozil magic touch has eluded him and he has to play Mustafi at centre back.
5. Do Chelsea need Cavani?
(Image: REUTERS)
Frank Lampard didn’t exactly bat away Chelsea hopes of signing PSG striker Edinson Cavani at his pre-match press conference.
“He’s a great player; I played against him and I always loved his mentality and attitude, and obviously his goal-scoring record speaks for itself,” Lampard gushed.
Before adding: “The idea of bringing in experience is something I’m certainly not absolutely looking away from.”
But other than experience what does he add that Tammy Abraham doesn’t already offer.
The Englishman has had a stellar season and cutting that up with the Uruguayan could stunt his growth.
Even when Chelsea chased a winner, you still felt Abraham or Michy Batshuayi would be the men to get it.
Do the names Radamel Falcao, Fernando Torres, Samuel Eto’o and Andriy Shevchenko bring no warning sounds?
6. Gabriel Martinelli: Hero
(Image: Mike Hewitt)
Is Gabriel Martinelli the answer to Arsenal’s prayers?
He’s only 18, he’s only started five Premier League games, he’s as raw as a chicken in the countryside.
But the Brazilian’s goal was part Thierry Henry, part Dennis Bergkamp in his equaliser.
The way he strode in behind at pace would have had the Gunner’s record scorer smiling, while the cool and composed finish would have had the Dutchman double taking.
Yes, N’golo Kante’s slip helped him on this occasion, but two goals in two games hints at a legend in the making.
