FA PREMIERLEAGUE

ARSENAL 2 (Saliba 21, Timber 66) 

CHELSEA 1 (Hincapie og 45+2) 

THE train home from Highbury felt more like an A&E waiting room, with exhausted fans, pale-faced and haggard, some struggling to stand up – and not from the drink.

There are nine league games to go and if this chaotic encounter is a window into how it’s all going to go down, then we’d better hope the Whittington Hospital gets some emergency funding.

Arsenal edged this nerve-shredding derby largely thanks to Pedro Neto getting sent off and at least four massive saves from David Raya.

The Gunners stay five points clear of City having played a game more – points in the bag that at this stage feel like an almighty relief.

Five of the remaining games are at home: Everton, Bournemouth, Fulham, Newcastle, Burnley.

All the goals came from corners, all arguably own goals – although Arsenal’s were claimed as their own.

What is worrying is the way the home side looked a bit tired for much of the second half, and failed to dominate after Neto was sent off for a second yellow.

After the match, Mikel Arteta said:  “We took the moment to score the second goal and after the red card we were expecting a very different outcome in the last few minutes.

“But we managed to control and dominate that scenario as well as we wanted.

“On top of that, Chelsea did some very, very good things in that period, and we needed David [Raya] to win us the game.”

The atmosphere was edgy from the start but a Sanchez fumble raised the spirits early on and the home support began to down out the away fans droning on about how they’d ‘won it all’.

Martin Zubimendi had Arsenal’s first decent chance, but skied over after fashioning a half chance from the edge of the box.

Moments later some hesitant defending saw Mamadou Sarr botch a decent chance for the visitors.

But the nervous energy inside the stadium became intoxicating.

Eberichi Eze lost the ball in midfield after taking too many touches, then tried a long range chip from the half way line that didn’t look on.

The linesman managed to miss Sanchez clearly taking the ball out for a corner. But the audacious effort, lifted the mood.

And moments later Arsenal’s two big centre backs, William Saliba and Gabriel, combined to force in the opener.

It was in the end nudged in by Sarr in a melee after Bukayo Saka had had swung a deep cross to the back post that was headed back across the box to Saliba.

Eze fumbled a touch when he should have struck first time, and Declan Rich ballooned into the stands.

There had been a big cheer and high expectations for Viktor Gyokeres after his top level performance against Spurs.

But he failed to set the game alight. He flopped down in box in a terrible dive after being sent one on one with Chalbolah.

The first incredible reaction save by Raya came after a stray Rice elbow deflected a Chelsea corner, leading to strong shouts for a penalty.

The next corner that came in was met Steve Bould style by Hincapie, perfectly glanced into the far corner.

Arsenal had been quite dominant up to that point, the stroke of half time.

Arsenal had pressed in the second half without causing too much trouble for Chelsea who were also carving out some good attacks.

Timber headed in the winner, after Sanchez made a terrible miscalculation from a Rice inswinger. There were shouts for a foul, but replays showed nothing untoward.

Minutes later Gabi Martinelli, brought on for Leo Trossard who did not have his best game, was taken out by Neto on the wing.

Neto had been booked for complaining in the first half and was rightly sent off.

Eze had a great chance to seal it but his strike was well-saved.

Arsenal failed to grab hold of the game and the last ten minutes were a painful watch.

Rice was substituted for Norgaard, and space seemed to open up for the visitors.

In injury time, Garnacho’s in swinger was finger-tipped past the post by Raya.

And then Delap’s goal in 95th minute was ruled out for what seemed like a goal but was later shown to be a clear offside in the build up.

An exhausting finish, and not one that will make Arsenal fans feel like they are going to see out this campaign with ease.

Arteta, who appeared to have a black eye, added: “To replicate those moments is almost impossible – you cannot do it basically.

“At the same time you have to give credit to Chelsea for the manner that they’ve done it, the way they use the keeper as an extra player, the courage that they showed.”

Next up, Brighton away.

Arsenal: Raya, Saliba, Hincapie, Gabriel, Timber, Rice (Norgaard 76), Zubimendi, Saka, Trossard (Martinelli 56), Eze, Gyokeres (Havertz 76)
Subs not used: Kepa, Mosquera, Jesus, Madeuke, Calafoiri

Chelsea: Sanchez, Neto, Fernandez (Delap86), Palmer (Garnacho 86), Santos (Lavia 75), Sarr, Pedro, Hato (Gusto 75), Chalbolah, James, Caicedo
Subs not used: Jorgensen, darabioya, Badiashile, Acheampong, Guiu,