The Premier League title race: Arsenal's ship is still sailing in the right direction

The 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge left many Arsenal players visibly disappointed as they left the pitch, feeling that a missed opportunity had slipped away.

However, in the broader context, the draw against Chelsea was far from a disaster; it actually reflected the team's condition after an extremely demanding week of matches.

Arsenal's grueling week

Arsenal just went through a series of tough matches: the North London Derby against Tottenham, a Champions League showdown with Bayern Munich, and then immediately traveling to Chelsea’s ground. The intense schedule, the need to win, and pressure from the title race all combined to noticeably drain the stamina and sharpness of many key players. Coach Mikel Arteta himself admitted it was a game with "not much football," where Arsenal were simply too exhausted to maintain the explosive style they had shown recently.

The shortage of personnel made Arsenal’s situation even more difficult. With their two top center-backs, William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes, both absent, Arteta had to field a defensive pair who had never played together in a big match: Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie. This new combination caused the defense to lose the stability that had been Arsenal’s hallmark this season. Conceding from an aerial situation, which was usually a strength with Saliba and Gabriel, was clear evidence.

On the offensive front, the sluggishness was even more apparent. Key players who have been playing continuously like Bukayo Saka, Mikel Merino, and Eberechi Eze failed to maintain good ball control. Players returning from injury — Martinelli, Madueke, Gyokeres — had not yet found their rhythm. The lack of fluid combinations and slower ball progression meant Arsenal could not exert enough pressure on Chelsea despite having more possession.

Even when the opponent was down to ten men after Moises Caicedo’s red card, Arsenal couldn’t "squeeze" Chelsea as they usually do. Exhausted energy, heavy minds, and tired legs all contributed to the Gunners lacking moments of brilliance late in the game. However, the positive aspect is that Arsenal did not lose. Sometimes, a big team does not need to play brilliantly but just knows how to stand firm in tough moments. Playing away against a direct rival, with a patched-up defense and a fatigued squad, Arsenal still secured a point.

Moreover, looking at the bigger picture, this was a display of resilience. They fell behind in the second half, their makeshift defense wobbled several times, yet the whole team did not collapse.