Arsenal Vs Chelsea: Arteta says 'Heart almost stopped' after Raya save

Mikel Arteta said his "heart almost stopped" after David Raya produced a stoppage-time save in arsenal vs chelsea, a 2-1 win that restored a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League. The match hinged on set-pieces and late drama, with Arsenal claiming victory through corner routines and a late full-stretch stop from their Spain international goalkeeper.

Arsenal Vs Chelsea: Late drama

The sequence began from a corner routine that involved Gabriel's initial header and William Saliba nodding in the first goal. Piero Hincapié then scored an own goal that canceled out William Saliba's first-half opener, and Jurriën Timber's second-half header from a Declan Rice corner ultimately decided the match.

Set-pieces prove decisive again

Both goals for Mikel Arteta's side came from corners, continuing a season-long pattern. Arsenal have now scored 16 goals in the Premier League from corners — three more than anyone else — and that total equals the most in a single Premier League season alongside Oldham in 1992-93, West Brom in 2016-17 and the Gunners themselves in 2023-24. This was the ninth time in the Premier League this season that Arsenal have scored a match-winning goal from a corner, the outright most by a team in a single campaign, overtaking Manchester United's eight in 2012-13. They have also gone 1-0 up from a corner on nine occasions this season, the joint-most by a team in a single campaign along with Southampton in 1994-95.

Red card and Chelsea indiscipline

Chelsea were reduced to 10 players when Pedro Neto received the team's seventh Premier League red card this season on 70 minutes. Neto lunged rashly in on Gabriel Martinelli by the touchline only three minutes after picking up his first yellow card from referee Darren England for dissent; the initial decision, the execution of the tackle and Neto's continued arguing after being sent off drew strong criticism in the aftermath. Chelsea have now racked up seven red cards in the Premier League this season, three more than any other team in the division, and nine in all competitions.

Raya's save and Arteta's reaction

With Chelsea pushing late — a moment when Alejandro Garnacho, the former Manchester United winger, sent a shot heading toward goal in stoppage time — Spain international David Raya made a stunning full-stretch save to deny Garnacho and secure the three points. Arteta praised his goalkeeper: "David is one of our leaders without a doubt. He is a keeper who knows how to maintain his focus and decide a match when you need it. " He added: "Sometimes he doesn't participate at all and then suddenly he has to act and the save he made in the last action -- it was an unbelievable shot and my heart almost stopped, but he kept it out again. " Arteta also warned: "It was a fabulous save, but we shouldn't have been in that position. I try to stay calm, but we weren't getting the dominance we wanted against ten men. Everyone is suffering and the margins are so tight, but it's good. In March, we are in every competition and we are right up there. " (2: 04)

Responses and questions over style

Shaka Hislop and Steve Nicol wonder if Arsenal are too reliant on set-pieces to win the Premier League title. Chris Sutton described the side as "Set-piece Arsenal, again. I think they are going to win it. If they get over the line - will they be the ugliest Premier League-winning team in history? The performance wasn't there. " Patrick Vieira said: "When you are top of the Champions League and Premier League table, you expect Arsenal to go forward. It was difficult for Arsenal to take chances. The expectation is higher, you expect more from Arsenal. " Arteta rejected the "ugly" label: "It's not ugly, you have to play the game that is there for you to play, and against Chelsea, you know exactly the game you're going to play. For me, it's a beautiful game to play because there is so much quality and you have to adapt so much to what they do, and they have to do the same against us, so the margins are very, very small, and the duels at the end decide these kind of games. " Leon Osman added: "They relied on set-pieces again, as they have all season. If it's a strength, I don't see why you wouldn't utilise your strengths. "

Squad notes and next steps

Arsenal have bounced back after recently surrendering a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 against bottom club Wolves 10 days earlier — a result that gave Manchester City a huge title boost — and have since beaten Tottenham and Chelsea. Their 4-1 win over Tottenham and the Chelsea victory helped restore a five-point lead over second-place Manchester City, albeit Arsenal have played a game more. The side also hold a 100% record in the Champions League, are in the Carabao Cup final and have reached the FA Cup fifth round. Justin Setterfield's image caption noted Jurrien Timber celebrating his second goal. Timber's header was his third league goal of the season, and the match created promising openings for Viktor Gyokeres, who did not score but saw encouraging chances similar to those he thrived on with Sporting CP in Portugal. Kai Havertz returned for the final 15 minutes, a boost as Arsenal have six more games to play this month.