Arsenal supervisor Mikel Arteta was happy with a degree at Chelsea to finish an “immensely tough” week.
After thrashing Tottenham within the north London derby and the Champions League win over Bayern Munich, Arsenal could have smelled extra blood when Moises Caicedo was sent-off within the first half.
However Arsenal fell behind earlier than Mikel Merino’s header earned a 1-1 draw which leaves the Gunners 5 factors clear on the high of the Premier League.
“It’s been an enormous week,” Arteta mentioned. “The derby, how emotional and the need to win, then Bayern Munich.
“We misplaced gamers in these video games, immediately we needed to play a partnership we haven’t performed earlier than in a extremely tough match. The captain continues to be not right here, the 9 isn’t right here, Kai (Havertz) isn’t right here, we misplaced Leo.
“The crew needed to react to that. It’s been a constructive week as a result of the issue was immense. However I’ve this flavour that immediately we must always have received the sport, and we haven’t.”
Arsenal began a Premier League match with out both William Saliba or Gabriel in defence for the primary time this season, whereas Martin Odegaard and Viktor Gyokeres got here off the bench.
Saliba was lacking after receiving a knock in coaching and will probably be assessed once more forward of Wednesday’s recreation in opposition to Brentford, while Gabriel is about for an extended lay-off.
“It’s been a headache as a result of we have now to have quite a lot of choice and adjustments in the previous couple of months,” mentioned Arteta. “This (Saliba’s absence) was sudden. At present was a terrific studying match for all of us.”
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca accepted the dismissal of Caicedo however questioned why Tottenham’s Rodrigo Bentancur had not been despatched off for the same problem on Reece James when the groups met earlier in November.
There was additionally what an elbow from Piero Hincapie on Chalobah that left the Chelsea defender’s face bloodied however introduced solely a yellow card.
“Moises is a crimson card, however why Bentancur in opposition to Reece was not?” mentioned Maresca. “As managers we attempt to perceive why they decide in several methods. We wrestle to grasp.
“Trev one, I requested the referee, he mentioned it was not an elbow. They decide in several methods. He has a black eye, he was with ice at half-time.”
James was excellent within the centre of midfield however when requested if he’ll be capable of play on Wednesday at Leeds, Maresca mentioned: “The truth is not any.
“We have now a recreation on Wednesday, for Reece we have to handle him and management his state of affairs.”