Just as it looked as though Arsenal were getting all of their key players back with Viktor Gyokeres back fit and Gabriel Jesus named on the bench for the first time since January – they were dealt a blow with William Saliba ruled out on Sunday through injury.
That meant that Mikel Arteta had to turn to Piero Hincapie and Cristhian Mosquera at centre-back.
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Arsenal are usually so dominant from set-pieces but without the towering first-choice pair, they did not pose the same threat.
It was also through a corner that the Gunners went behind, which will disappoint Arteta.
Mosquera looked nervy at times in the heat of a derby and was one of three of the back four, along with Riccardo Calafiori and Hincapie, to pick up a yellow card.
But Arsenal dealt with the period after going behind well, and Mikel Merino, like he has done on so many occasions in his short Arsenal career, scored a vital goal to bring them level.
It was not Arsenal’s best performance but coming into the busy Christmas period, there will be games when the Gunners just have to find a way to get a result.
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Arsenal have navigated a tricky three-game period against Tottenham Hotspur, Bayern Munich and now Chelsea and come out unbeaten.
They are five points clear in top spot and picking up a point against a good Chelsea team, even one down to 10 men, is a good result.
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