Arsenal have just done something they haven’t done for 15 years

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Arsenal drew 1-1 with Chelsea in an eventful game at Stamford Bridge, a contest that left many wanting more.

Undoubtedly, Arsenal would’ve walked away from the game as the more dissatisfied of the two teams. 

In the first half, Moises Caicedo was sent off for a poor challenge on Mikel Merino, seeing Chelsea reduced to ten men for the entirety of the second half.

Despite scoring 14 minutes after the restart, Arsenal were unable to make their man advantage count to the frustration of supporters.

• READ MORE: How Mikel Arteta and the entire Arsenal bench reacted after seeing Moises Caicedo’s red card tackle

Arsenal’s inability to beat Chelsea went down in history 

Viktor Gyokeres could’ve won the game at the death had he instructed Jurrien Timber away from the ball, but it wasn’t meant to be. 

The inquest will be a heavy one for Mikel Arteta to investigate, but the Arsenal manager will come to the same conclusion, which was that his team just weren’t at their usual level on the day.

That doesn’t excuse the disappointment felt by failing to win against ten men, something that saw Arsenal do something they hadn’t in 15 years.

For the first time since August 2010, Arsenal failed to win a Premier League match in which their opponents had suffered a first-half red card.

The last time it happened was when Joe Cole was sent off for Liverpool during a 1-1 draw at the start of the 2010/11 season.

It’s not a statistic that Arteta will want to see anytime soon, as the Gunners missed a huge opportunity to extend their lead in the Premier League title race to seven points.

Mikel Arteta’s demand to Arsenal at half-time couldn’t be delivered

When Caicedo headed down the tunnel, there was a lot of confidence within the Arsenal fanbase that the league leaders would go on to get the job done.

That was certainly the plan, as Arteta stated in his post-match press conference, but he also noted why it wasn’t executed.

“At half-time, we said, let’s push it now, get what we have to do, and we were very clear on our intention and how we were going to dominate the game in the first action,” the boss said.

“Long ball, free-kick, corner, and we concede from a set-piece. So then, the momentum shifted, and ultimately the team have to react to that.”

Conceding three minutes after the restart changed everything for Arsenal, who will brush themselves off and prepare to go again when Brentford visit N5 on Wednesday.