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46 min Chelsea get the second half under way.
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Both teams have made a half-time substitution
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“Is it me,” writes Kate, “or are those Chelsea puffer jackets giving strong tardigrade energy?”
I definitely didn’t have to google tardigrade. Nope.
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Half-time reading
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The last action of the half was Enzo Fernandez landing a hand on the chin of Mosquera as he tried to hold him off. VAR didn’t get involved this time; I’d like to see it again though.
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Half time: Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal
A rancid first half at Stamford Bridge was symbolised by the nasty challenge on Mikel Merino for which Moises Caicedo was given a straight red card. Chelsea were the more dangerous team when it was 11 v 11 but now Arsenal have a great chance to go seven points clear at the top of the Premier League.
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Fine save by Sanchez!
45+1 min Arsenal break dangerously through Martinelli, who plays a one-two with Rice and drives a low shot from 20 yards. Sanchez sees it late but gets down smartly to his right to make a terrific one-handed save.
Robert Sanchez makes a smart save to deny Arsenal. Photograph: Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 12.31 EST
45+1 min There will be five minutes of additional filth.
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45 min With Caicedo sent off, Chelsea have moved Fernandez a bit deeper in what is essentially a 4-4-1 formation.
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44 min Chalobah has a burgeoning shiner, which he displays to the referee when he gets to his feet.
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43 min “This,” says Justin Kavanagh, “is Sunday league stuff (with no discernible midfield), played on a manicured pitch with a professional ref, who is, so far, its most impressive participant.”
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42 min A few Chelsea fans wanted a red card for Hincapie but it was reckless rather than malicious. While Chalobah receives treatment, Anthony Taylor has a long chat with the Chelsea captain Reece James and a few other players. So far he has handled the game really well in the circumstnaces.
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41 min Chalobah is caught by a stray elbow from Hincapie, who is booked. This is a disgusting game of football, utterly vile.
Trevoh Chalobah catches an elbow from Piero Hincapie. Photograph: David Klein/ReutersShare
Updated at 12.18 EST
39 min Chelsea’s tackling machine has malfunctioned at a crucial moment in ah huge game. He can’t really have any complaints.
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38 min: Caicedo is sent off!
He tried to nick the ball off Merino, missed and plunged his studs into Merino’s shin. The more you look at it, the worse it gets.
He’s off! Photograph: Matthew Childs/Action Images/ReutersShare
Updated at 12.17 EST
36 min Caicedo has been booked by Anthony Taylor – but VAR have recommended a video review.
That is a bad challenge from Moises Caicedo. Photograph: Matthew Childs/Action Images/ReutersShare
Updated at 12.09 EST
35 min A very poor tackle from Caicedo on Merino is being checked by VAR for a potential red card.
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Updated at 12.08 EST
33 min “I’m not watching but I’ll take your word for it about the quality so far, Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “Are they playing with a pink ball?”
No that’s in the Ashes. Anyone know when that starts btw?
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32 min Estevao leads a Chelsea break and plays the ball back to Enzo Fernandez, whose shot from 20 yards is straight at Raya. Nicely struck but too straight.
Chelsea have carried the greater threat so far.
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30 min Chelsea have chance to change that when Joao Pedro nicks the ball off Hincapie on the edge of the D, but he delays and then overhits a pass to Enzo Fernandez.
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Updated at 12.01 EST
29 min This is rubbish. The only shot on target so far is that Saka shot in the 13th minute, and that would have been ruled out for offside had he scored.
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Updated at 11.59 EST
27 min James nicks the ball off Calafiori, who pulls him back and is booked.
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26 min This is not a great advert for the Premier League. Yet.
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22 min It’s still very scruffy. Arsenal are dominating possession but Chelsea have looked more threatening in transition.
Talking of which, Joao Pedro lobs a good pass to Enzo Fernandez, who is waiting for the ball to drop on the edge of the area when Timber makes an important challenge.
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19 min Estevao tries to make amends with a curler from distance. Goalkick to Arsenal.
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18 min: Chance for Chelsea! Estevao was the first clear chance, blootering into orbit from 12 yards when a low cross from Joao Pedro is only half cleared by Mosquera.
The best chance of the game for the young Brazilian. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The GuardianShare
Updated at 11.53 EST
16 min Estevao’s low ball into the box almost breaks for Neto, who is about to shoot from six yards when Rice stretches to make a terrific challenge.
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13 min Rice’s long throw is half cleared to Eze on the edge of the area. He plays a good pass to Saka, whose right-foot drive is kicked away by Sanchez. Looks like Saka was offside so any goal wouldn’t have counted.
Chelsea break and Mosquera is booked for a foul on Joao Pedro.
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Updated at 12.00 EST
11 min In a shocking development, Marc Cucurella is booked for a foul on Bukayo Saka.
This game is muck, a kicking match with the odd bit of football.
How unlike Marc Cucurella to foul his opponent. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The GuardianShare
Updated at 11.50 EST
8 min Timber goes over after a challenge from Caicedo. The referee gives a throw-in to Chelsea, to the distaste of Mikel Arteta. It’s been a niggly start to the game.
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Updated at 11.39 EST
5 min Zubimendi is booked for a cynical foul on James.
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5 min All a bit stop-start for now, with another stoppage when Rice is penalised for a foul on Caicedo.
Caicedo then shoves Merino (I think) out of his way off the ball.
Moises Caicedo has a frank exchange of views with Mikel Merino. Photograph: David Klein/ReutersShare
Updated at 11.41 EST
3 min Cucurella waves his hands angrily after being penalised for a robust challenge on Saka.
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1 min And they’re off, Arsenal kicking from left to right as we watch.
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A reminder of the teams before they take the field
Chelsea (4-1-2-3ish) Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo; James, Enzo; Estevao, Joao Pedro, Pedro Neto.
Subs: Jorgensen, Acheampong, Tosin, Badiashile, Andrey Santos, Palmer, Gittens, Garnacho, Delap.
Arsenal (4-1-2-3ish) Raya; Timber, Mosquera, Hincapie, Calafiori; Zubimendi; Eze, Rice; Saka, Merino, Martinelli.
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Lewis-Skelly, White, Odegaard, Norgaard, Nwaneri, Madueke, Gyokeres, Jesus.
Referee Anthony Taylor.
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The updated Premier League table
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Today’s Premier League results
ShareEd Aarons
Mikel Arteta is confident the best is to come from Declan Rice as Arsenal prepare for their top-of-the-table showdown at Chelsea.
The England midfielder was outstanding in Arsenal’s victories against Tottenham and Bayern Munich over the past week and will face the club where he spent seven years before being released aged 14. Arsenal lead second-placed Chelsea by six points and Arteta has not lost at Stamford Bridge in six visits as a manager.
Arteta signed Rice from West Ham in 2023 and said even he had been surprised by the 26-year-old’s progression since the £105m move. He was asked whether he thought Rice had reached his peak.
“Probably yes, a year or two ago, yes,” Arteta said. “But now being with him every single day and understanding and connecting with him in the way that I’ve done, we’re going to get more. Because he wants more and he’s going to get more. The team knows him better, his role is growing around the team, the impact that he has on the team is huge and we’ll find ways to make it even better.”
ShareJacob Steinberg
The worst way for Chelsea to respond to their demolition of Barcelona would be to believe the hype. The problem is that emotions in football swing from one extreme to another, as the people running things at Stamford Bridge have quickly come to appreciate.
They have faced plenty of ridicule for their alternative approach since buying the club from Roman Abramovich three years ago, so perhaps they are entitled to be a little sceptical now that Chelsea are being praised for their transfer strategy and talked up as potential title challengers before hosting Arsenal on Sunday.
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Team news
Cole Palmer is on the bench for Chelsea, who make one change from the win over Barcelona: Joao Pedro replaces Alejandro Garnacho.
Arsenal’s William Saliba was injured in training and is replaced by Piero Hincapie. Gabriel Martinelli and Riccardo Calafiori come into the team for Leandro Trossard and Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Chelsea (4-1-2-3ish) Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo; James, Enzo; Estevao, Joao Pedro, Pedro Neto.
Subs: Jorgensen, Acheampong, Tosin, Badiashile, Andrey Santos, Palmer, Gittens, Garnacho, Delap.
Arsenal (4-1-2-3ish) Raya; Timber, Mosquera, Hincapie, Calafiori; Zubimendi; Eze, Rice; Saka, Merino, Martinelli.
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Lewis-Skelly, White, Odegaard, Norgaard, Nwaneri, Madueke, Gyokeres, Jesus.
Referee Anthony Taylor.
When it comes to a half and half scarf, nothing bad can happen, it can only good happen. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The GuardianShare
Updated at 11.19 EST
Preamble
Hello, good day and welcome to live, minute-by-minute coverage of Chelsea v Arsenal at Stamford Bridge. Big game, this. If Arsenal win, the title race will have the unsatisfactory* whiff of a done deal. Right now they are the best team in England, arguably Europe.
Not that Chelsea are far behind: they drilled Barcelona 3-0 on Tuesday – and that was without Cole Palmer, who will return in some capacity today. If all that wasn’t saliva-inducing enough, these clubs don’t love one another. It’s been a while since they put the needle on the record; given the stakes – low in the grand scheme, high for the end of November – today could be the day.
Kick off 4.30pm.
* To everyone but Arsenal fans
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