Premier League 2025-26: Timber’s header earns Arsenal crucial win over Chelsea

Arsenal retained control of the 2025/26 Premier League title race as they recorded a nail-biting 2-1 win over London rivals Chelsea to open a five-point lead at the top of the table on Sunday.

Jurrien Timber’s 66th-minute header from Declan Rice’s corner gave Arsenal three precious points, but it was an afternoon full of nerves in north London.

It was far from pretty, but Mikel Arteta’s side and the fans who powered through the closing minutes won’t care as they inch closer to a first title since 2004.

Arsenal climbed to 64 points from 29 games, while only pursuer Manchester City, which has played one game less, is on 59.

Defender William Saliba had put Arsenal ahead in the 21st minute from a trademark corner.

But it looked like an own goal from Piero ‌Hincapie just before half-time would cost the hosts dearly, until Timber came to his rescue.

Chelsea, whose six-match unbeaten league run under new manager Liam Rosenior was halted, ended the match with 10 men after Pedro Neto was sent off for a second yellow card.

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Arsenal fans will be hoping that the remaining nine games of the Premier League will be less fraught than this one.

CORNER KINGS

It was not a smooth performance as Arsenal extended their unbeaten run against Chelsea to nine games and had to resort to the tactics that have served them so well this season.

With both goals coming from corners, Arsenal have scored 16 goals in the Premier League this season, the most of any team in a single season.

However, it got a taste of its own medicine when Hincapie’s own goal also came from a corner.

There was also plenty of puffed-up cheeks when the referee blew the final whistle after a period of stoppage time that Arsenal spent against Chelsea’s ten men.

The thrashing of north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur last weekend had eased mounting pressure after Arsenal’s form began to falter in recent weeks.

However, sixth-placed Chelsea proved a much sterner test as they looked to boost their hopes of a top-five finish.

Arsenal took the lead when captain Bukayo Saka’s deep corner was headed back across goal by Gabriel, and fellow defender Saliba nodded towards goal as the ball went in via Chelsea’s Mamadou Sarr, although Saliba was credited with the goal.

It looked under control for much of the first half but faltered before half-time when it came into conflict with Chelsea’s own set-piece understanding.

Arsenal keeper David Raya had just made a reflex save to prevent a Jorrel Hato header, but from an almost identical corner from Reece James he was helpless as the ball slid off Hincapie’s head and into the net.

The nerves really started to fray in the second half as Chelsea looked the more threatening side, with Enzo Fernandez forcing Raya to turn his low shot around the post before Joao ⁠Pedro headed the resulting corner straight at him.

When Rice’s corner troubled Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez, Timber was there to restore Arsenal’s lead.

Neto was shown a yellow card for dissent in the aftermath and three minutes later was sent off for a foul on Gabriel Martinelli. Still, Chelsea finished strongly and substitute Alejandro Garnacho almost grabbed a point when his cross was cleared by Raya before Liam Delap stabbed in from close range, but Arsenal were saved by an offside flag.

Published on March 2, 2026