'Arsenal deserve to be clear - but who's best placed to challenge?'

Recent in Sports
Curacao become smallest nation to qualify for World Cup
McClaren quits as Jamaica manager
'Close to perfect' - Bellamy revels in Wales masterclass
Hemp returns to England squad but James misses out
Famous Cardiff nights fuel Wales' World Cup dream

Moises Caicedo's sending-off during the 1-1 draw with Arsenal marked the fourth instance this season where a Chelsea player has received a red card in just 13 Premier League matches.

One of these dismissals involved Malo Gusto, who was shown red against Nottingham Forest in the dying moments, an incident that did not alter the result. However, in matches against Manchester United, Brighton, and now Arsenal, Chelsea played with one less player for a considerable duration.

From these encounters, they have managed only a single point out of a potential nine, and naturally, the expulsion influenced each of the outcomes.

In the clash with Arsenal, considering the circumstances, Chelsea might feel content with securing one point given their response to going down to 10 players and their subsequent goal. Despite letting one goal in, they made it challenging for Arsenal, who struggled to break through their defense.

Yet, due to the manner in which his team performed with a man down, it is likely that Blues manager Enzo Maresca will view this as a missed opportunity to reduce the deficit with the league leaders.

It wasn't that long ago when Arsenal themselves were lamenting the impact of detrimental red cards during their title ambitions — they dropped points in three of their first eight matches last season, all resulting from sending-offs.

In contrast, their disciplinary record has significantly improved this season. They did receive six yellow cards in an intense London derby on Sunday, but they managed to keep all players on the field.

This is something that Mikel Arteta's team has achieved in each of the 20 matches they have contested across all competitions this season, a standard that Chelsea would do well to emulate.

Chelsea's inconsistency also a factor

Prior to the season kickoff, I did not anticipate Chelsea to be in the title race; I perceived them more as contenders for a top-four finish. Similarly, I didn't expect them to triumph in the Club World Cup over the summer, which came as a surprise.

It may be beneficial for them that they are not widely regarded as title challengers at this stage, despite Sunday’s match featuring the top two teams before the weekend.

While they remain in a favorable position following their draw, do I believe they can clinch the Premier League title from this point? I do not.

Is it possible for them to win it? Certainly… but they will need to enhance their performance beyond merely improving their disciplinary record.

Ultimately, it is their lack of consistency that has been their greatest downfall, evident in matches like their 2-1 defeat at home to Sunderland, where the red card was not the cause, as what appeared to be a decent season start could have been even more fruitful.

Manchester City giving away too many opportunities

Among the teams trailing behind Arsenal in the hunt, Aston Villa is likely in the best form. Under the management of Unai Emery, the team has been exceptional lately and is currently enjoying an impressive run.

However, among last season's top five, it is solely the Gunners who have displayed any level of stability - the other four clubs have fluctuated significantly - especially Liverpool and Newcastle, with Chelsea included as well.

Manchester City mirrors this inconsistency as they currently sit in second place yet appear vulnerable defensively, surrendering an excessive number of opportunities.

In the standings, Liverpool secured a crucial victory on Sunday; nevertheless, I still doubt that the reigning champions can re-enter the title contention.

Instead, their focus is likely directed toward securing a spot in the Champions League, which should be achievable considering the talent within their squad.

Their clash with West Ham was another match I viewed for Match of the Day. Following the Reds’ recent form, they reached a point where delivering a strong performance was secondary to simply obtaining a favorable result.

Ultimately, they accomplished both objectives. This was a significant three points, especially since Arne Slot faced mounting pressure and made a noteworthy decision to omit Mohamed Salah, a gamble that paid off.

It was also monumental for Alexander Isak to net his first Premier League goal for Liverpool. He had to wait longer than anticipated for this moment, as did the Liverpool supporters.

His strike against West Ham was a magnificent half-volley and crucial as it altered the momentum of the match.

There is no denying Isak's talent, so it was hardly unexpected to see him execute such a clever shot.

It boils down to him regaining full fitness after missing a significant part of pre-season and the squad adapting to his playing style, an adjustment that both he and Liverpool are still navigating.

Arsenal have earned their five-point lead

What remains unchanged this weekend is that Arsenal continues to be the team to surpass.

One could contend that they had the potential to achieve more against Chelsea's ten men, and they might feel frustrated for not generating additional chances post-red card, settling for a draw instead.

Nonetheless, when considering the broader context, they have emerged from a challenging week in both the Champions League and Premier League with commendable victories over Tottenham and Bayern Munich, culminating in a draw away against the club that was nearest to them in the standings.

In the match against Chelsea, they were without both starting centre-backs, Gabriel and William Saliba, and I believe it is not a mere coincidence that, in their absence, they conceded a goal from a Chelsea set-piece and lacked their typical menace in attack.

This is yet another rationale for why securing this point will be regarded positively, and Arteta will not consider the outcome as two points lost.

Arsenal has recently ended their last two away matches in a draw; however, they remain the most reliable team in the Premier League, which explains their five-point lead.

The current league standings reflect the truth, as they always do. They rightfully occupy their position due to being the most impressive team thus far, and they will be difficult to catch up to.