The Gunners were unbeaten in nine, with their previous English top-flight game being another London derby where they were far too good for neighbours, Tottenham Hotspur.
Arsenal unbeaten against Chelsea since 2021
The Blues, meanwhile, were unbeaten in three league games themselves, but had also won a number of plaudits for the way in which they'd dismantled European giants Barcelona in their midweek Champions League clash.
In recent head-to-heads, Arsenal had got the better of Chelsea, not losing to them in seven matches dating back to August 2021. During that period, the North Londoners had outscored their West London rivals by netting 17 goals and conceding just six.
The game was clearly going to prove a tough test for Mikel Arteta and his team, however, as Chelsea had collected 10 points from a possible 18 at the Bridge this season.
Further, the hosts had won five and lost just one of their six home games in 2025/26, though the visitors had only lost once all season, which came at Anfield against Liverpool.
Conceding just six times in 12 English top-flight games this season also ensured that Arsenal comfortably had the most miserly defence in the league.
No Saliba or Gabriel for the Gunners
That defence was shorn of both William Saliba and Gabriel for only the second time in their last 162 collective league matches.
The visitors certainly showed their intent from the first whistle, and when Martin Zubimendi was given a fifth-minute yellow card, it was the earliest shown to an Arsenal player in a Premier League game since Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain against Middlesbrough in April 2017 (fourth minute).
Chelsea's Marc Cucurella would also soon find himself in the referee's book, the fourth time in his last five appearances against the Gunners that he's done so.
It would take until the 12th minute for either side to have a shot on target, Bukayo Saka's effort the only time in the game he managed to work Robert Sanchez.
Yellow cards brandished like confetti
The feisty nature of the encounter quickly saw another yellow brandished, this time for Cristhian Mosquera, the earliest in a Premier League fixture in 2025 that three cards have been dished out.
Chelsea's players then took the game by the scruff of the neck, with Estevao having two of three Blues attempts in a three-minute window.
The Brazilian, an undoubted star of the show against Barcelona, was making his fifth Premier League start for the club. At 18 years and 220 days old, he became the second-youngest player to do so after Jody Morris (18y 115d).
The hosts' dominance was evidenced by the fact that Gabriel Martinelli, so often a decent attacking outlet for the Gunners, had touched the ball just six times in the opening half hour.
Caicedo deservedly sent off
Soon after, Chelsea were reduced to 10 men when Moises Caicedo went over the top of the ball and his studs connected with Mikel Merino. The Ecuadorian, who had only made a single interception and touched the ball on 22 occasions - less than everyone bar Estevao to that point - could have no complaints.
A fourth red card for Chelsea in their 13 league games this season is only one less than the five given against them in the entire 2015/16 campaign, and is something that Enzo Maresca perhaps needs to address moving forward.
The Italian may well point to his side harnessing their physicality in the right manner, given the 42 one-on-one duels that Malo Gusto, Enzo Fernandez and Reece James alone attempted, winning the majority of them.
Right on half-time, Martinelli finally got a goal-bound shot away, but it was expertly palmed away by Robert Sanchez, who had set himself to dive to the opposite side but somehow managed to get a hand on the effort.
For a keeper that's been roundly criticised of late, it was one of three saves, equalling David Raya at the opposite end.
Garnacho makes history
Coincidentally, Martinelli's effort was one of just two Arsenal shots in the first half; their fewest in the opening 45 minutes of a Premier League game since October 2023, also against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Alejandro Garnacho joined the fray for the second 45, and in so doing became the youngest South American player to reach 100 Premier League appearances (21y 152d).
He won't want to be reminded of his contribution, however, with just one touch in the Arsenal box being a pretty pathetic return, despite his 100% pass accuracy from 10 attempted.
Just two minutes into the half, Trevoh Chalobah rose highest to flick a corner into the net and send the Stamford Bridge faithful into ecstasy.
The defender had already enjoyed an excellent game, winning the majority of his duels and gaining possession on four occasions. Not to mention clearing his lines on six separate occasions and winning all of his tackles in the match.
To Arsenal's credit, they continued to chip away at their opponents' weaknesses, with Declan Rice (93.1%), Zubimendi (88.5%) and Eberechi Eze (88.9%) controlling the midfield dynamic.
Merino scores a header against Chelsea again
Just before the hour, Saka wriggled free of Cucurella's close attention and his pinpoint cross was powered home by an unmarked Merino, one of the Spaniard's four touches in the Chelsea box, the joint second most on the day.
Only the Blues can boast a similar record to their opponents of eight headed goals this season, with the goal being the second in succession scored against Chelsea by Merino with a header.
Among all non-defenders with 10+ goals in the competition's history, only James Scowcroft (71% - 10/14) has scored a higher ratio with his head than the Spanish midfielder.
Despite Arsenal going on to have 70% possession, the hosts came on stronger as the game progressed, with Liam Delap, Pedro Neto and Wesley Fofana all going close.
Reece James won more duels (nine) than any other player in the match, and that probably accounted for Arsenal's fewest shots in a Premier League game since September 2024 vs Manchester City.
In the end, a point earned by both teams will almost certainly be looked upon as one gained rather than two dropped.
