The battle of London is always a match to look out for because of the tension that comes with the game, and as expected, it did not fall far from that. It was a tension-filled battle for both sides desperately wanted a win. Arsenal was on top of their game as they did everything within their power to make sure that they secured the win, as it gets tougher to remain at the top of the table at this given time. ![IMG_7461.jpeg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/samostically/EokdX7eCHz1x5SdWm5vq3133BGZtAsMPUy9KERg8KdeeWMVLdfK7VJNk199JsdSg8Jy.jpeg) _{[Image from the official Arsenal’s x page](https://x.com/arsenal/status/2028175403555189232?s=46)}
From the start of the game, it was all pressing for Arsenal as they did a pretty decent job in forcing Chelsea to play their hands, show them what they had up their sleeves in order to know where their strength lies. Our star boy Saka was causing more pressure on the wing, causing Chelsea's defense to prove how strong they can be when put under the test of time. The entire dominance for Gunners was to stretch Chelsea's backline, and yes, that was so obvious during the game. The first half said it all with the way Arsenal played. Starting from the backline passes down to the not over pressing the advantage rather maintaining it with a close eye. It was still in the first half when the first goal for Arsenal came in through a corner kick taken by Declan Rice, then a header assist from Gabriel down to Saliba, who finally put it into the net. The goal speaks about how Arsenal have become super dangerous at taking corner kicks. This made me a bit calm but when I knew we were a goal ahead. Although I was not fully relaxed because if there is one thing Chelsea have been known this season especially in the Champions league is their art of comeback when it comes to games that they were losing. And as I anticipated, moments later there was a controversy between Declan Rice and Joao Pedro because of how Declan Rice handled him it the box 18 during a corner kick from Chelsea taken by Reece James. This even led to elbow contact with the ball for Declan Rice and that is where the debate sparked. Chelsea fans took to X claiming that act should have awarded a penalty but it was not given. To spice up the pot, at least that encounter lead to another corner kick that brought the equalizing goal for Chelsea in the same half. All this happened in the first half and there was still more to come in the second half. The second half saw a fight on the pitch from both sides and this is a fight for the win. Nobody was holding back anymore as everybody wanted the win by all means needed to be done on the pitch. I was literally at the edge of my seat while watching this match because I know I would not hear the last of it if Arsenal had lost the match. It would have been devastating because Arsenal has a whole lot to lose at this point given that they are in the run for the Premier League trophy this season. We do not want any almost close syndrome. So you can see how excited I got when we got the winning goal from J.Timber through an assist from Declan Rice at 66 minutes of the match and that was not all, another wave of joy came to me when VAR denied Chelsea's die minute equalizer. It was a close one for us.
___ ![samosti 2.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/samostically/23t7DhyLBcxoXuUmgwLnZvioQ3v5QnMB9qFkMvfhpceXCucVBy9yV435N3hgNLQdeLYpm.png)

![Samostically Banner.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/samostically/Eo6Cie7XPvRCoFSbPcHCY2WLfe8w5upAP4o2FvnNPV8d52md62bx9Gg7vhkcHNi1hnr.png)

_{I am @samostically, a chess player and writer. I love to share the experience I have gained from different battles over the 64 squares and the knowledgeable insights from books I have read. But most importantly, [I am a Midnight Owl and I founded the community Midnight Letters.](https://peakd.com/c/hive-186424/about)} ♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟ ![samosti 2.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/samostically/23t7DhyLBcxoXuUmgwLnZvioQ3v5QnMB9qFkMvfhpceXCucVBy9yV435N3hgNLQdeLYpm.png)

if it was hot...