Timber header earns Arsenal crucial win over Chelsea

LONDON, March 1 : Arsenal maintained control of the Premier League title race as they chiselled out a nervy 2-1 win over London rivals Chelsea to open up a five-point lead at the top of the table on Sunday.

Jurrien Timber's 66th-minute header from a Declan Rice corner ensured Arsenal took three precious points but it was an afternoon of nerves in north London.

It was far from pretty but Mikel Arteta's side, and the fans who squirmed through the closing minutes, will not care about that as a first title since 2004 edged a little closer.

Arsenal moved to 64 points from 29 games with sole chasers Manchester City, who have played a game fewer, on 59.

Defender William Saliba had given Arsenal the lead in the 21st minute from a trademark corner routine.

But it had looked as though an own goal by Piero Hincapie just before halftime would prove costly for the hosts until Timber came to their rescue, although it needed a superb last-gasp save by David Raya to preserve the points.

"My heart almost stopped at the end," a relieved Arteta told reporters. "We had to go through difficult patches to earn the right to win the game. When you see how teams are playing, everyone is suffering."

Chelsea lost for the first time in seven league matches under new manager Liam Rosenior and suffered a seventh red card of the league season as Pedro Neto was dismissed in the 70th minute.

"We need to do something (about the red cards) for sure," Rosenior said. "Because it's not acceptable."

Arsenal fans will hope the remaining nine games of the Premier League run-in are less fraught than this one.

CORNER KINGS

A grinding display extended their unbeaten league run against Chelsea to nine games as they resorted to the tactic that has served them so well this