John Terry Aims Dig at Arsenal After Fiery 1–1 Derby as Chelsea Impress With 10 Men

Chelsea legend John Terry has never been shy about sharing his thoughts, and after Sunday’s heated 1–1 draw between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge, he made sure his voice was heard again. Despite the scoreline, Terry insisted there was only one team trying to win — and it wasn’t Arsenal.

The London derby delivered drama from start to finish, with Chelsea forced to play more than 50 minutes with ten men following Moises Caicedo’s straight red card for a heavy tackle on Mikel Merino. But instead of falling apart, the Blues showed grit, organisation and surprising attacking intent.

Chelsea Show Fight — Even With 10 Men

Chelsea struck first early in the second half through Trevoh Chalobah, who headed in the opener after a well-rehearsed set piece. The defender’s goal capped what Terry called a “super performance,” especially given the circumstances.

Arsenal eventually equalised through Merino, but the Gunners struggled to make their numerical advantage count for long spells.

Terry highlighted that, red card or not, Chelsea looked like the team hunting for three points.

“I thought we were by far the better team, regardless of spending the majority of the game down to 10 men,” Terry said on TikTok. “In the first half, there was only one team on the front foot looking to win the game.”

It’s high praise from a club legend known for his own commitment in big derbies — and it carries weight considering Arsenal entered the match as league leaders with 30 points, five clear of Manchester City and six above Chelsea.

What stood out most was Terry’s indirect jab at Arsenal. He suggested Mikel Arteta’s side lacked the same ambition and aggression that Chelsea showed, even with a man down.

“It’s a London derby — we want to see aggression, tackles, and hunger,” Terry added. “I thought Chelsea were the only team looking to win.”

He didn’t stop there. Terry also criticised the early referee decisions, arguing that Anthony Taylor “killed the game” by handing out three yellow cards within the first 15 minutes, slowing the derby’s natural tempo.

While Terry admitted Caicedo’s red card was fair, he called it a “big miss” for future games — yet insisted Chelsea adapted brilliantly.

Praise for Chalobah and Chelsea’s Defensive Strength

John Terry Aims Dig at Arsenal After Fiery 1–1 Derby as Chelsea Impress With 10 Men

Terry also singled out Chalobah for special praise, celebrating both his defensive performance and his goal.

Chelsea’s defensive organisation with ten men impressed him, particularly considering the team played midweek against Barcelona and had only recently travelled to Burnley.

He emphasised how crucial set-pieces were in preparation for the match, and how pleasing it was to see the team make them count.

“We’ve shown we can compete with the very best in the league,” Terry said. “Arsenal have been rolling teams over week after week — and they didn’t get further away from us in this title race. That’s massive.”

Chelsea Stay in the Title Race Conversation

The result keeps Chelsea within touching distance of the leaders. Arsenal stay top, but the Blues remain firmly in the chase with 24 points, just six behind the Gunners and one behind Manchester City.

Terry’s message was clear: this Chelsea team has the mentality, fight, and quality needed to go the distance this season.

The derby ended level — but in Terry’s eyes, Chelsea walked away with more than just a point. They walked away with belief.