Arsenal v Chelsea LIVE: Premier League result and reaction as Mikel Merino makes the difference | OneFootball

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Dewsbury-Hall can be important for Chelsea, claims Maresca

Arsenal reduced their deficit to Premier League leaders Liverpool to 12 points with a game in hand as they beat Chelsea 1-0 in a scrappy encounter at the Emirates.

Mikel Merino, again playing as a striker, made the difference with a glancing header to convert a Martin Odegaard cross for the game’s only goal.

His 20th-minute strike was to be one of few on target as both sides struggled in front of goal, with both keepers nearly caught out at times and Marc Cucurella - himself lucky to avoid conceding a penalty for handball early in the first half - Chelsea’s biggest threat.

As is often the case it was a feisty London derby so far between two Premier League rivals, but ultimately it was Arsenal in the driving seat, and they extended their unbeaten league run over the Blues - who were missing Cole Palmer due to injury - to seven games. second in the league and Chelsea just six points off them in fourth.

Pinned

Mikel Merino downs Chelsea to snap Arsenal’s winless run

Arsenal brought their three-game winless run in the Premier League to an end with a 1-0 victory over Chelsea at the Emirates to strengthen their grip on second place.

Mikel Merino’s clever header in the 19th minute settled a London derby that will not live long in the memory, the stand-in number nine looping Martin Odegaard’s corner in at the far post as Mikel Arteta’s side rekindled memories from earlier in the season of their effectiveness and cunning at set-pieces.

Chelsea, playing for the first time in the league without the injured Cole Palmer, were by contrast completely bereft of ideas, the slow, timorous approach that has characterised recent nervy wins lacking the bite to trouble Arsenal who had little problem keeping the ball from them.

Mikel Merino downs Chelsea to snap Arsenal’s winless run

The Spaniard’s header secured a 1-0 win for the second-placed Gunners with Enzo Maresca’s side failing to strengthen their hopes of a top four finish

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Flo Clifford16 March 2025 15:57

'We should have done much more' - Arteta

And the final word from Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, speaking to Sky Sports: "We should have done much more but we are very happy and it was an important game. We play a top opponent and the team played with an unbelievable spirit and now we go to the international break.

"The only thing we can do is try to win our matches. If we do, we are in a better position.

“We have had top players out for many many months. Our team has an incredible resilience. Mikel really wants to do well, he has never played that position before but he is scoring goals. He is a really dangerous player in the box and he can help us. Really pleased, even physically it is a very different game to play as a nine."

He also added that Bukayo Saka “has a good chance” of returning after the international break.

Arsenal beat Chelsea to close gap to Liverpool to 12 points

Mikel Merino made the difference at the Emirates today, with his first-half header capitalising on a brilliant spell of Arsenal pressure - and ending the hosts’ set-piece goal drought.

But it was a nervy display, particularly in a scrappy second half, and won’t do much to alleviate the ‘Arsenal need a striker’ chat.

However, there’s a smile on Arteta’s face and it’s another win in the bag as the Gunners stretch their advantage over Chelsea, in fourth, to nine points.

It’s also a seventh straight league game in which Chelsea have failed to beat Arsenal as an unwanted streak continues.