Merino strike proves the distinction as strikerless Arsenal sink Chelsea

Mikel Arteta had promised that Arsenal wouldn’t hand over on their title dream simply and, though they continue to be 12 factors behind the champions-elect Liverpool after some of the snug 1-0 win you will note, there stays hope on this a part of north London.

Mikel Merino’s first-half objective from a nook – Arsenal’s eleventh of the season however first since mid-January – proved sufficient to see off a toothless ­Chelsea facet who appeared badly wanting ­inspiration with out their talisman Cole Palmer and safe a primary win in 4 league video games.

It was the seventh successive away league sport that Enzo Maresca’s facet have did not win and, with the ­chasing pack respiratory down their neck within the race for the highest 5, these are worrying instances for the Italian.

Chelsea have managed solely three objectives on the street since defeating Tottenham in December and by no means appeared like recovering from falling behind right here, whereas Robert Sánchez endured one other afternoon he’ll wish to neglect because the goalkeeper was culpable for Merino’s objective.

Arsenal have been grateful for any help they may get having dropped factors in opposition to West Ham, ­Nottingham Forest and ­Manchester United of their previous three league video games, with Arteta refusing to surrender hope that it may nonetheless be their 12 months having completed as runners-up to Manchester Metropolis for the previous two seasons. “We’ve got to win our soccer matches, that’s what it must be,” he stated. “Win in opposition to Fulham [before Liverpool face Everton in their next match] and we’ll be nearer.”

Palmer was additionally absent when ­Chelsea endured a file 5-0 defeat beneath Mauricio Pochettino 11 months in the past and there have been instances in the course of the first half right here when it appeared like there could possibly be an identical scoreline had it not been for Arsenal’s profligacy.

Maresca opted for Enzo ­Fernández to fill the No 10 function and once more began Reece James in central midfield regardless of Thomas Tuchel insisting final week that his finest place is at full‑again. Each laboured to reside with the ferocious tempo set by the excellent Declan Rice proper from the beginning.

Arsenal have struggled to recapture their blistering Premier League type of final spring with so many attacking gamers nonetheless lacking, and it was a shock to see Ethan Nwaneri – maybe the most effective finisher ­obtainable to Arteta – left on the bench.

The outcome was a lot of wasted probabilities contained in the opening 20 minutes when Chelsea may have simply been three objectives down, thanks partially to Sánchez. Gabriel Martinelli couldn’t benefit from the ­alternative gifted to him by the ­Chelsea ­goalkeeper earlier than Marc Cucurella was maybe lucky to not concede a penalty when the ball appeared to strike his arm whereas beneath strain from Jurrien Timber. Rice ultimately fired over after a clearance had cannoned into his path by way of James’s face.

It was solely a matter of time till Arsenal discovered a manner by way of and Sánchez was once more at fault. Merino’s deft header from a nook caught him flat-footed at his close to put up and the ball looped into the far nook of the unguarded internet.

“It was a distinct form of ­end than we deliberate,” Arteta stated. “However [we’re] very joyful as a result of that might generate the assumption within the crew once more, even within the stadium that we will rating, as a result of it’s one thing that we’re lacking after we’re so prolific on that and with the quantity of accidents that now we have to take care of within the entrance line.”

Wesley Fofana may simply have been despatched off when he adopted by way of with a deal with on Rice and stood on him, though VAR dominated that there had not been not ample pressure to warrant a purple card.

Chelsea had did not muster even a single contact in Arsenal’s penalty space by that stage as their midfield chased shadows. They need to have fallen additional behind had Martinelli not blazed over after wonderful work from Martin Ødegaard. However David Raya had a momentary lapse of focus and nearly spilled Cucurella’s tame volley into his personal internet in Chelsea’s first important assault seven minutes earlier than half-time.

That lastly appeared to get up the guests and Maresca would have been barely extra inspired by his crew’s begin to the second half as they started to frustrate Arsenal and create the occasional opening. A superb response save from Sánchez to disclaim Merino his second from a volley on the again put up was the fruits of a scrappy interval of play throughout which two gamers from all sides went into the referee Chris Kavanagh’s booktwo gamers from all sides have been booked.

Maresca threw on Kiernan ­Dewsbury-Corridor and Tyrique George late on to exchange the ineffective Christopher Nkunku and Jadon Sancho. However neither facet actually got here near scoring as the sport petered out as a contest.

At this stage of the season, all that basically issues is the outcome and with a Champions League quarter-final in opposition to Actual Madrid to come back, ­Arsenal can head into the worldwide break happy they nonetheless have lots for which to play. Maresca can solely hope ­Chelsea will rediscover their mojo earlier than it’s too late.