Arsenal defeated London opponents Chelsea 1-0 for his or her first win in 4 Premier League video games on Sunday as a headed objective via stand-in striker Mikel Merino boosted their faint hopes of catching up with runaway leaders Liverpool.
Merino scored within the twentieth minute when he stooped to flick his looping header over Robert Sánchez within the Chelsea objective after a Martin Ødegaard nook.
The midfielder, who has led Arsenal’s assault within the absence of injured colleagues in fresh weeks, got here with reference to a moment objective within the sixtieth minute however his side-footed volley was once saved out via a positive save via Sanchez.
Mikel Merino scored the decisive objective for Arsenal.
David Value/Arsenal FC by the use of Getty Photographs
Chelsea had been additionally lacking firepower up entrance with most sensible scorer Cole Palmer absent whilst centre ahead Nicolas Jackson stays sidelined, additionally because of damage.
With out them, Chelsea struggled to threaten Arsenal’s backline. The nearest they got here to an equaliser was once within the thirty seventh minute when defender Marc Cucurella hammered an angled volley at David Raya just for the ball to squeeze in the course of the Arsenal goalkeeper’s palms and move simply large.
The win left second-placed Arsenal 12 issues in the back of Liverpool who face Newcastle United within the League Cup ultimate in a while Sunday.
Each the highest two groups have performed 29 video games with an additional 9 rounds of fixtures to head.
Chelsea are fourth, one level forward of Manchester Town and 5 in the back of third-placed Nottingham Wooded area.
