After three consecutive Premier League games without a win, Arsenal FC are back on the road to success. Merino’s goal, earned by a strong first half-hour, was enough for the Gunners in the city derby against Chelsea FC. The Blues were too harmless in attack.
After both coaches had made major changes to their teams in the second leg of Arsenal’s Champions League last-16 tie against PSV Eindhoven (2-2) and Chelsea’s Conference League tie against Copenhagen, both Mikel Arteta and Enzo Maresca made six changes each ahead of the city derby. Ödegaard, Gabriel Martinelli and Trossard, among others, returned for Arsenal, while the Blues were without the injured Palmer.
Arsenal had not won in their last three league games, but they started strongly at the Emirates Stadium and pushed forward from the off. Trossard had the first shot on target in the 4th minute, with Gabriel Martinelli unable to convert a bad pass from Chelsea keeper Sanchez (not the only mistake by the Spaniard in the first half) (10th), before Rice headed the ball over the bar (12th). Sanchez had previously saved with his fist after the ball had been deflected several times. This situation was preceded by Cucurella losing possession after he stumbled in the box and touched the ball with his upper arm. However, referee Christopher Kavanagh allowed play to continue.
In the 20th minute, the Gunners then rewarded themselves for the good opening phase, Merino headed in the deserved lead after a corner (20th). Arsenal remained the more dominant team after that, only from the 35th minute did Chelsea manage to get longer periods of possession. From this, almost the equalizer emerged out of nowhere in the 37th minute, Raya let a volley shot from Cucurella slip through his hands, and the ball rolled just past the far post (37′ ). Until half-time, Arsenal retreated deep into their own half, and the Blues did not manage to convert their possession into further chances. So it was with the Gunners leading into the break.
Sanchez saves the only highlight of the second half
During the cautious start in the second half, Arsenal were again trying to gain more control – and the only advance by the Blues through Pedro Neto (58th minute) was not dangerous. So it was the Gunners who had the first big chance of the second half in the 60th minute. A cross to the second post was met by a volley from the unmarked Merino, but Sanchez made a strong save, pushing the ball just off the line.
Otherwise, however, there were few high-quality chances. Chelsea’s offense lacked ideas in their own possession phases against the well-positioned Gunners, and head coach Maresca’s bench also lacked offensive options. Arsenal allowed almost nothing – but their own offensive efforts were also rare. The home side thus managed to hold on to their lead in a final phase that was not particularly intense.
In the end, they got their first Premier League win after three games without a win, but the gap to Liverpool FC (both now 28 games) is already twelve points. Chelsea, on the other hand, missed out on important points in the fight for the Champions League places. Between 4th and 10th place, there is only a five-point difference.
After the international break, more London duels await both teams. On April 1 (Tuesday), the Gunners will host Fulham FC. Two days later, on Thursday, April 3, the Spurs will be guests at Chelsea FC at Stamford Bridge.
