Arsenal vs Chelsea LIVE RESULT: Mikel Merino header earns Gunners all three points as poor Blues struggle again
MIKEL MERINO scored the only goal of the game as Arsenal beat a lacklustre Chelsea at the Emirates.
The big news ahead of kick-off was that Blues talisman Cole Palmer was OUT of the matchday squad with a minor injury.
The West London side's slow start was capitalised on by the hosts as makeshift striker Merino rose highest from a corner to flick over Robert Sánchez after 20 minutes of dominance.
Chelsea dominated possession but managed just two shots on target as Arsenal controlled the match.
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So, Mikel Merino's header was enough to give the Gunners all three points in the London derby against Chelsea.
The Blues, without Cole Palmer, toiled but couldn't breach Arsenal's backline.
It's a huge dent for their top four hopes and Champions League qualifications.
For Arsenal, it keeps their slim title aspirations alive - a 15 point gap is now a mere 12 point gap now!
As always, thanks for staying with us. We hope you enjoyed our coverage.
It's goodnight, for now.
Promising Saka news
Mikel Arteta has claimed Bukayo Saka has "a good chance" to be fit after the international break.
When asked on Sky Sports if the Gunners talisman could return in the next few weeks, Arteta said: "He has a good chance, yes.”
Saka has been missing from action since mid-December after tearing his hamstring against Crystal Palace.
Arteta in the title race
Arsenal have closed the gap at the top to 12 points with their win over Chelsea.
Mikel Arteta insists all his team can do is win matches and see where they end up.
He told Sky Sports: "The only thing we can do is try to win our matches.
"If we do, we are in a better position."
'Champions League is our target'
Moises Caicedo spoke with Sky Sports after the defeat to Arsenal.
He said: "The team is good, the team is working hard to win the games. We want to show character, we want to play our best football and we want to win games like this.
"We want to play Champions League football next season. The teams are close but we are just focused on ourselves because that is the most important thing. Champions League football is our target."
Palmer's an England doubt
Enzo Maresca has revealed Cole Palmer is unlikely to be fit for England duty.
The Italian confirmed the Chelsea playmaker has a scan booked on Monday.
He added: "For sure [he is unlikely to join the England squad], because he is injured and he didn't play today."
More reaction from Maresca
I think we were in the game until the end. There was not a big difference in the two games between us. Given the injuries, we fought until the end. After the international break, we can have more players back like Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke for the final sprint.
“They scored a set-piece, they are masters at that. It is a shame but my feeling is that we are going in the right direction.
"We controlled the game, we created some chances. In the second half we were there. Overall, I think we competed very well."
'Try harder'
CHELSEA fans were not impressed with Enzo Maresca after he was "disrespected" by Arsenal's Jurrien Timber.
Maresca and Timber were involved in an incident during the closing stages of the match in North London.
The Arsenal full-back was caught on camera leaning in and telling Maresca on the sideline to: "Try harder, try harder."
Maresca responded with his mouth covered, before Timber cheekily held out his own hand.
The Chelsea boss shook it, with play resuming deep into stoppage time on the field.
The footage quickly went viral - and some Chelsea fans were not impressed at Maresca's light-hearted reaction.
One fumed on X: "Absolutely embarrassing our manager is taking that."
Maresca's thoughts
We struggled on and off the ball for the first 25 minutes. Second half we were there.
"It's not easy to create chances against Arsenal, they are one of the best defenders. We competed quite well."
Arteta on Merino as a striker
He wants to understand everything, he wants to learn from it, he's very critical of himself all the time and at the end, the reality is that he's winning football matches for us, which is incredible; he's never played in that position before in his life.
Arteta reaction
Yes, very happy obviously with the result, with big parts of that performance. I love the attitude of the team from the beginning, the way we approached it, how aggressive we were with our goal, scored a goal.
A lot of chances that we didn't put away and then we continue to do a lot of the things defensively so well and the right to attack open spaces and so many situations with huge advantages that we just gave away. Then we have to try back 70 metres and on that phase probably we've beaten one of the best teams in the world today because we were unbelievable the way we've done it.We have conceded almost nothing apart from that strange save from David, I would say and that's a big credit to the team because in my opinion they are the best attacking team in the league.
Who starred?
SunSport's match ratings give you the lowdown on the star men at the Emirates today.
It was a nervy affair, but who stood out for Conor Jones?
See below.
Our man at the ground
SunSport's Jordan Davies was at the Emirates taking in the game.
Here's what he made of all the action below in his match report.
Chelsea get wake-up call at Emirates
At times this season, pundits and fans alike have been tricked into thinking this Chelsea team is far closer to their long-term goals than they are.
Games like this are a good benchmark and sadly for The Blues, they failed to land a glove on The Gunners this afternoon.
Maresca still has a lot to do in West London, it just remains to be seen if he is the right person to achieve that aim.
Arteta looking for perfect run
The Arsenal manager has tried to ignore talk of their title challenge being over already.
Arteta will want his side to go on a run from now until the end of the season so as to keep leaders Liverpool on their toes.
If The Gunners do that and still lose the title, you cannot really criticise their final push this campaign.
However, should they drop points and hand the title to Slot's side, that guard of honour at Anfield will be a painful experience.
Spaniard with time to refocus
With games coming thick and fast at this time of the season, Mikel Arteta will no doubt welcome the international break.
It will allows The Gunners to try and get some players back to full fitness and get themselves up for the challenges ahead.
That said, he will no doubt be monitoring his players who away on international duty, praying no one picks up an injuries.
Norway through for Maresca's Blues
It seems to be something repeated every time they play but skipper Martin Odegaard is crucial to this Arsenal side.
He is having to play a slightly different role wiith their lack of a striker but once again the midfielder was a constant threat for the hosts.
The Norwegian has made himself a fan-favourite in North London and Arteta's side look blunt without him.
Fans content with result in capital
It was once a cliche of the great Arsenal sides, so supporters can shout 'one-nil to the Arsenal' as they leave the ground today.
No need to analyse the performance at this critical point of the season, such is the gap to leaders Liverpool, winning games when not playing your best is key.
The clean sheet will be seen as a positive, although based on that Chelsea performance today, they could play until next weekend and still not score.
Namesake saves Arteta in derby
Mikel Merino's goal was the difference between the sides in this drab London derby at The Emirates.
Arsenal's manager must have PTSD currently about his post-match media work when they ask that awkward title race question.
However, performances are not important at the business end of the season but points are.
The Gunners close the gap to twelve points from leaders Liverpool.
FT: Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea
A slender victory for The Gunners in this London derby.
Chelsea have plenty to worry about as they look to get back to where they feel the club should be.
They may be a work in progress but they do not look very far down that path currently, which should be a concern considering the financial outlay to put this squad together.
FT: Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea
The referee brings the game to a close in North London.
Not a performance to set the world alight from Arsenal but they ground out the all-important win.
Sky Sports may struggle to pad out the highlights of this game to anything more than a minute.
Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea
90+2. Irrelevant to your thoughts on the player's abilities, if more of this Chelsea side had the hunger of Cucurella they would be a far more potent threat.
They are a goal down at The Emirates, with minutes remaining, yet are playing like a team looking to see a game out for the three points.
There is something distinctly lacking in this side of Maresca's.
Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea
90. The Gunners aree making a change with Tierney coming on.
He is replacing Odegaard for Arteta's side.
That underpins how the plan now is just to hold onto what they have.
We are going to have four added minutes.
Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea
88. This match can be summed up by both sides predicted XG.
Arsenal's is 0.77 and Chelsea's is 0.34.
To be fair, the vistors predicted XG still seems very generous.
Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea
86. Tosin and Gusto come on for Chelsea.
They replace Badiashille and Fofana for The Blues.
Arsenal are looking to hold onto what they have at the moment.
Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea
84. George is trying to make things happen out wide.
When closed down, he offloads it to Fernandez and all the tempo of the attack is lost.
Chelsea must be a frustrating watch every week for their season ticket holders.