Today’s London derby between Arsenal and Chelsea was much more important for the Blues. With many contenders for the places in the Champions League next season (Newcastle, Manchester City, Aston Villa, Brighton, Fulham), Enzo Maresca’s men needed all three points. But the team which spent nearly two billion euros since the takeover still doesn’t have enough quality in the team, not to mention a proper striker. With all those pricey midfielders, right back Reece James was deployed in midfield, while Pablo Neto had to play the striker. To be honest, the results are not better when you appoing a coach who was Pep Guardiola’s assistant for a year and managed Leicester in the second league for one season. Enzo Maresca is not up to Mikel Arteta and it showed: Arsenal – Chelsea 1-0.Today was the first time Chelsea were without Cole Palmer in the lineup for a Premier League game since 23 April 2024, when they lost 5-0 to Arsenal at the Emirates, but all those injuries to the front line, nobody expected the Gunners to score as much this time around. One goal was enough and it was Mikel Merino, who is forced to play as a ‘false nine’ for a number of games now. Arsenal are all but out of the title race but really didn’t want to drop points here and allow Nottingham Forest to get near the second spot. After all, they are three games without a win in the Premier League add with only one goal scored during that period. They wanted and needed the victory and got it, but should have used their chances throughout the game to put the match to bed way before 90th minute. Mikel Merinos goal from the stands 🤩🎥 ( @twofourfours ) pic.twitter.com/sp3rz4cwnG— AFCnewsroom (@TheAFCnewsroom) March 16, 2025 Thanks to Chelsea keeper, Arsenal fans were on their feet after only nine minutes. Sanchez passed the ball out from the back straight to Martinelli. The Brazilian drived into the box and shot which Sanchez managed to keep out of the goal. But bigger and better chance was about to follow three minutes later. Timber tricked Cucurella and got into the goal area where Fofana makes a crucial interception, but the pinball followed and Sanchez made a superb save (this time) to stop the goal. But he was powerless in the 20th minute, when the hosts took a corner and Merino met Odegaard’s cross and his header gave the Gunners much deserved lead. It’s worth nothing that this was their first goal from corner after January 15th and 51 corners taken since. Chelsea’s only chance came in the 37th minute when Cucurella’s effort nearly worked. Nkunku had an effort blocked and the ball came to the Spanish defender, whose volley somehow went through the hands of Raya and rolled wide of the right post.27 – Since the start of last season, Arsenal have scored more goals from corners than any other Premier League side (27). 11 of those have opened the scoring, which is also a league-high total in this period. Headstart. pic.twitter.com/rYUySUGO5W— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 16, 2025 Second half was not as interesting as the first one, with fewer real chances. For some reason, Arsenal let Chelsea have possession during some parts o the game, and risked receiving a late equalizer. In a rare attempt to score the second goal, Merino had a great shot in the 60th minute, but this time, Sanchez saved it brilliantly just at the goal line. The Brazilian was up to the task four minutes later, when he saved Odegaard’s shot into the bottom right corner. As the minutes went by, the home crowd was more and more nervous, as there was no real attacks from the home side and they feared some injury-time equalizer, but toothless Blues couldn’t come up with anything and remain in fourth place, thanks to a Manchester City hiccup against Brighton.PREMIER LEAGUE MATCHDAY 29 SaturdayEverton – West Ham 1-1 (0-0)/O’Brien 90+1 – Soucek 67/Ipswich – Nottingham Forest 2-4 (0-3)/Cajuste 82, Hirst 90+3 – Elanga 37,41, Milenkovic 35, Silva 87/Manchester City – Brighton 2-2 (2-1)/Haaland 11 pen, Marmoush 39 – Estupinan 21, Khusanov 48 og/Southampton – Wolves 1-2 (0-1)/Onuachu 75 – Larssen 19, 47/Bournemouth – Brentford 1-2 (1-1)/Janelt 17 og – Wissa 30, Norgaard 71/SundayArsenal – Chelsea (1-0)/Merino 20Fulham – Tottenham 2-0 (0-0)/Muniz 78, Sessignon 88/22:00: (4.50) Leicester (3.50) Man.Utd. (1.83)***odds are subject to change***
