EPL: Merino’s strike secures Arsenal’s 1-0 victory over Chelsea

Mikel Merino emerged as the match-winner for Arsenal, netting the only goal in a hard-fought encounter against Chelsea.

The victory sees the Gunners close the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool to 12 points.

Both teams were forced to cope without their key strikers, with Arsenal’s Kai Havertz sidelined for the rest of the season due to a hamstring injury and Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson also unavailable.

Adding to Chelsea’s woes, star playmaker Cole Palmer missed the match through injury, marking the first time the Blues had played without him since their crushing 5-0 defeat to Arsenal in April last season.

Arsenal, again naming Merino as a makeshift striker, dominated the game early on and Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli and Declan Rice all went close.

Merino’s winner came in the 20th minute when he flicked on a curling corner from Martin Odegaard past a stretching Robert Sanchez.

Chelsea’s best opportunity to take something from the game came when Marc Cucurella’s powerful effort slipped through David Raya’s hands but the ball rolled just past the post.

Robert Sanchez, recently restored as Chelsea’s first-choice keeper, had some shaky moments as the Blues were put under pressure with a number of crosses into the area and he was jeered by the home crowd when he had the ball at his feet.

Sanchez produced an excellent save to deny Merino in the second half, but Chelsea could not find the goal to get something from the game.

Liverpool are not playing in the league this weekend as they are involved in the Carabao Cup final.