Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea: Player ratings as Merino header wins it for the Gunners

• Mikel Merino’s first-half header gave Arsenal all three points
• The Gunners went on to fade after a fast start to game
• Chelsea struggled to create many chances of their own

Arsenal battled their way to a scarcely convincing 1-0 win at home to a Chelsea side. Which proved to be even more inept in the attacking third on Sunday afternoon.

When Mikel Merino head the Gunners into a 20th-minute lead, it threatened to pave the way for a one-sided stroll. Arsenal were well worth ทางเข้า UFABET สำหรับสมาชิกใหม่ สมัครวันนี้ รับโบนัสฟรี their lead. Making his first start in six weeks, Gabriel Martinelli offered some much-needed zip and fizz to his side’s flagging frontline.

Robert Sanchez’s painfully skittish approach to the art of goalkeeper only bolstered the hopes of a buoyant home crowd. Yet, Arsenal couldn’t shake the attacking struggles which have plagued the entire season – stretching beyond even Bukayo Saka’s injury absence in one afternoon.

Fortunately for Mikel Arteta’s side, Chelsea have their own scoring issues. Enzo Maresca has been forced to forge forward without a recognised striker since Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu both got injured in the same game. Cole Palmer was add to the list of absentees ahead of kick-off, blunting Chelsea’s toothless attack even further.

As each side’s limp attack intent fizzle out before it could even begin to catch flame, the game meandered to an Arsenal win.

Subs not used: Neto (GK), Ben White, Jakub Kiwior, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Riccardo Calafiori, Jorginho, Nathan Butler-Oyedeji.

Arsenal player ratings (4-3-3)