Arsenal v Chelsea LIVE: Premier League result and reaction as Mikel Merino makes the difference
Arsenal closed the gap to Liverpool at the top of the table to 12 points after a scrappy, nervy affair at the Emirates
Arsenal reduced their deficit to Premier League leaders Liverpool to 12 points with a game in hand as they beat Chelsea 1-0 in a scrappy encounter at the Emirates.
Mikel Merino, again playing as a striker, made the difference with a glancing header to convert a Martin Odegaard cross for the game’s only goal.
His 20th-minute strike was to be one of few on target as both sides struggled in front of goal, with both keepers nearly caught out at times and Marc Cucurella - himself lucky to avoid conceding a penalty for handball early in the first half - Chelsea’s biggest threat.
As is often the case it was a feisty London derby so far between two Premier League rivals, but ultimately it was Arsenal in the driving seat, and they extended their unbeaten league run over the Blues - who were missing Cole Palmer due to injury - to seven games. second in the league and Chelsea just six points off them in fourth.
Relieve all the action from Arsenal v Chelsea below:
Time ticking away with Arsenal 1-0 up
83 mins: Gabriel puts in a promising run but despite a mass of Arsenal shirts in the opposition box, there’s no-one to receive a cross. Since Merino’s 20th-minute goal there’s been little quality from either side in front of goal - Chelsea haven’t had a shot on target in this half.
James is the next to be subbed off, this time for Lavia, as we enter the final ten minutes of normal time.
Nkunku, Martinelli replaced
78 mins: Subs for both sides, as Dewsbury-Hall and George replace Sancho and Nkunku, who have been effectively neutralised today.
Nwaneri, playing his last game for Arsenal as a 17-year-old, comes on for Martinelli, who is clutching his lower back after a meaty challenge by Cucurella right in front of a furious Arteta. The change looked planned, rather than in response to that challenge.
Arsenal struggling to build on their one-goal lead
73 mins: That foul on Lewis-Skelly wins Arsenal a free kick in a dangerous position just to the left of the 18-yard box. Odegaard and Rice stand poised to take it, and there’s a long build-up as both sides faff over the wall and whether Martinelli is blocking Sanchez’s view.
All that drama, and for naught, as Rice clatters it into the backside of a Chelsea player, before it ricochets out for a corner.
Arsenal are looking a little toothless at the moment. Martinelli nods Rice’s delivery wide of the back post.
Sparks fly at the Emirates
70 mins: Lots of needle in this second half, as Odegaard is the latest to see yellow for stopping a Cucurella counter. That makes six bookings so far (and significantly more dramatic falls to the turf looking for one).
Partey, among the yellows, goes in late on Caicedo but escapes further punishment.
The game feels very finely balanced at the moment. Lewis-Skelly makes a brilliant run into the box and gets brought down by none other than Fofana...
CHANCE! Odegaard misses opportunity to put Gunners 1-0 up
65 mins: Rice clears a Chelsea corner but they keep coming as Neto has another go - and they can’t make the most of this one either.
Meanwhile, the goal replay system indicates that Merino’s latest effort - punched away by Sanchez - was just millimetres away from crossing the goal line. A lucky escape for the visitors.
Rice pulls it back for Odegaard in the box, but his low shot is stopped by Sanchez.
CHANCE! Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea
60 mins: Neto ducks and darts between a couple of Arsenal players but curls his long-range effort wide.
More yellows as first Partey and eventually Fofana go into the book - Fofana for throwing another ball onto the pitch to delay the restart. With a more trigger-happy ref he could have collected multiple yellows by now.
Arsenal break and Merino nearly has a second but volleys straight at Sanchez! It’s a neat stop by the keeper.
Yellow cards fly as derby heats up: Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea
56 mins: Arsenal win another corner but Rice’s delivery is headed away as Neto counter-attacks - but that’s snuffed out quickly by Timber.
Gabriel is the next to go into the book for a late challenge on James, who hits the deck. This game is starting to get a little scrappy.
YELLOW CARD: Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea
52 mins: Fofana, who was lucky to escape a booking for that nasty challenge on Rice in the first half, should see yellow for a pullback on Trossard - but it instead goes to Pedro Neto for backchat to the referee.
Second half: Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea
47 mins: Back underway at the Emirates, with no changes made to either side - something of a surprise for the visitors.
Odegaard stands poised over a first corner of the second half... but it’s easily cleared by Nkunku at the near post.
First-half highlights
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