Arsenal v Chelsea LIVE: Latest scores and updates as Merino gives hosts the lead
Arsenal can close the huge gap to Liverpool at the top of the table but Chelsea come to the Emirates in form and chasing their own Champions League ambitions
Arsenal stand poised to reduce their deficit to Premier League leaders Liverpool to 12 points with a game in hand, with the Gunners 1-0 against Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea at half-time at the Emirates.
As is often the case it’s been a feisty London derby so far between two Premier League rivals, with Arsenal second in the league and Chelsea just six points off them in fourth.
Mikel Arteta has the benefit of bringing back several of the stars he rested for the midweek draw with PSV in the Champions League, as Arsenal chase their first league win for a month, while the Blues are missing the out-of-form but still key figure of Cole Palmer, who has been ruled out with an injury.
Chelsea arrive with confidence, however, on a run of four successive wins in all competitions after knocking out FC Copenhagen in the Europa Conference League in midweek, and Enzo Maresca’s side will believe they can cause a shock at the home of their old enemy.
Follow all the latest updates from Arsenal v Chelsea below.
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
HALF-TIME: Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea
Half-time at the Emirates and Arsenal are deservedly ahead - but only just.
After a brilliant opening spell of pressure the Gunners broke the deadlock courtesy of their speciality, the set-piece goal, with Merino again the hero as he headed home an Odegaard delivery from the corner.
But Chelsea grew into the first half and it’s likely Arteta will be happier than his counterpart Maresca to hear the half-time whistles. Both managers might need a word with their goalkeepers, who have had a bit of a howler so far, with Raya lucky that Cucurella’s attempt rolled wide after he mishandled it.
CHANCE! Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea
45+2 mins: Robert Sanchez’s dismal afternoon is going from bad to worse. He’s lucky to get away with it again, as he palms a Martinelli cross straight into the path of Trossard, who - fortunately for the Chelsea keeper - makes a mess of his first touch and can’t get anything on it before Sanchez is back in position.
Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea
45 mins: Fernandez fires a poor attempt into the stands behind Raya’s goal as a lengthy Chelsea attack comes to naught.
Fofana goes flying after both he and Merino aim to plant a header on the ball. It looks to be some sort of back or rib problem as he’s clutching his right side. No movement from the physios yet.
Three minutes added on at the Emirates.
Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea but Gunners under pressure
41 mins: Chelsea seem emboldened by that Cucurella chance and are enjoying a dangerous spell of possession now. Neto wins a corner off Gabriel, the hosts clear it, but the Blues are still on the attack.
RAYA FUMBLES: Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea
36 mins: Almost a disaster for Raya! Cucurella whacks in a left-footed shot on the edge of the box, the keeper completely fumbles it, and it rolls goalwards - but luckily for him, it drifts just wide of the far post.
Raya may have fallen asleep there, he’s had so little to do so far, but he’ll be wide awake to the danger now.
CHANCE! Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea
34 mins: Badiashile shoves Timber as the players form a wall for an Arsenal free-kick. Chelsea are playing with fire here.
All the action is in the visitors’ half at the moment. Odegaard puts in some fancy footwork outside the box and tees up Martinelli, but the Brazilian fires way over.
YELLOW CARD: Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea
29 mins: So far Chelsea have had one shot, a long-range effort from Fernandez that seemed more speculative than anything else.
Colwill gets the first booking of the game for a reckless challenge on Trossard.
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