Arsenal shined in the stead of Chelsea as the two London clubs clashed in the London Derby. Both teams have most of the players out due to injuries but Arsenal was able to use the available player to stun Chelsea. Mikel Merino scored the only goal of the derby clash.
The win for the host Arsenal, means they are now 12 points behind League leaders Liverpool. Both of these sides came into the match without their first-choice strikers. While Kai Havertz is out season with a hamstring injury for Arsenal, Nicolas Jackson missing for Chelsea.
Chelsea were also without their star player Cole Palmer, who was out of the squad with an injury. It was the first time the Chelsea is playing without him since they lost 5-0 to Arsenal in April last season. Arsenal named Merino as a makeshift striker, and it paid for them.
The goal came in the 20th minute of the game when Merino flicked on a curling corner from Martin Odegaard past a stretching Robert Sanchez. Chelsea’s best chance came when Marc Cucurella’s powerful effort slipped through David Raya’s hands but the ball rolled just past the post.
Sanchez produced an excellent save to deny Merino in the second half, but Chelsea could not find the goal to level the scores.
