Fortune striker Mikel Merino scored his fourth goal in all competitions since his operation in his new position to give Arsenal a 20th minute advance at Chelsea in the Premier league Sunday.
The air specialist Merino launched the corner of Martin Odegaard beyond goalkeeper Robert Sanchez to cap a dominant beginning by his side, who put pressure on several occasions for the opener and approached gunshots by Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard and a Jurrien Timber header.
“The local drought is over,” said the former Arsenal striker Alan Smith about his former team, speaking on Sky Sports. “It’s been a while.
“You can see how much [Merino’s] The teammates were. What’s just what [their] The players needed. They made all the thrusts.
Mikel Merino started it again! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/njlaatsgl6
– Sky Sports Premier League (@skysportspl) March 16, 2025
Arsenal against Chelsea: cornered blues
Arsenal scored 15 goals of corners in the elite this season, but they had not added to this count since the objective of Dominic Solanke for Tottenham in the Emirates stadium derby January 15.
Despite their reputation as a score from sets, the hopes of the title had taken 51 corners without finding the net before Merino made the breakthrough against the blues.
Merino is a midfielder but was used as a center-forward for the first time as a substitute in the 2-0 victory from Arsenal to Leicester City on February 15, rewarding Arteta’s improvisation decision with the two objectives.
The Spanish international produced a goal and help in the 7-1 victory in the PSV in the Champions League on March 4, but his goal against Chelsea was his first in the league since his double against the Foxes.
How did Sanchez keep this? 🤯 pic.twitter.com/isnbhlriq4
– Sky Sports Premier League (@skysportspl) March 16, 2025
Palmer for Chelsea
With 10 games in their remaining league season, Arsenal started the match knowing that their prospects for exceeding Liverpool leaders have been winning winners after abandoning the points for a third successive match with a 1-1 draw in Manchester United a week earlier.
Chelsea had the chance to move three points behind Arsenal but had not won the match in their seven previous attempts, the last with a 2-0 victory outside in August 2021.
Director Enzo Maresca had to do Without the top goalscorer Cole PalmerThe Italian revealing before the start that the English international had undergone a minor injury.
Wideman Marc Cucurella, who scored the only goal of the match in Chelsea’s home victory against Leicester City last Sunday, came closer when visitors had trouble showing an improvement of a form outside which saw them without victory on the road in the league since he beat Tottenham on December 8.
