Mikel Merino: Mikel Merino’s first-half header proved to be the difference as Arsenal secured a hard-fought victory over Chelsea in a fiery London derby at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
The Spaniard, starting his sixth consecutive game up front, flicked in Martin Odegaard’s corner in the 20th minute to give Arsenal the lead. It was a deserved advantage after a dominant opening period, where the Gunners piled on the pressure with multiple attempts.
From the outset, Arsenal looked dangerous. In the first 20 minutes alone, they registered six attempts. Jurrien Timber came close with a header while Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli also tested Chelsea’s defense. A potential handball from Marc Cucurella was waved away and Declan Rice and Trossard both came close to scoring. The goal eventually arrived when Martinelli won a corner, and Odegaard’s delivery was met by Merino, who flicked it past Robert Sanchez.
