Arsenal secured an important 1-0 victory over Chelsea this afternoon, keeping themselves within reach of Liverpool in the Premier League table.
With Liverpool 15 points ahead, Arsenal knew only a win would suffice, and they started strongly.
They had endured some difficult league results in recent games, but improvement was necessary in this match, and Declan Rice had an early opportunity to open the scoring.
He did not, but the Gunners continued to push for the breakthrough and were eventually rewarded through Mikel Merino.
The Spaniard has led Arsenal’s attack for some time now and finally found the net again in the league after a brief goal drought.
Top-four-chasing Chelsea then looked to respond, but they were limited to passing the ball around far from Arsenal’s goal.
The Blues enjoyed plenty of possession, but Arsenal used the ball more effectively, launching swift attacks whenever they regained it.
This demonstrated the mentality of a team that knew it could not afford to fall further behind Liverpool in the title race.
The Gunners survived some scares before the break but began the second half looking the more likely to score next.
Merino could have doubled his tally if not for Robert Sánchez’s alert goalkeeping, and Arsenal continued to assert themselves as the stronger side in the contest.
Chelsea pushed further in search of an equaliser late on, but as had been the case for much of the match, they struggled to break into Arsenal’s box, with the Gunners holding firm to secure a vital win.
It was just a match to keep us in top four and to prepare for Real Madrid’s visit
We won’t be able to punish Real Madrid with that kind of attacking line-up, so Saka had better return before the UCL game and Martinelli shouldn’t get injured again
A tough game but we got the result! Saliba so solid, everyone decent apart from Odegaard who was super disappointing..he doesn’t seem to take games seriously at all. Needs time on the bench till attitude improves. Merino as much as he scored we cannot continue with him as CF. My goodness I did not realise just how good Kai Havertz’s game is until now. Merino is too slow to lead the press.
Sad to say Merino give us nothing as a striker.
He can’t even win duels with CBs.
Why does he persist with these shots from the edge of the box where he just strokes it and more often than not, limply and straight at the keeper?
St totteringhams day is just around the corner fellow gooners.
Proud and loud. During today’s match the TV cameras have shown us the Ethiopian flag vividly displayed on the terraces of Emirates. Thanks for Arsenal and for those who laboured fot it. Love you Gooners! Coyg!
This team is clearly coasting in the league the drop in intensity between EPL and CL matches is obvious. Tbf with the title race done and top 4 secured nothing to play for.
The front line we can field isn’t up to scratch and it’s been evident for a while. Saka and Havertz make a massive difference to this team. The reason Arteta deserves another season is because the positions he has invested in properly we are top quality. From the keeper all the through the defence and defensive side of the midfield we are top draw maybe the best in world football. If the rumours of a 300 million pound war chest are true and we spend a large chunk on two top quality attackers we will succeed.
If only Liverpool could do an Arsenal and draw/lose the next 6 games. Maybe we could catch up.
But sadly, only Arsenal could do an Arsenal.
If only Liverpool hadn’t being the biggest bottler in the EPL and let the darling Arsenal keep being Arsenal.
A very poor advert for the Premier League and an embarrassment to witness overpaid professionals diving at the slightest touch and feigning injury.I,m afraid Gabriel and Trossard were two of the guilty parties but at least 6 Chelsea players were guilty of what is becoming the norm .At the end of the day a very welcome 3 points despite the flat performance which again highlights our lack of real quality up front and the fact that our Captain is badly in need of a rest.
I say, Champions league is ours.
League, might get it.
Champions league though
Sadly Grandad, it seems to be the done thing these days. Its seen as part of the game.
That’s why I have to laugh when the players shake hands before the game. In the so called spirit of the game, and then spend the next 90 minutes feigning injurie’s, trying to get their fellows professionals either booked or sent off, and waste time at every opportunity.
All of which is cheating the paying and watching supporters of said teams. Very sad. 🙄🤦♂️🤷♂️
Congratulations for the victory and well done.
As for any reference to the title race, no-one will believe we are sober in mentioning it. We should rather keep fighting for top 4 lest it wrested from us as well.
Dailymail after the match headlined “close the gap”. Are they jocking? Did they mean it? 12 points are too massive to be described this way tbh. Thanks anyhow DM for the good wishes!
Watched the borefest of a first half before needing to go out, is it worth watching the second half I’ve recorded or was it just more of the same, as I’d like not to waste another hour of my life I won’t get back?
GB, it was much the same.
Danke Schoen Herr Drier😊
Bitte sehr GB 😊
Good 3 points but yet another hard watch. The standard of football is not great. Its not much fun watching low grade football.
Uninspiring but will take the win nonetheless. COYG!
Under the circumstances I’m glad I only caught the last 15 minutes on the box. The radio commentators thought the first half was pretty good from an Arsenal perspective but the second half got the thumbs down. Scruffy, niggly, fouls and cards with Fofana living dangerously close to a red. I’ll gladly take the 3 points though
We could also do with a finisher like Isak who has just scored a blinder at Wembley
Ödegaard is playing/behaving like a jester these days!!
He better shape up soon
Personally turned it off after 60 mins ,
Players rolling around like little girls crying ,not for me .
Watching the cup final though ,apparently Eddie Howe is not a good manager 🤔
Him and Isak would be the missing puzzle here IMO
At least you can keep that opinion with yourself 😖😖
Your comment Makes as much sense as your username .
It was background noise for me soon after 2nd half started. You missed absolutely nothing. Poor display from both teams today, awful refereeing. Worst Arsenal/Cheslea match in ages for two clubs that are supposed to be financially well backed.
Isak would be the missing peice of the puzzle! Replacing Arteta with Howe makes zero sense.
Really big man ?
Tell me how ,I’m all ears .
And before you go off on one ,I’ve talked up Howe for years on here not just because of today .
He’s respected ,he plays the game the right way and has earned his stripes ,tell me how the richest club in world football have stuck by him if he’s so sh1t .
He’s just smashed the the top 2 teams in the league to win Newcastles first cup in years .
Arteta is a busted flush ,if he wins the CL this year then I would say he was our clubs best manager and apologise.
Hang fire, i never called him sh*t. Just seems nonsensical to replace a manager with no major trophies with another manager with no major trophies. This season has been poor and i agree that its partially due to Arteta not getting a forward. However the new sporting director will get us forwards and its pretty clear he already has a couple in mind. Arteta is a defensive manager and defensively we maybe the best team in world football. Take away the signing element from Arteta which the new director will and we are onto a winner.
Thanks for the compliment 😝😝
You are welcome bud .
Much love .
Poor performance but 3 points is all that matters.
Now the long international break. Hopefully no one gets injured and our players return fit to play against Fulham on the 1st of April.
It’s clear that we need Martinelli as a box striker – CF position with Saka and perhaps Nwaneri on the left side. We may copy Barcelona’s style [playing Yamal on right and Rafinha on left].
Madrid going to be tough and we must be ready!
Martinellis only weapon is his pace.He lacks the attributes of a C.F which are movement on and off the ball,physicality to go shoulder to shoulder with defenders, Aerial ability and and shooting precision.
If you watched the carabao final,then compare him with either Chiesa as winger or Isak as a C.f and you can tell how average and limited Martinelli is.
Thanks cliff. I don’t understand why many can’t see that matinelli like nketia el Al should be shown d door and get nico williams kinda baller
The piece says keeping themselves with in reach of Liverpool.😂🤣😂🤣 😂🤣 Oh my sides are hurting. 🙄🤦♂️