Merino's goal tally only bettered by Salah and Marmoush! Here are the alternative lessons from the victory over Chelsea

 By Danong

As Arsenal faced Chelsea on Sunday afternoon, was there ever any doubt they’d walk away with all three points—especially with Cole Palmer absent?

It has been observed that Palmer has struggled in Nicolas Jackson's absence. With both players unavailable for this game, the Blues posed little to no threat to Arsenal—and indeed, they did not.

Before Sunday’s London derby, Chelsea had failed to beat the Gunners in their last seven encounters. Arsenal boasted five wins and two draws, and on Sunday, they added a sixth victory to their record in this fixture.

In a game that glaringly highlighted the attacking struggles of both teams, it was Mikel Merino’s 20th-minute header from a Martin Ødegaard corner that proved decisive and separated the two sides.

What did we take away from Arsenal’s 1-0 victory over Chelsea?

1. Top Four Almost Guaranteed

Arsenal might have silenced the doubters who were keen to include them in the top-four battle. If they had lost to Chelsea, they’d have been just seven points ahead of fifth-placed Manchester City and firmly in the top 4 battle. 

However, with this victory, Arsenal are now nine points clear. It seems increasingly likely that Arsenal will secure a top-four finish.

2. Jurrien Timber’s Stellar Performance

Jurrien Timber is playing himself into contention for Arsenal’s Player of the Season award. He was outstanding against Chelsea and deservedly earned the Man of the Match accolade. 

Defensively, he was exceptional, backing up the press and never allowing his marker any room to escape. His ability to handle aerial duels was equally impressive.  

  Jurrien Timber’s stats vs. Chelsea:
   ◉ Most duels won (9)  
   ◉ Most possessions won (6)  
   ◉ Most aerial duels won (4)  
   ◉ Most interceptions (2)  
   ◎ 3 fouls won  
   ◎ 3 clearances  

3. William Saliba’s Brilliance

Like Timber, William Saliba stepped up brilliantly. His dominance in aerial duels was a standout feature, as he won 3/3 against Chelsea. In fact, the Frenchman has now won every aerial duel he’s contested in his last three Premier League matches—6/6 vs. Nottingham Forest and 5/5 vs. Manchester United.

4. Mikel Merino’s False Nine Role

Mikel Merino’s effectiveness in the false nine role should not be understated. He has now scored three goals since taking on the position. To put that into perspective, only Mohamed Salah (5) and Omar Marmoush (4) have scored more during the same period. 

5. Dominance Against the Big Six

Arsenal are approaching two years without losing a league match to a traditional Premier League big-six opponent. Their unbeaten streak now stands at 19 matches, boasting 11 wins and 8 draws.

6. Martin Ødegaard’s Milestone

With his assist for Merino’s goal, Ødegaard now has five assists against Chelsea. This makes him the Gunner with the most assists against the Blues in Premier League history.

While both teams struggled in front of goal (with key attackers missing), Arsenal’s victory was secured thanks to their physical strength and defensive superiority. They kept Chelsea’s forwards at arm’s length throughout. In the past, these were the type of games Arsenal would have drawn or even lost.

I'm glad as Gooners we are long way past that.