Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea: Gunners cruise to victory against punchless Blues
Arsenal snapped their three-game winless skid with a narrow, but never threatened, 1-0 victory over Chelsea in north London on Sunday to move within 12 points of Premier League leaders Liverpool.
WATCH – Arsenal vs Chelsea full match replay
The Gunners' title chances are all but gone (provided Liverpool don't throw it away in truly historic fashion), but Mikel Arteta's side is still alive in the UEFA Champions League and will do well to hold off Nottingham Forest (four points back) for a third straight 2nd-place finish.
Defensive midfielder-turned-center forward Mikel Merino scored the game's only goal in the 20th minute as he sent a looping header from Martin Odegaard's corner kick inside the far post. Merino has now scored three of Arsenal's last four goals in the PL (five games), dating back to his brace against West Ham. Furthermore, it was Arsenal's first goal from a set piece since early December, after they effectively built their title challenge on corner kicks and free kicks to that point.
Speaking of failed title challenges, Chelsea (49 points - 4th place) have now won just four of their last 14 PL games since entering the title race in mid-December. Enzo Maresca's side attempted just 8 shots for a paltry 0.35 xG with Cole Palmer out of the team due to a "very small problem" (read: minor injury) in training on Saturday.
Player ratings - Arsenal vs Chelsea
What’s next?
- Arsenal vs Fulham — Tuesday, April 1 (2:45 pm ET)
- Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur — Thursday, April 3 (3 pm ET)
Arsenal vs Chelsea live updates - by Andy Edwards
Arsenal vs Chelsea final score: 1-0
Goalscorers: Mikel Merino (20')
GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea: Merino heads home Odegaard’s corner kick (20')
The Gunners' first set-piece goal since early December.
OUT! Cole Palmer not on Chelsea’s XI or on the bench
No reason yet as to why Palmer is not in Enzo Maresca's team to face Arsenal, but it has been more than two months (Jan. 14) since he last scored or assisted a goal for Chelsea.
Arsenal starting lineup
Raya - Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly - Partey, Rice, Odegaard - Martinelli, Trossard, Merino
Chelsea starting lineup
Sanchez - Fofana, Badiashile, Colwill, Cucurella - James, Caicedo, Fernandez - Neto, Sancho, Nkunku
How to watch Arsenal vs Chelsea live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 9:30am ET Sunday
Venue: Emirates Stadium — London
TV Channel: Peacock
Streaming: Premier League on Peacock
Mikel Arteta walked out of his post-match interview after Arsenal came from behind to rescue a late draw against 14th-place Manchester United, unhappy and unwilling to answer any further questions about his side's failed title bid. Liverpool, who have played one game more and will face Newcastle in the League Cup final on Sunday, are 15 points clear of the field with nine games left to play. Arsenal's new challenge, at least domestically, will be to hold onto 2nd place (for the third straight season) with Nottingham Forest just four point behind in 3rd and Chelsea six back in 4th.
Chelsea also advanced in Europe this week, as Enzo Maresca made six changes to the side that beat Leicester last weekend and still managed to see of Copenhagen in the Europa Conference League round of 16 on Thursday. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall scored the only goal in the second leg to give the Blues a 3-1 aggregate victory and set up a quarterfinal clash with Polish side Legia Warsaw next month. Cole Palmer came off the bench at halftime and played no part in the goal, thus extending his run of games without a goal or an assist to 10 in all competitions. Palmer last found the back of the net against Bournemouth on Jan. 14, more than two months ago by the time Chelsea vs Arsenal kicks off on Sunday.
Arsenal team news
OUT: Kai Havertz (hamstring - MORE), Gabriel Jesus (torn ACL - out for season), Bukayo Saka (hamstring - MORE), Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee)
Chelsea team news
OUT: Noni Madueke (thigh), Nicolas Jackson (thigh), Mykhailo Mudryk (suspension), Marc Guiu (groin) | QUESTIONABLE: Christopher Nkunku (illness), Omari Kellyman (thigh), Malo Gusto (undisclosed), Cole Palmer (illness), Reece James (illness)
Arsenal vs Chelsea prediction
A wide open, end-to-end affair might just be what Arsenal need to break out of their scoring slump and we know that Chelsea will be happy to oblige, so don't be surprised if we get a bit of a goal fest in this one. Arsenal 2-2 Chelsea.
Topics
-
Arsenal closes the gap on Liverpool after 1-0 win against Chelsea in Premier League
Mikel Merino led Arsenal to a 1-0 win against Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday. Merino's first-half header settled the London derby at the Emirates Stadium and saw second-placed Arsenal ...Yahoo Sports - 5h -
Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea: Premier League – as it happened
Arsenal secured their first league win in over a month thanks to a first-half Mikel Merino header. Arteta says this is a big game and the players are focused on that. They’re excited to face Real ...The Guardian - 5h -
Cole Palmer To Start? | 4-2-3-1 Chelsea Predicted Lineup Against Arsenal
Chelsea will travel to the Emirates Stadium to face off against Arsenal in their upcoming game of the English Premier League 2024/25 season. The Blues are fourth in the points table with 49 points ...Yahoo Sports - 2d -
8 changes, £46m striker | Predicted Arsenal line-up (4-3-3) vs Chelsea with Merino & Sterling decisions made
Arsenal will be aiming to return to winning ways against Chelsea in the Premier League today.The Gunners are winless in the last three league games, picking up just two points.The club are 15 ...Yahoo Sports - 14h -
How to watch Arsenal vs Chelsea: TV channel and live stream for Premier League derby
Arsenal will aim to return to winning ways when they host rivals Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.The Gunners are presently second in the table, 15 points behind leaders Liverpool, ...Yahoo Sports - 2d -
Arsenal edge out Chelsea, Fulham beat Spurs
Chelsea's challenge for a place in next season's Champions League faltered in a toothless 1-0 defeat at Arsenal on Sunday as Fulham beat Tottenham 2-0.Victory for Fulham propels Marco Silva's men ...Yahoo Sports - 4h -
Arsenal beat Chelsea; keep alive faint title hopes
Arsenal defeated Chelsea 1-0 for their first win in four Premier League games on Sunday to keep their faint Premier League title hopes alive.ESPN - 1h -
Leandro Trossard To Start | 4-3-3 Arsenal Predicted Lineup Against Chelsea
Arsenal will host Chelsea in their upcoming game of the English Premier League 2024/25 season at the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners are second in the points table with 55 points in 28 matches. They ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Arsenal vs Chelsea Preview: Match Facts, Team News, Telecast Details And Predictions
Chelsea will travel to the Emirates Stadium to face off against Arsenal in their upcoming game of the English Premier League 2024/25 season. The Gunners are second in the points table with 55 point...Yahoo Sports - 1d
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Here's your printable bracket for March Madness predictions, picks in 2025 NCAA Tournament
Your printable 2025 March Madness bracket is here. Here's how to print your bracket and .pdf for the 68-team men's NCAA Tournament.Yahoo Sports - 15m -
Katelyn Young scores 34 as Murray State powers past Belmont 83-62 to win Missouri Valley title
Katelyn Young scored 34 points to help power Murray State to its first Missouri Valley Conference tournament championship by beating Belmont 83-62 on Sunday. Young surpassed 3,000 career points ...Yahoo Sports - 54m -
Revealed: Arsenal & Liverpool want €50m winger, he’s open to transfer this summer
Arsenal and Liverpool are among the clubs keen on the potential transfer of Lyon wonderkid winger Malick Fofana this summer.Sources with a close understanding of the situation have informed ...Yahoo Sports - 2d -
Duke coach says Cooper Flagg playing in ACC tourney is 'not worth it'
Flagg's sprained ankle looms large for the Blue Devils with March Madness right around the corner. But Jon Scheyer appears to be taking the right approach.Yahoo Sports - 3d -
New York Giants' Paulson Adebo embracing opportunity to be CB1
Paulson Adebo knows the New York Giants brought him in to be their top cornerback and he's fully prepared to embrace that role.Yahoo Sports - 3d
More in Sports
-
Hanshin Tigers sweep Cubs, Dodgers in shutouts
The Hanshin Tigers capped a two-game sweep over MLB clubs with a 3-0 win over the Dodgers, following a matching victory over the Cubs the day before.ESPN - 13m -
Royce Lewis injury: Twins third baseman suffers hamstring strain, putting Opening Day in question
The oft-injured Lewis has never played more than 82 games in a single seasonCBS Sports - 15m -
2025 Players Championship purse, prize money: Payouts for golfers, winner's share out of $25 million pool
The biggest prize fund of the PGA Tour's season is up for grabs this week during its signature event at TPC SawgrassCBS Sports - 17m -
Arsenal beat Chelsea in derby of flawed teams falling short of ambitions
This game took place while a final was happening across town. Neither side will likely reach its goals this season.ESPN - 18m -
2025 Players Championship TV schedule, coverage, how to watch, channel, live stream online, golf tee times
Where to watch every memorable moment of the 2025 Players Championship on TV or streaming live onlineCBS Sports - 20m