Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea: Player Ratings as Arsenal takes three points

In the 29th gameweek of the English Premier League, Arsenal hosted Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. After dropping points in their previous games, Arsenal were looking forward to reducing the deficit at the top whereas Chelsea wanted to improve the gap between them and fifth-placed Manchester City. At the end of the game, which was touted to end in a draw, Arsenal took all three points against their London rivals. Mikel Merino’s goal in the first half was enough to win the fixture as Chelsea’s attack looked toothless most of the time. Amidst the waves of counter-attacks, Arsenal’s defense looked locked in to get a win in an all-important fixture before the clubs went on an international break. 

Arsenal find their goal from the corner

Arsenal were taunted in the early part of the season when they scored largely from corners and struggled to score from open play. Arsenal’s routine was to win a corner, Saka to deliver an accurate cross and Arsenal’s different routine confused the opposition and they were able to get the goal. However, as Odegaard returned they started finding the open-play goals but struggled to get the goal from the corner. From being called glamorous Stoke City, Arsenal’s form dipped as they could not purchase the goal from corners. 

Against Chelsea, Arsenal started the game at a high tempo and earned free kicks and corners. In an eventful 20th minute, Mikel Merino defeated Robert Sanchez to score the solitary goal of the game from a corner. With this, Arsenal have finally ended their corner goal drought. 

VAR plays a dicey role in the fixture

Chelsea found themselves on both ends of the VAR review in the fixture against Arsenal. On both occasions, Arsenal fans felt betrayed, and the disdain was evident with the boos at the venue.

The Spanish fullback, Marc Cucurella, was accused of a handball after contesting a duel with Jurien Timber in the penalty area in the 12th minute of the game. However, VAR ruled out the error, explaining that the hand was in the expected position and there was no deliberate attempt to play the ball.

On the other hand, Chelsea survived a close call where they could have been reduced to ten men against the Gunners. Wesley Fofana committed a foul on Declan Rice after the English defensive midfielder lured Fofana into the tackle. Fofana stamped and tripped Rice at the halfway line before falling on the ball. With studs aimed at Rice’s leg, Arsenal fans called for a red card for Fofana. However, Fofana was shown a yellow card, and no further action was taken, infuriating Arsenal supporters.

Goalkeepers struggle in the scrappy draw

The game was stretched from the first minute. The fans knew what was coming for the goalkeepers in this fixture. With the current form they are in, nobody expected a clean sheet. If not for some luck, both Arsenal and Chelsea goalkeepers could have conceded multiple goals, as both looked shaky between the sticks.

Arsenal’s David Raya was about to concede a goal from a routine save in the final minutes of the first half when Marc Cucurella had a swipe at the target from a deflected effort. The ball squirmed through the shot-stopper only to roll towards the outside of the far post, leaving Arsenal unharmed.

On the other hand, Robert Sanchez seemed nervous in front of 60,000-odd fans at the Emirates. From the first whistle to the final minute of the game, Sanchez had wayward passes and even put the ball over the line. He had a pass success percentage of 58%, lower than his counterpart on the other end of the pitch.

Arsenal vs Chelsea: Player Ratings

Arsenal

• David Raya - 7
• Nathan Lewis Skelly - 6.5
• Gabriel Maghalaes - 7 
• William Saliba - 6.5
• Jurien Timber - 7.2
• Declan Rice - 7.5
• Martin Odegaard - 7.5
• Thomas Partey - 6.5
• Leandro Trossard - 6.8
• Mikel Merino - 8
• Gabriel Martinelli - 6.8

Substitutes: Keiran Tierney (6), Ethan Nwaneri (5)

Chelsea

• Robert Sanchez- 6.5
• Marc Cucurella - 6.5
• Levi Colwill - 6.5
• Benoit Badaishile - 7
• Wesley Fofana - 7
• Reece James - 6.5
• Moises Caicedo - 7
• Enzo Fernandez - 6.5
• Christopher Nkunko - 6
• Jadon Sancho - 6
• Pedro Neto - 5.8

Substitutes: Tyrique George (6), Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (6), Malo Gusto (6), Tosin Adaribayo (NA), Quansah (NA)

Next Match for Arsenal: vs Fulham, English Premier League 30th GW, 1st April

Next Match for Chelsea: vs Tottenham Hotspur, English Premier League 30th GW, 3rd April