Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea: Player ratings as Merino header wins it for the Gunners | OneFootball

Arsenal battled their way to a scarcely convincing 1-0 win at home to a Chelsea side which proved to be even more inept in the attacking third on Sunday afternoon.

When Mikel Merino headed the Gunners into a 20th-minute lead, it threatened to pave the way for a one-sided stroll. Arsenal were well worth their lead. Making his first start in six weeks, Gabriel Martinelli offered some much-needed zip and fizz to his side's flagging frontline.

Robert Sanchez's painfully skittish approach to the art of goalkeeper only bolstered the hopes of a buoyant home crowd. Yet, Arsenal couldn't shake the attacking struggles which have plagued the entire season - stretching beyond even Bukayo Saka's injury absence - in one afternoon.

Fortunately for Mikel Arteta's side, Chelsea have their own scoring issues. Enzo Maresca has been forced to forge forward without a recognised striker since Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu both got injured in the same game. Cole Palmer was added to the list of absentees ahead of kick-off, blunting Chelsea's toothless attack even further.

As each side's limp attack intent fizzled out before it could even begin to catch flame, the game meandered to an Arsenal win.

Arsenal player ratings (4-3-3)

Arsenal didn't have it all their own way on Sunday / Alex Pantling/GettyImages

*Ratings provided by FotMob*

Subs not used: Neto (GK), Ben White, Jakub Kiwior, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Riccardo Calafiori, Jorginho, Nathan Butler-Oyedeji.

Chelsea player ratings (4-2-3-1)

Enzo Fernandez was given the keys to Chelsea's attack on Sunday / Alex Pantling/GettyImages

*Ratings provided by FotMob*

Subs not used: Filip Jorgensen (GK), Marcus Bettinelli (GK), Josh Acheampong, Trevoh Chalobah.

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