Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea player ratings: Gunners break three-game Premier League winless streak | OneFootball

Arsenal saw their Premier League championship dreams slip in recent weeks but returned to successful ways against London rivals Chelsea this afternoon.

Mikel Arteta’s side ran out 1-0 winners. His namesake, Merino, scored the game’s only goal, leaving the Gunners 13 points behind leaders Liverpool with nine matches remaining this season.

After losing two of his first three Premier League home games against Chelsea (W1), Arsenal boss Arteta has led them to victories in each of the last three—their longest winning run at home to the Blues in the competition since 2001–02 and 2003–04 (3).

Chelsea, meanwhile, are winless in their last seven away games in the Premier League (D2, L5); their longest such run since October 2022–February 2023 under Graham Potter (D4, L4).

This was also one of only six Premier League games to see neither side register a big chance this season, and the first involving either Arsenal or Chelsea. The Blues also registered just eight touches in the opposition’s box, their fewest in a league game since November 2022 against Newcastle (7).

Arsenal player ratings

David Raya: 70%

One nervous moment—as he got a touch on a speculative Cucurella effort that sneaked out for a corner—aside, this was a comfortable outing for Raya, who was forced into making two saves, but his long passing accuracy (29.4%) was not up to par.

Myles Lewis-Skelly: 62%

Celebrated a first senior England call-up with a mature performance. Lewis-Skelly created a single chance and finished the game with an impressive 100% ground duel success rate.

Gabriel Magalhães: 69%

A yellow card for a late challenge was the only blemish on Gabriel’s outing. His 90% retention rate was the best among those wearing red and white, and only Timber (six) completed more passes into the final third (five) than him. Gabriel also completed a team-high five clearances and won possession three times in the middle third.

William Saliba: 65%

This was a mixed bag for Saliba, who looked assured as usual but was dribbled past once. He redeemed himself with a 100% aerial duel success rate (3/3) while successfully winning two tackles, but he did produce an error leading to a shot that undoubtedly impacted his final rating.

Jurriën Timber: 73%

Timber, the more defensively minded of Arsenal’s full-backs, made a significant impact by registering two interceptions that helped retain possession and winning four aerial duels. He was also the team’s leader in winning possession in the defensive third, achieving this three times. Timber was the only Arsenal player to successfully initiate an offside trap. Additionally, he completed more passes into the final third than anyone else in a Gunners shirt, with a total of six.

Declan Rice: 58%

Ended the game with 100% forward passing accuracy. Rice, often tasked with pushing forward, leading to four touches in the opposition box, also completed four clearances and won a single tackle. However, there were two unsuccessful touches in today’s performance.

Thomas Partey: 59%

Another combative performance in Arsenal’s midfield for Partey, who registered one interception, won four duels, and boasted a 100% take-on success rate. But what let him down was his passing into the final third (40%).

Martin Ødegaard: 75%

As usual, Arsenal’s creativity went through Ødegaard, who created two chances, yielding one assist. His take-on success rate may have been 50%, but no one playing for the home side won possession more times in the middle third (four) than he did.

Leandro Trossard: 58%

Had the game’s first real chance, and Trossard finished the derby with three shots on goal, but none were on target. He also didn’t create a single chance for his teammates in another lacklustre outing for the Belgian forward.

Mikel Merino: 68%

Once again tasked with leading Arsenal’s attack in an unfamiliar “false nine” role, he put the Gunners in front with a deft flicked-on header following a Martin Ødegaard corner.

Gabriel Martinelli: 68%

Surprisingly returned from injury early against Manchester United last time out, and given Arsenal’s lack of attacking options, he started today, subsequently creating two chances, but neither was considered a “big chance,” while one of his three shots was on target. Martinelli also attempted five take-ons but completed only two.

Chelsea player ratings

Robert Sánchez: 66%

Redeemed himself toward the end after starting nervously. Sánchez could not keep another clean sheet but registered four saves, with three coming inside the box. A 33% long passing accuracy often put his teammates on the back foot, as possession would needlessly be given back to Arsenal.

Marc Cucurella: 62%

Buoyed by his recent goalscoring form, Cucurella often found himself inside or near Arsenal’s penalty area. In fact, no Chelsea player had more touches in that area (three). He registered the Blues’ only two shots on target.

Levi Colwill: 68%

One of two Chelsea players to successfully initiate an offside trap, Colwill also won possession once in the middle third. He was let down by a 60% aerial duel success rate, even though he won more (three) than any of his teammates.

Benoît Badiashile: 61%

No one starting for the Blues registered more total passes (80) than Badiashile, whose retention rate was an impressive 91%. The central defender was the only Chelsea player to complete passes into the final third in double figures (16). He also won possession three times in the defensive third and completed six clearances.

Wesley Fofana: 63%

Fortunate not to have received an early bath as he often played on the edge. Fofana did record one interception leading to possession retention and blocked one cross, though one unsuccessful touch negates him winning possession twice in the defensive third.

Moisés Caicedo: 61%

Another busy afternoon for the Ecuadorian midfielder who successfully won six more duels than any of his teammates. Caicedo also won possession twice in the middle third and registered two interceptions—both team highs—but was let down by a 33.3% take-on success rate.

Reece James: 59%

Produced an impressive 91.7% passing accuracy in the final third. James was positioned in central midfield but only registered a 33.3% take-on success rate; however, he did win six more duels than any other Chelsea player.

Christopher Nkunku: 53%

He had one shot on goal before being substituted in the dying stages, but that effort was off target. He recorded the highest number of touches in the opposition’s box, yet it appeared that the Frenchman’s defensive contributions were more prominent, as he won two tackles and did not create any chances.

Enzo Fernández: 58%

Made five fouls in this game, more than any other player. He was also dribbled past on three occasions, even though he completed both of his take-on attempts. Playing in a deep-lying forward role, Fernández would not record a single shot on target, and though he created more scoring opportunities than any Chelsea player (two), neither were considered “big chances”.

Jadon Sancho: 57%

Although he completed 11 passes into the final third and registered three ball recoveries, this was an ineffective outing for the Manchester United loanee, who did not create a single chance or have a shot on goal.

Pedro Neto: 46%

The more adventurous of Chelsea’s forwards, with Neto stationed in a “false nine” role, subsequently had three shots on goal, but none were on target. The former Wolves man attempted two take-ons but failed in both.

How do Squawka player ratings work?

Squawka’s new player rating system is wholly stats-based. Player scores are based on the numbers they put up across a range of on-ball events, from goals scored to tackles won.

We tailored each score to the players’ respective positions using extensive research and expertise. For example, forwards are rated on metrics like shots on target, touches in the opposition box, and big chances created. Meanwhile, centre-backs are rewarded for winning aerial duels, making blocks, successful long-range passes, etc.

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