EPL: Arsenal Edge Chelsea 1-0 to Boost Champions League Hopes

Arsenal secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Chelsea, thanks to Mikel Merino's decisive strike, to boost their Champions League qualification hopes and move 10 points clear of fifth-placed Manchester City.

Mikel Merino's decisive strike propelled Arsenal to a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Chelsea, as the Gunners halted their three-match Premier League winless drought. The narrow win came at a crucial time for Arsenal, who had been struggling to find their footing in recent matches.

Chelsea's away woes continued unabated, as they extended their winless streak on the road to seven matches, with only two draws and five defeats to show for their efforts. The Blues' struggles were evident from the outset, as Arsenal dominated the early exchanges, with Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli testing Chelsea's resolve with promising efforts. The visitors failed to gain a foothold in the match, struggling to impose their will on the contest throughout the first half.

Arsenal are now unbeaten in their last seven Premier League matches against Chelsea 😤#ARSCHE pic.twitter.com/HncaItsmtB

— Premier League (@premierleague) March 16, 2025

Chelsea struggled to gain a foothold in the match, with Arsenal dominating the right flank and causing chaos in the visitors' defense. Jurrien Timber's cutback from the byline sparked a moment of panic, and it seemed only a matter of time before the Gunners broke the deadlock. The breakthrough eventually came from a corner on the right, which Martin Odegaard expertly delivered, finding Mikel Merino, who headed the ball over Robert Sanchez and into the net.

Despite being on the back foot, Chelsea began to find their footing as the half progressed. Pedro Neto, operating as a makeshift striker, often found himself isolated, but the visitors came close to equalizing when Marc Cucurella's volley slipped through David Raya's hands and narrowly missed the far post. Arsenal, however, maintained their composure, preserving their lead until halftime and notching their 10th halftime lead at the Emirates, a league high.

The second half got off to a subdued start for Chelsea, who were clearly feeling the absence of injured forward Cole Palmer. The Blues failed to carry over their momentum from the end of the first half, struggling to create scoring opportunities. As the match wore on, Robert Sanchez made a crucial save to prevent Mikel Merino from doubling Arsenal's advantage, expertly stopping a well-taken volley from crossing the line. The match then entered a lull, with Martin Odegaard's tame effort and a series of uneventful passages of play dominating the landscape.

Arsenal are 12 points behind Liverpool after today's win over Chelsea.

Nine matches remain ⌛️#ARSCHE pic.twitter.com/U2OeuPDDeX

— Premier League (@premierleague) March 16, 2025

Despite their persistent efforts, Enzo Maresca's Chelsea side was unable to find a late equalizer, as Arsenal's well-organized defense held firm to secure the win.

The victory provides Arsenal with some much-needed breathing room in their pursuit of UEFA Champions League qualification. Although closing the 12-point gap to league leaders Liverpool appears unlikely at this stage, Arsenal now sit 10 points clear of fifth-placed Manchester City. This cushion should alleviate some pressure as they aim to secure a top-four finish.

Chelsea, meanwhile, remains in the final guaranteed Champions League spot, sitting one point and one place above last season's champions, Manchester City. However, their seventh consecutive Premier League head-to-head meeting without a win against Arsenal (D2, L5) will have done little to boost their confidence ahead of the season's final stretch.