Arsenal recorded a record-setting 1-0 win over Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium to reduce Liverpool’s lead to 12 points ahead of the last nine games of the Premier League season.
The visitors were denied the services of Cole Palmer, who missed out on the encounter due to a muscle injury.
Palmer’s absence forced Maresca to field a line-up containing five defenders, with the likes of Benoit Badiashile, Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana, Reece James, and Marc Cucurella tasked with keeping Arsenal at bay.
The Gunners started with Mikel Merino, retaining his place as a makeshift striker, flanked by Gabriel Martinelli, and Leandro Trossard.
Arsenal dominated the proceedings earlier in the game, with the likes of Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli and Declan Rice all going close to giving them the lead.
Mikel Merino finally broke the deadlock in the 20th minute with a looping header that went past Sanchez, who could have done better to keep it out.
Chelsea struggled to create anything of note until Marc Cucurella’s effort was almost fumbled in by Raya before the ball crept out of danger to keep the score 1-0 going into the break.
Maresca’s men missed the firepower of Cole Palmer, who has contributed (38%) of the team’s goals in the Premier League.
Sanchez produced a stunning save to deny Mikel Merino in the second half as Chelsea failed to find their way back in the game to hand Arsenal the maximum points.
The Gunners have now reduced Liverpool’s Premier League lead to 12 points ahead of the last nine games of the season.
Mikel Arteta showered praise on his players for grinding out a vital win against Chelsea.
He said, “We did enough to deserve to win the game. Now we have the international break so let’s take a chance to breathe and bring some players back, hopefully.
“We weren’t able to finish some of the actions. I really liked the attitude of the team.”
“It was a big game and we wanted to win against a top team.”
“We have a few players and I will have a few days off and then prepare for the last sprint of the season.”
Chelsea manager, Enzo Maresca revealed that there was not much difference between both sides despite his side losing their seventh away game of the season.
He said, “We are on the right path. There wasn’t a big difference between them and us in terms of creating chances. We could create something more for sure. In the end, we lost from set pieces.”
Arsenal set three records with the victory against their London rivals.
Mikel Arteta’s men are now unbeaten in their last seven Premier League games against Chelsea, their longest run without a league defeat against them since a run of 19 between 1995 and 2005.
They’ve also won three consecutive Premier League home games against them for the first time since 2003.
Martin Odegaard provided his fifth assist against Chelsea more than any other Arsenal player in Premier League history.
Arsenal have now scored more goals from corners than any other Premier League side (27) since the start of last season.
Up next for Mikel Arteta’s men is a home clash against Fulham after the international break on April 1, while Chelsea will take on Tottenham.
Arsenal Set Three Records Against Chelsea To Cut Liverpool’s Lead is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
Source: The Whistler
