Chelsea suffered yet another defeat to their London rivals, this time losing 1-0 at the Emirates in the Premier League. A first-half goal from Mikel Merino secured the win for Arsenal in a match where Chelsea struggled to create clear chances. Here are the key takeaways from the game.
Positives
1. Avoiding another embarrassment
Last season, Chelsea were humiliated in this fixture, suffering a 5-0 defeat. But this time, Arsenal weren’t at their attacking best. The absence of key players like Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka may have played a role.
Unlike last season, Arsenal were content with their goal. Apart from a second-half effort from Merino, they rarely threatened to extend their lead. When Chelsea had possession, particularly toward the end of the first half and much of the second, Arsenal simply sat deep and absorbed pressure.
Any team that has studied Chelsea under Enzo Maresca knows they struggle to break down a well-structured defense. With Cole Palmer missing and Reece James deployed in midfield, their attacking options were limited. However, on paper, this was a more respectable result than last season’s thrashing.