Mokeshift Forward Mikel Merino scored the fourth goal in all competitions since operating in his new position to give Arsenal a 20th minute home lead in Chelsea at Premier League on Sunday.
Merino airspace expert dropped the corner of Martin Odegaard beyond goalkeeper Robert Sanchez to cover a dominant start on his side, who repeatedly pushed for the opener and went near the shots by Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard and Jurrian Timber.
“The corner drought is over,” said former Aenel forward, Alan Smith, about his former side, speaking at Sky Sports. “It was a moment.
“You can see how happy his teammates were (Merino’s). That’s exactly what their players needed. They made all the push.”
Mikel Merino did it again! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/njlaatsgl6
– Sky Sports Premier League (@skysportspl) March 16 2025
Arsenal by Chelsea: The Blues
Arsenal scored 15 goals from corners on top flight this season but had not added to this tally from Dominic Solanke’s goal for Tottenham at The Derby at Emirates Stadium on January 15th.
Despite their reputation for scoring from the pieces, the optimistic titles had taken 51 corners without finding the net before Merino made the discovery against the blues.
Merino is a midfielder, but was first used as a substitute for Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Leicester City on February 15, rewarding Arteta’s improvisational decision with both goals.
The Spanish international produced a goal and helped win 7-1 on the PSV in the Champions League on March 4, but his goal against Chelsea was his first in his double championship against the foxes.
How did Sanchez keep it? 🤯 pic.twitter.com/isnbhlriq4
– Sky Sports Premier League (@skysportspl) March 16 2025
Palmer out for Chelsea
With 10 games of the league season, Arsenal started the game knowing that their prospects for overtaking Liverpool leaders It was missing a minute after falling points for a third consecutive 1-1 draw at Manchester United a week earlier.
Chelsea had the opportunity to move three points behind Arsenal, but had not won the appendix to their previous seven attempts, the last with a 2-0 win in August 2021.
The Enzo Maresca manager had to do Without top scorer Cole Palmerwith the Italian revelation before the start that the international England had suffered a minor injury.
Wideman Marc Cucurella, who scored the only goal of the game at Chelsea’s home at Leicester City last Sunday, went closer as visitors struggled to show an improvement on a route far from the form they saw on the road since he won Tottenham on December 8th.
