
Mikel Merino scored the only goal of the game as Arsenal defeated Chelsea 1-0 to reduce the gap to leaders Liverpool to 12 points with 9 games left.
The Premier League title may be beyond Arsenal’s reach but the Gunners remain determined to fight until the end, and they kept up the chase with a routine win over London rivals Chelsea.
Both sides came into this game with different objectives. Mikel Arteta’s men still have faint hopes of catching Liverpool, while Chelsea were trying to consolidate on their top-four spot.
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Arsenal started the game in more aggressive fashion, and a pattern of dominance soon emerged.
Merino scored in the 20th minute when he flicked his looping header over Robert Sanchez in the Chelsea goal after a Martin Odegaard corner.
The win means Arsenal remains second-placed 12 points behind Liverpool who face Newcastle United in the League Cup final later on Sunday.
Both the top two teams have played 29 games with a further nine rounds of fixtures to go.
Chelsea are fourth, one point ahead of Manchester City and five behind third-placed Nottingham Forest.