Mikel Merino's strike sinks Chelsea as Arsenal edge London Derby

The Gunners' manager, Mikel Arteta, expressed relief after the win, acknowledging his side's resilience despite a depleted squad.

Merino struck in the opening exchanges, heading home to give Arsenal the lead, and Arteta praised the Spaniard's adaptability. "Mikel really wants to do well," Arteta said. "He has never played that position before, but he is scoring goals. He's a really dangerous player in the box and he can help us.

"Physically, it's a very different game to play as a nine, and I'm really pleased with him."

The Arsenal boss admitted his team could have been more clinical, but he was satisfied with the result against a formidable opponent. "We should have done much more, but we are very happy," he said. "It was an important game. We played a top opponent, and the team showed unbelievable spirit. Now we go into the international break."

Reflecting on the performance, Arteta added: "We did enough to deserve the win. I really liked the attitude of the team. We weren't able to finish some actions, but it was a big game, and we wanted to beat a top side."

With injuries plaguing the squad, he hopes the break will allow key players to return for the season's next phase.

Across the dugout, Chelsea's Enzo Maresca felt his team deserved more from the contest.

The Blues, undone by Merino's set-piece header, battled until the end but couldn't find an equaliser. "I think we were in the game until the finish," Maresca said. "There wasn't a big difference between the two sides. We competed well, and the game was there. They scored from a set-pieceâ”they are masters at thatâ”and it's a shame."

Maresca highlighted Chelsea's resilience despite their own injury concerns. "Given the injuries, we fought until the end," he said. "After the international break, we can have more players back, like Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke, for the final sprint."

The Italian remains optimistic, adding: "We controlled the game, created chances, and in the second half, we were there. My feeling is we are going in the right direction."

The Chelsea boss also backed goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, who impressed despite the defeat. "We are quite happy with both of our keepers, and today Robert was good," Maresca said.

The Blues stay fourth in the table, but Maresca knows the stakes remain high. "When you win, you are close to the target, but when you lose, you can feel far away," he noted.

For Chelsea, the loss stings, but Maresca's belief in his team's trajectory offers hope as they prepare for the challenges ahead.

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