The Spaniard, Arsenal’s makeshift striker, steered in a looping header from a corner to cap off a dominant start by the hosts.

Chelsea grew into the game, though, and we very nearly equalised on 37 minutes when Marc Cucurella’s volley was spilled by David Raya, the ball trickling just wide of the post.

It would prove the closest we would come to levelling. Despite plenty of persistence in what was a low-key second half, we could not force Raya into meaningful action. Robert Sanchez produced the best save to stop Merino doubling the Gunners’ advantage, and they withstood late Chelsea pressure to hold on to the points.

Team news

Cole Palmer missed out with a minor injury sustained in training yesterday. It was the first league game he had not started since the same fixture last season.

As promised by Enzo Maresca after the win over Copenhagen in the week, Sanchez started between the posts. There were five other changes to our XI. Reece James was selected in midfield, with Enzo Fernandez moving into a more advanced role. Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill and Cucurella returned in defence. Benoit Badiashile was the man to retain his place.

Christopher Nkunku was the other fresh face, joining Jadon Sancho and Pedro Neto in a fluid attack. Neto was most often the leading man.

Arsenal start strongly

Inside three minutes, Leandro Trossard shot wide from just inside the box, and Sanchez needed to save from Martinelli at the second attempt having lost possession.

We were happy to play on the break and use our speed, but it was the home side showing most of the intent.

We had a big let-off in the 12th minute. Cucurella looked like he had been pushed under pressure from Justin Timber, who squared into a dangerous area. Fofana did excellently to clear initially, and the ball then ricocheted dangerously in the six-yard box, with Sanchez getting a hand to it and Declan Rice eventually thrashing a shot well over.

Shortly afterwards, an effort of his from further out was not far wide. Trossard missed the target with a bouncing shot before Arsenal did take the lead in the 20th minute. Martin Odegaard’s corner was met by Merino at the near post, and he expertly looped his header over Sanchez into the far corner.

Midway through the half, Enzo Fernandez showed great desire to reach a bouncing ball on halfway first and dart forwards, before volleying past David Raya but also the far post.

So nearly level

Martinelli blazed a presentable opening over as Arsenal sought a second. Instead, it was very nearly 1-1 with 37 minutes on the clock. Neto and Nkunku had shots blocked before the ball looped up invitingly for Cucurella. His first-time volley squirmed through Raya’s grasp, but dribbled agonisingly past the far post.

Chelsea finished the half the better, enjoying plenty of the ball in the final third. The challenge after the break would be trying to convert that territory into chances.

It was a tetchy start to the second period, with niggly fouls from both sides and neither finding much rhythm in their attacking play. On the hour, Sanchez did produce a great one-handed stop to keep out a fierce volley from the unmarked Merino. He then held a low Odegaard effort. The Norwegian was almost immediately booked, making it five yellow cards shown in 13 minutes.

With little goalmouth action at either end, Maresca shuffled his pack with a quarter-of-an-hour to play, bringing on Tyrique George and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall for Jadon Sancho and Nkunku. There was the welcome return of Romeo Lavia to action shortly after.

George hung up a cross to the back post that Cucurella leaped highest to meet. His header lacked the requisite power to overly worry Raya, and Arsenal closed the contest out effectively thereafter.

What it means…

The Blues are fourth in the Premier League table heading into the final quarter of the campaign, a point ahead of Man City in fifth and two clear of Newcastle, who have a game in hand.

What’s next…

The final international break of the season. It will be two-and-a-half weeks until our next fixture, at home to Tottenham on Thursday 3 April.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Fofana (Gusto 86), Colwill, Badiashile (Tosin 86), Cucurella; James (c) (Lavia 82), Caicedo; Sancho (George 76), Enzo Fernandez, Nkunku (Dewsbury-Hall 76); Neto

Unused subs Bettinelli, Jorgensen, Chalobah, Acheampong

Booked Colwill 30, Neto 52, Fofana 59

Arsenal (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Partey, Rice, Odegaard (c) (Tierney 90); Trossard, Merino, Martinelli (Nwaneri 79)

Unused subs Neto, White, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Jorginho, Calafiori, Butler-Oyedeji

Scorer Merino 20

Booked Gabriel 55, Partey 58, Odegaard 65

Referee Chris Kavanagh

Crowd (tickets sold) 60,311