LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 16: Levi Colwill and Marc Cucurella of Chelsea intervene as Jurrien Timber of Arsenal clashes with Reece James of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Chelsea FC at Emirates Stadium on March 16, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Arsenal emerged triumphant in a tense London derby, edging out Chelsea 1-0 at the Emirates to solidify their grip on second place in the Premier League. With Nottingham Forest breathing down their necks after narrowing the gap to just one point, Mikel Arteta’s men responded with a hard-fought victory. Mikel Merino’s decisive strike stole the show, proving doubters wrong and painting North London red. Here’s how Arsenal’s stars rated in this pulsating clash on Super Sunday.
David Raya: 5/10
The Spanish goalkeeper had a heart-in-mouth moment when Marc Cucurella’s volley nearly caught him out in the first half. Fortunately for Raya, Chelsea’s attack lacked sharpness, leaving him largely untested beyond that scare. A steady, if unspectacular, day between the sticks.
Myles Lewis-Skelly: 7/10
The young left-back earned a warm ovation as he stepped onto the pitch, fresh off his England call-up. Lewis-Skelly didn’t disappoint, holding his own against Chelsea’s tricky wingers with tenacity and threading clever passes. A mature showing from the teenager.
William Saliba: 8/10
Saliba was a brick wall at the back, snuffing out Chelsea’s forwards with ease. His composure, positioning, and leadership shone through, making this a near-flawless display from the Frenchman.
Gabriel Magalhaes: 6/10
Partnering Saliba, Gabriel delivered a no-nonsense performance. He didn’t dazzle, but he didn’t need to—his reliability kept Chelsea’s hopes dim.
Jurrien Timber: 8/10
The Dutch dynamo was a revelation on the right. Bursting with energy, Timber excelled defensively and marauded forward with intent, reminding everyone of his immense value to this squad.
Thomas Partey: 2/10
A rare off-day for Partey. Caught out of position too often and sluggish in midfield battles, he struggled to impose himself against a lively Chelsea side.
Declan Rice: 4/10
Rice’s afternoon was overshadowed by a nasty stamp from Wesley Fofana rather than any standout play. The midfielder looked off the pace and couldn’t dictate the tempo as he usually does.
Martin Odegaard: 5/10
The captain buzzed around in attack but left fans wanting more. While he linked play well, his final decisions often fizzled out, frustrating those in the stands.
Gabriel Martinelli: 7/10
Martinelli brought spark and relentless running to the wing. He carved out promising moments but lacked precision with his end product—a familiar critique.
Leandro Trossard: 3/10
A day to forget for Trossard. Despite golden opportunities in the first half, he couldn’t find the target, leaving his mark on the game frustratingly faint.
Mikel Merino: 8/10
LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 22: Mikel Merino of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and West Ham United FC at Emirates Stadium on February 22, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
The hero of the hour. Merino, not a natural forward, adapted brilliantly, bagging the winner and battling fiercely in midfield. A statement performance from the summer signing.
Substitutes
Ethan Nwaneri: 5/10
Introduced late, the youngster showed neat touches but couldn’t turn the tide in his brief cameo.
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