Mikel Arteta and Enzo Maresca have opened up after Arsenal beat Chelsea 1-0 in Sunday’s Premier League clash at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners picked up all three points, with Mikel Merino netting in the 20th minute of the match.
The Premier League title already appears to be out of reach for Arsenal, with Liverpool 12 points clear at the summit with a game in hand.
But Arteta was pleased to see his side get the job done as they continued their push for Champions League football next season.
Mikel Arteta and Enzo Maresca have opened up after Arsenal beat Chelsea 1-0 in Sunday’s Premier League clash at the Emirates Stadium
REUTERS
He told Sky Sports: “We should have done much more but we are very happy and it was an important game.
“We play a top opponent and the team played with an unbelievable spirit and now we go to the international break.
“The only thing we can do is try to win our matches. If we do, we are in a better position.”
Merino has impressed for Arsenal as a No 9 in the absence of the likes of Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, who are sidelined through injury.
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Arteta, when asked why Merino is excelling, said: “We have had top players out for many many months. Our team has an incredible resilience.
“Mikel really wants to do well, he has never played that position before but he is scoring goals.
“He is a really dangerous player in the box and he can help us. Really pleased, even physically it is a very different game to play as a nine.”
Meanwhile, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca insisting he was pleased with his side’s display despite the disappointing result.
Mikel Merinos goal from the stands 🤩
🎥 ( @twofourfours ) pic.twitter.com/sp3rz4cwnG— AFCnewsroom (@TheAFCnewsroom) March 16, 2025
“I think we were in the game until the end,” he said.
“There was not a big difference in the two games between us.
“Given the injuries, we fought until the end. After the international break, we can have more players back like Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke for the final sprint.”
On how his team have been coping with injuries, he continued: “We competed well, The game was there.
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“They scored a set-piece, they are masters at that. It is a shame but my feeling is that we are going in the right direction.
“We controlled the game, we created some chances. In the second half we were there. Overall, I think we competed very well.”
Cole Palmer missed the match through injury.
And Maresca has confirmed the forward will also miss England’s upcoming matches against Albania and Latvia.
Arsenal star Mikel Merino scored the only goal of the game against Chelsea on Sunday
REUTERS
“The feeling is that he can be back after the international break,” he said.
“[For sure he won’t be playing in the internationals] because hs is injured and he didn’t play today.”