Mikel Merino scored the only goal of the game as Arsenal beat Chelsea to move 12 points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool.

Both of these sides came into the match without their first-choice striker, with Kai Havertz ruled out for the season with a hamstring injury for Arsenal and Nicolas Jackson missing for Chelsea. Chelsea were also without their most important player in Cole Palmer, who was out of the squad with an injury, and it was the first time the Blues have to had to play without him since they lost 5-0 to Arsenal in April last season. Arsenal, again naming Merino as a makeshift striker, dominated the game early on and Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli and Declan Rice all went close.

Merino’s winner came in the 20th minute when he flicked on a curling corner from Martin Odegaard past a stretching Robert Sanchez. Chelsea’s best opportunity to take something from the game came when Marc Cucurella’s powerful effort slipped through David Raya’s hands but the ball rolled just past the post. Robert Sanchez, recently restored as Chelsea’s first-choice keeper, had some shaky moments as the Blues were put under pressure with a number of crosses into the area and he was jeered by the home crowd when he had the ball at his feet. Sanchez produced an excellent save to deny Merino in the second half, but Chelsea could not find the goal to get something from the game.

Liverpool are not playing in the league this weekend as they are involved in the Carabao Cup final. Arsenal are really well organised under Arteta but they did not do enough with the ball when they were in good positions. That has been the theme of their season and a large reason why they have dropped away in the race for this season’s title. Merino’s goal, Arsenal’s 11th in all competitions from corners this season, shows that Arteta is justified in his continued work with set-piece coach Nicolas Jover, as their threat from set-pieces gets them crucial points, particularly in tight games.

The iconic North West London Derby between Arsenal and Chelsea is one of the oldest rivalries in English football dating back to 1907 when the two teams met each other for the first time. Over the years, the rivalry has grown manifold and since Chelsea’s rise in stature in the early 2000s, it has become one of the biggest ties in the Premier League. Several star players have played for both Chelsea and Arsenal, with Kai Havertz the latest to make the move ahead of the 2023-24 campaign.

Lassana Diarra : The French midfielder played at Chelsea for two seasons from 2005-2007 where he won an FA Cup and a League Cup title. In 2007 he moved to Arsenal where he spent one season but did not win a title.

Emmanuel Petit : Petit joined Arsenal in 1997 and spent three seasons at the club where he won a Premier League, an FA Cup and two Community Shields. After spending a season at Barcelona, the Frenchman returned to London in 2001 to Chelsea where he spent another three seasons but did not win a single trophy with the Blues.

David Rocastle : The English midfielder began his professional career at Arsenal in 1985 and played for seven seasons winning the English league twice, one League Cup and a Community Shield. He joined Chelsea in 1994 and was there at the club until 1998 but spent the last three seasons of his contract on loan spells.

Willian : The Brazilian winger played at Chelsea for seven seasons from 2013 to 2020 where he won two Premier Leagues, one FA Cup, one League Cup and a Europa League title. Since the 2020/21 season, he has been playing at Arsenal but is yet to win a title with the Gunners.

Nicolas Anelka : The French forward played at Arsenal for two seasons from 1997 to 1999 where he won a Premier League, an FA Cup and a Community Shield. In 2008, he joined Chelsea and played there for four seasons. With the Blues, he won a Premier League, two FA Cups and one Community Shield title.

David Luiz : The Brazilian defender played at Chelsea in two stints from 2011 to 2014 and 2016 to 2019. With the Blues, David Luiz won a Premier League, a Champions League, two FA Cups and two Europa League titles. He joined Arsenal in 2019 and spent two seasons where he won an FA Cup and a Community Shield title.

William Gallas : The French international defender played at Chelsea from 2001 to 2006 and then joined Arsenal where he spent four seasons from 2006 to 2010. He won two Premier Leagues, a League Cup and Community Shield at Chelsea but did not win anything with the Gunners.

Olivier Giroud : Olivier Giroud joined Arsenal in 2012 where he spent six seasons before joining Chelsea in 2018. He left the Blues in the summer of 2021. At Arsenal, the French striker won three FA Cups and three Community Shield titles and with Chelsea, he won one FA Cup, one Europa League and a Champions League title.

Cesc Fabregas : The Spanish midfielder began his professional career with Arsenal in 2003 and spent eight seasons at the club where he won a Community Shield and an FA Cup title. He joined Chelsea in 2014 and played for five seasons where he won two Premier League titles, one FA Cup and a League Cup title.

Petr Cech : The legendary goalkeeper played at Chelsea from 2004 to 2015. He played 494 matches for the Blues and won four Premier Leagues, four FA Cups, three League Cups, two Community Shields, a Champions League and a Europa League title.He joined Arsenal in 2015 and spent the last four seasons of his professional career with the Gunners winning two Community Shields and an FA Cup title.

Ashley Cole : The legendary English full-back began his professional career with Arsenal in 1999 and remained at the club until 2006 after which he joined Chelsea where he spent the next eight seasons.At Arsenal, he won two Community Shields, three FA Cups and two Premier League titles. With Chelsea, Cole won a Premier League, four FA Cups, one League Cup, one Community Shield, one Europa League and a Champions League title.

Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang :  After winning an FA Cup with Arsenal in his four year stint, Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang left the club by mutual consent and moved to Barcelona in the January transfer window of 2022.However, the Gabonese striker could only survive seven months at the Camp Nou as Chelsea signed him on a two-year deal in September 2022.

Kai Havertz : Havertz was widely regarded as one of the most exciting youngsters in the world while at Bayer Leverkusen, but never really managed to live up to the high expectations at Chelsea after his move to Stamford Bridge. That being said, the Germany international did have a tendency to rise to the occasion when it really mattered, most notably when he scored the winner in Chelsea’s Champions League final win over Manchester City. His transfer to Arsenal in the summer of 2023 came as a bit of surprise, although there was no denying the Gunners desperately needed to add some depth to their squad and Havertz could prove to be a shrewd signing in the end with his versatility.

Arsenal completed a resounding 9-3 aggregate victory over PSV Eindhoven to set up a mouthwatering Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid.

Holders Real beat capital rivals Atletico Madrid on penalties – and Arsenal will likely have to find top gear against the Spanish giants in the last eight after cruising past their Dutch opponents. Leading 7-1 from the first leg in the Netherlands, the Gunners took the opportunity to make wholesale changes to their starting XI. While there were also huge swathes of empty seats around a subdued Emirates Stadium, those in attendance were treated to a sumptuous opening goal from one of three left-backs selected by manager Mikel Arteta. Oleksandr Zinchenko, who has found himself on the periphery at times, picked up possession from Raheem Sterling’s touch inside and whipped a superb effort into the left corner.

However, any thoughts of the floodgates opening and Arsenal eclipsing Bayern Munich’s record 12-1 thrashing of Sporting over two legs at the same stage of the competition in 2008-09, did not come to fruition. Instead, a distinct absence of jeopardy to the tie only appeared to contribute to a dip in Arsenal’s intensity, with the overall outcome never in any doubt. Former Tottenham winger Ivan Perisic expertly found the top-right corner from Guus Til’s pass to give the visitors a deserved equaliser. And while Myles Lewis-Skelly hit the post for the home side at 1-1 and a brilliant Sterling run and cross from the right allowed Declan Rice to head Arsenal back in front, they were unable to pull clear.

PSV, who were backed by a spirited away following, restored some pride when Couhaib Driouech collected Isaac Babadi’s incisive pass to chip over the oncoming home goalkeeper David Raya and ensure they left London with a merited draw. While the low-key nature of the contest is unlikely to leave Arteta overly pleased, the Spaniard will take some satisfaction from guiding the Gunners into the last eight in successive seasons for the first time since 2010. Arsenal were losing finalists in 2006 and have not won a European trophy since the now-defunct Cup Winners’ Cup in 1994. With his team trailing leaders Liverpool by 15 points in the Premier League, Arteta will be acutely aware the Champions League is the most realistic chance of lifting silverware this season – with Carlo Ancelotti’s 15-time European Cup winners next up in the last eight.

Declan Rice’s powerful strike gave Arsenal a point at Manchester United but did little to help their pursuit of Premier League pacesetters Liverpool.

Arsenal dominated the opening 45 minutes at Old Trafford but lacked any cutting edge and were punished in first-half stoppage time when United captain Bruno Fernandes curled a 25-yard free-kick past a badly positioned David Raya in goal. Raya made amends with fine second-half saves from Noussair Mazraoui and Joshua Zirkzee before Arsenal finally found the end product with 16 minutes left. United failed to clear and Rice sent a superb rising drive past Andre Onana at the Stretford End to give Arsenal a point – but it did little to dent Liverpool’s seemingly unassailable lead at the top of the table as they stand 15 points clear of the Gunners, having played a game more.

It could have been worse for Arsenal as it took a miraculous double stop from Raya to keep out Fernandes in the dying seconds to prevent United taking all three points. Arsenal’s failings in front of goal and the lack of recognised striker have holed their Premier League title challenge below the waterline. In reality, they are only playing to ensure a place in the top four while training their sights on the Champions League. And they were in evidence again here as Arsenal dominated possession – which was 68.2% to 31.8% in their favour – but failed to apply any sustained, serious pressure on a United side short of quality and shorn of confidence. Utilising midfield man Mikel Merino as an emergency striker, Arsenal had 17 shots but only six on target – the same as United. Too often pointless passing in front of the home side’s defence fizzled out on the edge of the penalty area.

They ended up relying on Raya, who must take his share of responsibility for United’s goal, to avoid defeat with those three crucial second-half saves to make amends for the error of judgement in the first half. Arsenal surely know in their heart of hearts that the title pursuit is over and the Premier League is Liverpool’s, but they must somehow find a way to repeat the potency of the stunning 7-1 win at PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League in midweek rather than the blunt instrument they were here. The Gunners got a point in the end, but it is a meaningless one in title terms.

Andrea Berta has reached an agreement with Arsenal to become their new sporting director. Berta became available in January after more than a decade at Atletico Madrid — where he was central to the Spanish team’s progress. The Italian was among multiple options Arsenal considered during a thorough process to replace Edu Gaspar after his resignation in November. It was driven by managing director Richard Garlick and executive vice-chair Tim Lewis, with Josh Kroenke involved throughout on behalf of the ownership and input from manager Mikel Arteta. Berta prioritised Arsenal above a number of other top-level opportunities and those suitors have been told about the 53-year-old’s decision.

Jason Ayto, previously Edu’s assistant, has been occupying the role on an interim basis and was a contender to step up permanently. But it is the more experienced Berta who will take over in what is a major appointment for Arsenal and contracts are now being finalised. Berta spent 12 years at Atletico Madrid before leaving the club in January. He has built a strong reputation during his time in the Spanish capital and helped sustain a team that regularly challenges Barcelona and Real Madrid for the title, winning two La Liga titles, the Europa League and finishing as runners-up in the Champions League twice. He was initially appointed technical director at Atletico in 2013 before becoming sporting director in 2017. He previously held roles at AC Carpendolo, Parma and Genoa.

On January 3, The Athletic reported that Berta was preparing for a possible move to the Premier League by studying English in London. Berta is accustomed to dealing with major transfers, having bought and sold players such as Antoine Griezmann and Rodri for large sums. The summer window of 2024 demonstrated Atletico’s ability to regenerate their squad, spending £180million on Julian Alvarez, Conor Gallagher, Robin Le Normand and Alexander Sorloth, and this has put Diego Simeone’s side in the La Liga title race mix this season.

Eindhoven has been packed with carnival-goers in recent days but on Tuesday it was Arsenal enjoying their own party in the city, getting over their goalscoring crisis and setting a Champions League record in the process.

Mikel Arteta’s side became the first team in Champions League history to score seven goals away from home in the knockout stages of the competition as they romped to a 7-1 win over PSV Eindhoven. It was the most goals the Gunners have scored in a single game since beating Newcastle 7-3 in the Premier League 13 years ago. The Arsenal manager said the win had given his players “joy and confidence and belief”, but was not getting carried away when questions were put to him about the records that his team had broken.

“For sure, it’s something that hasn’t been done, so great to be part of that,” Arteta said. “But as a team we want to achieve many other things that are far more important than that. “The happiest thing is we are in a very strong position to go to the next round, which is where we want to be. “But there’s still a job to do in London in a week’s time.” After failing to score in their past two games, a 0-0 draw at Nottingham Forest and 1-0 defeat by West Ham, Arteta may not have seen a victory like this coming. “This will give them great confidence for the rest of the season. Right from the start Arsenal had control of the game,” said Chris Sutton on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Arsenal were ruthless with their finishing, some of the combination play in the final third was sensational. England and Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice was one of the players singled out for his performance during the game and said that the Gunners have got the reward for their hard work in recent weeks. Rice, who had a goal ruled out for offside, said Arsenal were “fluid” and possessed the “enthusiasm, drive and hunger” that the knockout stages demand. Arsenal’s lack of a recognised striker has been well documented, with Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz both injured. But six different players contributed to the rout on Tuesday – Odegaard scored twice, along with goals for Jurrien Timber, Mikel Merino, Ethan Nwaneri, Leandro Trossard and Riccardo Calafiori.

The emphatic win means that Arsenal can start planning for a trip to Madrid, as they are set to take on the winner of the tie between Real and Atletico, which finished 2-1 to Carlo Ancelotti’s side. Next week’s second leg takes place at Atletico. Arsenal’s excellent 17-year-old Nwaneri again showed why there is so much hype and excitement about his future in the game. That goal return puts him alongside some of England’s most iconic young players. Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney scored nine goals each in all competitions when they were aged 17 or younger and Nwaneri now has 16 days before his 18th birthday to try to match or beat that record.

Arsenal’s slim title hopes faded further after a frustrating stalemate at Nottingham Forest.

The goalless draw at the City Ground left the Gunners 13 points behind leaders Liverpool, who now look like making the run-in a title procession. If that is the case, the last few days will be viewed as pivotal to Arsenal’s season following their home defeat to West Ham and dropped points against third-placed Forest. Before this game, with the Gunners 11 points behind Liverpool and having a game in hand, boss Mikel Arteta vowed to keep fighting, but it is surely now a futile chase after Wednesday’s results.

They needed to win at Forest but lacked a cutting edge, despite dominating possession, with their attacking options blunted by injury. Without the injured Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz, Leandro Trossard and Mikel Merino were neat and tidy up front but offered no focal point. The closest Arsenal came was when full-back Riccardo Calafiori’s effort bounced off the post and into Matz Sels’ arms midway through the first half, before the goalkeeper saved Merino’s header soon after the break.

Their control of the ball at least denied Forest the chance to find 18-goal Chris Wood. When the striker finally got some second-half service, Arsenal keeper David Raya denied him with a good block. The draw kept alive Forest’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League next season, sitting six points behind Arsenal and two clear of Chelsea in fifth. Arsenal’s title hopes are surely over after they were held, while Liverpool beat Newcastle 2-0 at Anfield to extend their lead at the top.

Arsenal missed the chance to close the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool as West Ham ended a four-match winless run with a stunning victory at Emirates Stadium.

Jarrod Bowen got the winner against a Gunners side who later had Myles Lewis-Skelly sent off. Victory would have moved Arsenal to within five points of Arne Slot’s team, who visit champions Manchester City on Sunday, but they struggled badly against a Hammers side who defended magnificently and created the better openings over the 90 minutes. Bowen started and finished the move that led to the winner late in the first half, collecting a loose ball on the edge of his own box and feeding Aaron Wan-Bissaka before stooping low to nod the full-back’s cross into the net for his 50th Premier League goal.

It was the first time Arsenal had trailed in a home Premier league game at half-time this season, but they showed no discernible improvement after the interval – despite pinning West Ham back for much of the second period. Leandro Trossard had a low shot saved by the feet of Alphonse Areola, but the Gunners’ hopes of a route back into the contest were dealt a major blow when Lewis-Skelly was sent off for a professional foul on Mohammed Kudus near the halfway line. Referee Craig Pawson initially cautioned the 18-year-old for dragging Kudus to the floor, but the video assistant referee (VAR) ruled that Lewis-Skelly had denied the Ghanaian a clear goalscoring opportunity and the yellow card was upgraded to a red.

West Ham held on comfortably in the end to move 13 points clear of the bottom three and level with Manchester United in 15th – although they stay 16th because of their inferior goal difference. Mikel Merino was handed a starting berth in the hosts’ attack alongside Trossard and Ethan Nwaneri. The Spain international was lively in the early stages but unable to get on the end of an outswinging Thomas Partey cross towards the back post, before sending a left-footed effort high over the bar from a tight angle. Riccardo Calafiori registered Arsenal’s only shot on target before the interval, sending a fierce effort straight at goalkeeper Areola from the edge of the area, before Bowen displayed the ruthless edge the home side were lacking all afternoon.

Arsenal closed to within four points of Premier League leaders Liverpool as substitute Mikel Merino’s two late goals gave them victory at struggling Leicester City.

The Gunners’ striker shortage threatened to be exposed by the Foxes until Merino, on for the desperately out of sorts Raheem Sterling, stole in at the far post to break the deadlock. Merino’s 81st-minute goal was created by Arsenal’s outstanding player, 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri, who hit the woodwork twice in the second half and was their main threat throughout. Spanish midfielder Merino then struck again at the far post three minutes from time to wrap up a vital win and keep Arsenal’s title pursuit on track. It was tough on Leicester, who fought hard throughout and almost took the lead, only for Myles Lewis-Skelly to get a vital touch with Bobby de Cordova-Reid waiting to tap in Jordan Ayew’s cross.

Arsenal’s celebrations carried an element of relief as for a long time it looked like their lack of strikers, made worse by Kai Havert’s hamstring injury sustained on their break in Dubai, was threatening to undermine them – until Merino stepped up. Arsenal needed to hang tough on their travels once more, just as they did in their last away league game at Wolverhampton Wanderers, before finally breaking down Leicester City’s stubborn resistance. Their title chase was in danger of suffering a serious body blow as they entered the last 10 minutes on level terms, with the toothless nature of their display only raising further questions about manager Mikel Arteta’s failure to add a striker to his squad.

It was a midfielder who eventually did the trick, Merino showing efficiency in front of goal with a powerful header and emphatic shot just the Foxes thought a point was in sight. If Merino was the match-winner, England Under-19 international Nwaneri was Arsenal’s real inspiration with an outstanding performance of skill, pace and ability to put Leicester’s defence on the back foot. Nwaneri’s display was in sharp contrast to that of Sterling, who suffered a nightmare afternoon when he simply could not do a thing right. It was no surprise when he was replaced, Arteta sending on Merino in a decision fully vindicated by his late double. Arsenal are now just four points behind Liverpool, although they have played a game more – but this was a much better position than they were contemplating until Merino made his decisive interventions.

Newcastle United moved a giant step closer to ending a 56-year wait to win a major trophy as they secured a place in the Carabao Cup final with victory over Arsenal after an emotional night on Tyneside.

Eddie Howe’s side, who held a 2-0 advantage from the semi-final first leg, completed the second part of the assignment, and will now face Liverpool or Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley as they stand one victory away from ending a sequence without major success stretching back to the 1969 triumph in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. Newcastle made a flying start, with Alexander Isak having a goal ruled out for offside before Jacob Murphy turned home a rebound in the 19th minute after the Sweden striker’s shot hit the post.

The goal came seconds after Martin Odegaard missed what turned out to be Arsenal’s best chance of turning this semi-final around, glancing the post with only keeper Martin Dubravka to beat. In a tumultuous atmosphere, with the Toon Army urging their side on at deafening volume, Newcastle delivered the decisive blow after 52 minutes following a nightmare moment for Arsenal keeper David Raya.

Raya inexplicably tried to find Declan Rice, who was shadowed by Fabian Schar. He stole possession away from Rice, leaving Anthony Gordon with a simple finish to send Newcastle back to Wembley. And the Geordie hordes will be hoping to make up for losing against Manchester United in the EFL Cup final two years ago, as well as claiming a first domestic honour since the 1955 FA Cup. Arsenal and Arteta can have no complaints here, as they have been comprehensively outplayed by Newcastle over the two legs. The big chance came and went with that early Odegaard chance, as once Murphy had stretched the aggregate lead to 3-0, there was no coming back.

Arsenal scored two goals in four first-half minutes as they came from behind to beat Girona to qualify for the knockout stage of the Champions League.

The Gunners were all-but through to the last 16 of the competition going into the match but build up to the game was dominated with talk about their approach for Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins. Girona looked like they were about to pull off a shock result when they took the lead in the 28th minute. Neto, making his Arsenal debut in goal in place of the injured David Raya, raced out of his box and Arnaut Danjuma curled the ball past him into the empty net. Arsenal drew level with a penalty 10 minutes later through Jorginho after Thomas Partey was brought down in the area by Arnau Martinez. The Gunners were then ahead just before half time when 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri cut in from the right hand side and curled an effort into the bottom corner.

Girona thought they had scored a second and levelled the match when Cristhian Stuani tapped in from close range in the second half but the goal was ruled out for offside. Arsenal had a chance to add a third in stoppage time but Raheem Sterling had a penalty saved by Pau Lopez. The result leaves Arsenal on 19 points and comfortably in the top eight heading into the knockout rounds. Mikel Arteta has spoken about wanting to take his side away for a mid-season break and as Arsenal will not be involved in the play-off games in February, there’s a 10 day gap in their schedule where he may be able to that. Arsenal’s need for a striker has been one of the main talking points of their season and the news of the club’s approach for Ollie Watkins threatened to overshadow the game.

Their need for a goalscorer was almost highlighted further after Danjuma gave Girona the lead but the Gunners showed the quality to make this game another straightforward outing in this season’s revamped league phase. Nwaneri then ensured that all of that was a footnote after another excellent showing for the Gunners. The club’s youngest player to feature for the first team again showed maturity above his years to slot in on the right side of the Arsenal attack. His goal, where he cut in from the right on his left foot and curled into the far corner, is already starting to become a trademark of his in a career that only spans 23 games.

Mikel Arteta allows Nwaneri to expressive himself in this team and like all top level wingers Nwaneri is equally adept at cutting inside to go at goal or go wide to cross for teammates. The 17-year-old is also trusted to take set-pieces for Arsenal and that is quite the compliment given the importance Arsenal put on those opportunities. Nwaneri’s goal was his sixth of the season in just 21 games and the academy graduate looks set to continue to be a part of this Arsenal side for many years to come.

Riccardo Calafiori fired 10-man Arsenal to a Premier League win at Wolves after Myles Lewis-Skelly’s controversial red card.

Referee Michael Oliver’s first-half decision to send off Lewis-Skelly – after he fouled Matt Doherty 30 yards from the hosts’ goal to stop the Wolves defender breaking from a corner – stunned the Gunners. At 18 years and 121 days, Lewis-Skelly became the third youngest player to be sent off in the Premier League, behind Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen. Joao Gomes’ dismissal, for a second yellow card after a foul on Jurrien Timber with 20 minutes left, was more routine but it will be no more than a footnote. Lewis-Skelly’s red could have had an immediate impact on the title race if the second-placed Gunners dropped points to fall further behind leaders Liverpool, who beat Ipswich 4-1.

But they showed resilience to snatch the victory thanks to Calafiori, on as a substitute following a half-time reshuffle. The defender’s fine low finish with 16 minutes left kept the Gunners six points adrift of Liverpool. Myles-Skelly’s 43rd-minute red ignited what had been a forgettable game, with the only early talking point Wolves fans’ chants against owners Fosun, calling on them to “back the team or sell the club” with their side 17th in the table. Pablo Sarabia volleyed over and Kai Havertz nodded wide before he was denied by Jose Sa.

Havertz again went close after the break with Matheus Cunha threatening twice before Calafiori pounced. Michael Oliver’s decision to send Lewis-Skelly off after 43 minutes will be replayed and poured over for a long time. It has split opinion, with former England captain Alan Shearer calling it “one of the worst decisions that I’ve seen in a long time”. Lewis-Skelly’s tackle was cynical and he knew what he was doing to stop Doherty breaking away from an Arsenal corner, but whether it was a red card has sparked intense debate – so intense that Arsenal’s win amid the controversy may almost be forgotten.

Liverpool snatched a result befitting champions when they struck twice late on to win at Brentford last week. This time, Arsenal triumphed in a game where they faced adversity to keep in touch with the leaders after pulling their own win out of the fire. A tactical reshuffle, bringing on eventual match-winner Calafiori at the break, proved to be a crucial decision by manager Mikel Arteta. David Raya was never overly tested, despite a fine save to deny Matheus Cunha, and Arsenal always had a degree of control in the second half – even before Gomes’ red card made it 10 v 10. The Gunners’ passionate celebrations at the end showed how important the win was and how they know they cannot afford to fall further behind Liverpool.

Arsenal all but secured their place in the last 16 of the Champions League with a comfortable 3-0 win over Croatian side Dinamo Zagreb at Emirates Stadium.

Only a heavy defeat in Girona next week will prevent the Gunners – who are third – finishing in the top eight places and therefore bypassing the play-off stage of the competition. Arsenal took the lead in the second minute when Gabriel Martinelli’s cross was cushioned into Declan Rice’s path by Kai Havertz and the England midfielder hammered the ball past Zagreb keeper Ivan Nevistic. Havertz added a second on 66 minutes – the 500th goal under manager Mikel Arteta – when he headed in a curling Martinelli cross before captain Martin Odegaard bundled in a third late on. Zagreb barely ventured into the Arsenal half and captain Arijan Ademi shot well over from distance with one of their few efforts.

The Gunners could have scored more – Rice had a shot blocked after a clever Odegaard pass while centre-back Gabriel headed wide from the edge of the six-yard-box from a corner. Arteta had said he wanted his side to “capitalise” on the work they had done so far in the group stage to put themselves in a strong position going into the final match. The Gunners did that from the off – and settled any nerves there may have been when Rice opened the scoring with the earliest Arsenal goal since Yaya Sanogo’s 72-second effort against Borussia Dortmund in 2014. Once again they looked solid at the back – and only Inter Milan have conceded fewer than the two goals Arteta’s side have let in.

And the Spaniard was handed a boost at being able to name Riccardo Calafiori on the bench alongside Ethan Nwaneri as both returned from injuries. Myles Lewis-Skelly was not in the squad because of a minor knock, and Arteta will hope he will have the 18-year-old available for selection soon. But more broadly he will be keen to ensure his side can take their strong home form in Europe – they have lost only one of their past home 26 group-stage games – into the knockout phase.

Arsenal had a late goal disallowed as they dropped two points in the Premier League title race after throwing away a two-goal lead at home to Aston Villa.

Kai Havertz thought he had found the winner with a minute left in normal time but the goal was disallowed after replays showed he handled Mikel Merino’s shot. The hosts had claimed a two-goal lead, with Gabriel Martinelli opening the scoring after taking advantage of some slack defending from Villa left-back Ian Maatsen to bundle home Leandro Trossard’s cross. The Belgian turned provider again for Arsenal’s second, as Havertz netted his 13th goal of the season from the former Brighton winger’s cross ten minutes after half-time. But Villa staged a stunning comeback, halving the deficit through Youri Tielemans’ header from Matty Cash’s cross on the hour mark, and equalising eight minutes later with a volley by striker Ollie Watkins.

The result leaves Arsenal six points behind leaders Liverpool in the Premier League, having played a game more than Arne Slot’s side. Villa move into seventh, two points shy of fourth-placed Newcastle in the final Champions League slot. William Saliba missed the draw in north London through injury and manager Mikel Arteta said he fears Arsenal could be without the France defender in the coming weeks. It is the sort of day that will have Liverpool fans convinced this is their title to lose. For an hour at Emirates Stadium it looked like Arsenal would produce a spirited response to Liverpool’s last -gasp victory at Brentford earlier in the day. Villa had barely laid a glove on their hosts until Tielemans fired his header past David Raya with 60 minutes played.

The Belgian nearly equalised moments later, only to see his effort from the edge of the box cannon against the post. If that was a warning for the Gunners, they did not heed it. Thomas Partey, playing at right-back as Jurrien Timber covered for the injured Saliba in central defence, left Watkins unmarked at the back post – and the England striker made no mistake by volleying home an equaliser. It was an eight-minute period that turned the game on its head, and left Arsenal stunned. The Gunners looked short on ideas in search of a winner but thought they had found it when Merino’s effort deflected past Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez in the 89th minute. But replays showed Havertz handled the ball, and it was chalked off following a video assistant referee (VAR) review.

Arsenal moved to within four points of Premier League leaders Liverpool with victory over Tottenham in the north London derby at Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners, who have played a game more than Liverpool, were desperate to return to winning ways after losing at home to Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg and then going out to Manchester United on penalties in the FA Cup third round. Arsenal suffered another setback when, totally against the run of play, Son Heung-min’s shot was deflected off William Saliba past keeper David Raya after 25 minutes. The response came from a familiar route, Gabriel rising to meet Declan Rice’s corner at the far post five minutes before the interval after Spurs keeper Antonin Kinsky failed to collect, the last touch coming off Dominic Solanke for an own goal.

Arsenal were ahead four minutes later when Leandro Trossard’s bobbling low shot beat Kinsky, who should have done much better. Mikel Arteta’s side dominated the second half, but once again lacked the cutting edge to completely put the game to bed. And although they closed out the win to keep themselves firmly in the title race, they were almost caught right at the end when Pedro Porro hit the outside of the post from a tight angle. Arsenal’s fans and their manager reacted with what looked like huge relief as well as celebration when the final whistle sounded on the north London derby. And this was a reflection of how Arsenal, even though they got a vital victory that keeps them on the heels of pacesetters Liverpool, made this a lot more difficult than it needed to be.

The sight of Gabriel hurling his shirt into the crowd showed just how important these three points were after two huge cup disappointments at home, but Arsenal still suffered familiar flaws that made the closing stages needlessly tense. Arsenal dominated huge portions of this game – but to win it, they needed another set-piece and a shot by Trossard that should have been saved by Kinsky. No-one could question the commitment and desire from Arsenal, or their superiority over a labouring Spurs, but once again a lack of cutting edge and a habit of over-elaborating when they got into danger areas drew groans of frustration from their supporters.