Three Things We Learned from Arsenal beating Chelsea 

Here's the Gooner Fanzine's Ian Mills with his regular Arsenal series Three Things We Learned 

Mikel Merino headed us to victory in a London derby far more one sided than the scoreline suggests.

 Here are three things that stood out for me, writes Ian Mills

 1- Merino makes the difference

– Mikel Merino’s clever flicked headed from Martin Odegaard’s first half corner was enough to seal all three points. It was our makeshift striker who came closest to adding to our goal tally when his superbly struck volley was brilliantly saved by Sanchez - who had another typically mixed day in the Chelsea goal.

As for Merino, he has now scored six goals in his debut season and of the five of those that have come in the Premier League they have helped to seal 10 points from a possible 12.

By no means am I saying he is any kind of long term solution however as a ‘Hail Mary’ his contribution has been very important.

Whether he starts so many games when Saka returns during April is up for debate however he carries a genuine goal threat that has been sadly lacking from several of our first team squad this season.

2 - Are we refereed differently

– this always felt like a low-key game and with Newcastle finally ending a 70 year wait for domestic silverware later in the afternoon it was never going to make the back pages.

That said it would be remiss of me not to mention another poor refereeing and VAR display.

Chris Kavanagh could have awarded a penalty for a handball by Cucurella early on however he chose not and Jarred Gillet on VAR did not deem it a clear and obvious error.

If that call was slightly debatable there is no doubt Welsey Fofana should have been sent for a number of fouls.

He could have been shown a straight red for a stamp on Declan Rice. His second half substitution seemed to be more about him avoiding an early bath than anything tactical.

Althpugh in fairness, Thomas Partey was also fortunate to get away with a bad challenge, albeit in a second phase of play after Rice was harshly penalised for a foul.  

3 - Enforced break a chance to recuperate before a huge April

– We now enter a period of two Arsenal free weekends and whilst it is to be hoped that those on International duty return unscathed, it also allows more time for both our injured players and those who have recently retuned to the to further recuperate ahead of a busy April.

The glamour of the Real Madrid quarter final ties are the standout fixtures of course, however they are two of seven matches in the next month so we are going to need everyone in the squad to play their part.