Chelsea missed the chance to strengthen their push for Champions League qualification, falling to a narrow 1-0 defeat against Arsenal at the Emirates.
A first-half header from Mikel Merino proved to be the difference, as the Blues were made to pay for a sluggish start in the London derby. Enzo Maresca was forced to navigate the contest without key playmaker Cole Palmer, who was ruled out with an injury that will sideline him until after the international break.
Without their talisman pulling the strings, Chelsea lacked creativity in attack and struggled to carve out clear opportunities. Their best chance came through Marc Cucurella, whose volley forced David Raya into a fumble that rolled narrowly wide.
Chelsea remain in top four, but it's another performance that has since seen even more pressure pile on Maresca.
Here are VAVEL’s Chelsea player ratings from the defeat.
Robert Sanchez – 3
Handed another Premier League start, Robert Sanchez endured a torrid evening at the Emirates. The Spaniard looked nervous in possession, frequently misplacing passes that invited unnecessary pressure.
His handling was also questionable, failing to command his area with confidence. A shaky performance that did little to justify his manager’s continued faith in him as Chelsea’s first-choice goalkeeper.
Wesley Fofana – 4
After impressing in his return to the starting lineup against Leicester, Wesley Fofana struggled to replicate that form in North London. He looked off the pace from the outset and was fortunate to escape a potential red card after a VAR check for a challenge that saw Declan Rice block the ball.
As Arsenal’s attackers piled on the pressure, the Frenchman never looked settled before being substituted in the second half.
Benoit Badiashile – 4
The French centre-back is still working his way back to full match sharpness, but this was a difficult evening for him. He struggled to cope with Arsenal’s relentless attacks down the right-hand side and was frequently caught out of position.
While his physical presence helped deal with some aerial threats, his passing was erratic, and he did little to suggest he should be a nailed-on starter moving forward.
Levi Colwill – 5
A slightly stronger showing than his defensive partner, Levi Colwill was composed on the ball but failed to provide the dominant display Chelsea needed at the back. His positional awareness was solid, and he coped relatively well with Arsenal’s movement, but there were moments where he was caught out by the pace of the opposition’s attack.
With an England call-up under Thomas Tuchel now secured, he will be looking to regain consistency.
Marc Cucurella – 6
One of Chelsea’s better performers on the night, Marc Cucurella defended well against the dangerous Gabriel Martinelli, keeping the Brazilian relatively quiet.
He also came closest to scoring for the Blues, with his volley forcing a fumble from David Raya that rolled just wide. His recent resurgence has been a huge boost for Chelsea, and his presence will be key heading into the final stretch of the season.
Reece James – 5
Once again deployed in midfield, Reece James put in a committed display but never looked entirely comfortable in the role. While his ability to break up play was useful, Chelsea lacked width as a result of his absence at right-back.
The decision to play him centrally was highlighted further by Fofana’s struggles on the right flank, with Arsenal exploiting the space with ease.
Moises Caicedo – 7
One of the few Chelsea players who showed real fight, Moises Caicedo was aggressive in midfield and put himself about when others seemed hesitant. He was unafraid to engage in physical battles, despite being just one yellow card away from a two-game suspension.
His defensive work was valuable in limiting Arsenal’s midfield dominance, but he lacked support to help transition Chelsea into attack.
Enzo Ferna ndez – 5
Tried to make things happen from deep, but Enzo Fernandez was largely ineffective in breaking Arsenal’s defensive lines. He attempted a few ambitious long-range efforts but failed to trouble Raya in goal.
His frustration grew as the game progressed, culminating in a heated exchange with Gabriel after a contentious challenge. A frustrating outing for the World Cup winner.
Christopher Nkunku – 4
A hugely disappointing performance from Christopher Nkunku, who was a complete non-factor on the left wing. The Frenchman struggled to get into the game, offering little in terms of creativity or goal threat.
With Cole Palmer absent, Chelsea desperately needed a spark in attack, but Nkunku failed to deliver. His struggles at Stamford Bridge continue.
Jadon Sancho – 5
Among Chelsea’s attacking trio, Jadon Sancho was at least involved in some promising passages of play early on. He worked hard to track back and help defensively but once again lacked any real end product going forward.
With Noni Madueke set to return after the international break, Sancho could find himself back on the bench unless he starts offering a greater attacking impact.
Pedro Neto – 6
Chelsea’s most lively attacker on the night, Pedro Neto tried to provide an outlet up top, but often found himself isolated. He made several driving runs but lacked support from his teammates, limiting his overall effectiveness.
With Nicolas Jackson nearing a return, Neto has done enough in recent weeks to cement himself as a key figure in Chelsea’s forward line.
Substitutes
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – 5
Brought on in the second half but struggled to make an impact. After his strong performance in the Conference League against Copenhagen, this was a quieter outing for the midfielder.
Tyrique George – 5
Another substitute who had little time to influence the game. Tyrique George has impressed in recent cameos, but this was not an occasion where he could make a real difference.
Romeo Lavia – N/A
Not on the pitch long enough to be fairly rated.
Malo Gusto – N/A
Given limited minutes, making no major impact.
Tosin Adarabioyo – N/A
Came on late as Chelsea pushed forward, but didn’t have time to make a mark.