Arsenal v Chelsea LIVE: Latest rating and Premier League updates as Mikel Merino breaks impasse

19 mins: It’s Arsenal’s makeshift striker who scores first!

Martinelli wins a corner as Cucurella sends the ball behind, Odegaard crosses to the near post, and it’s a sublime header from Mikel Merino to soar above Sanchez’s outstretched hands.

It’s a fourth goal in seven appearances for a man who until a few weeks ago had always played in midfield.

18 mins: Arsenal have had eight touches in the opposition box and four shots, compared to nil and nil for Chelsea, at the 15-minute mark.

The medics are on for Enzo Fernandez, who hits the deck after Rice’s left arm knocks him in the face in an aerial challenge. When play restarts Arsenal are quick to break and after another poor attempt at a clearance by Sanchez, Trossard drags a shot wide.

13 mins: Total chaos in the Chelsea box! The ball appears to come off Cucurella’s arm at the back line under pressure by Timber, finds its way to Sanchez, who half-heartedly punches it away twice. It pinballs around the box and eventually falls to Rice, who skies it way over the bar.

No penalty, however for what looked to be a handball by Cucurella.

Rice then has a go from range but it drifts wide!

8 mins: Raya scuffs a clearance that lands dangerously near Cucurella – but the Chelsea man knocks over Timber and gives away a cheap free-kick.

After a spell of Chelsea possession Sanchez aims a poor clearance straight at Martinelli, who shoots – and the Blues keeper nearly fumbles the catch! A bad start to the game for Sanchez, who has only just made his way back into the side after a string of errors – five leading to goals and counting this season.

3 mins: Huge cheer for newly-announced England international Myles Lewis-Skelly as he breaks down the left and wins a corner. Timber gets his head to Rice’s delivery but nods wide.

All Arsenal in the opening stages as Trossard takes a couple of touches in the box – and fires wide.

Underway at the Emirates in this clash between second and fourth.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta speaking to Sky Sports before the game:

“It’s a massive one and we know after we have an international break – we know how important it is to win the game.

“We believe we have the players to win the game. We know the strength of Chelsea and we have the best players to start the match.”

Arsenal are unbeaten in their last six games against Chelsea and memorably thrashed them 5-0 at the Emirates last season.

Their 15-point gap to runaway league leaders Liverpool may feel unassailable at this stage, but a win today would do their (very slim) title hopes no harm at all.

Incidentally, that 5-0 loss was the last time Chelsea started a Premier League game without Cole Palmer…

“He’s not in the toilet, for sure! He had, as we know, last week some problems [with illness]. And unfortunately yesterday he had a very small problem.

“He had an injury yesterday during the session. It was a very light session. That’s why we think it is nothing important. But we wait and the feeling is he will be back after the next international break.”

Palmer is now a major doubt for Thomas Tuchel’s first two England games during the upcoming international break.