Captain Martin Odegaard made his first start since September, however, England duo Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice went off at Stamford Bridge.

Awarded a 7/10 rating for the impact he made, there was no denying that Arsenal looked a much more dominant side when Merino entered the fray at Stamford Bridge. Although Martin Odegaard's return to the fold added creativity to an engine room which has been starved of ideas lately, his teammate can also take credit for adding much needed dynamism.

Arsenal travel to Chelsea on Sunday for a crucial game in the race for a top four spot, with Mikel Arteta opting to risk several players who have been carrying injuries