Playing without Cole Palmer for the first time in the Premier League all season, Chelsea were held at arm’s length by an Arsenal side who, with their own attacking struggles, declared early on the 1-0 lead forged by Mikel Merino’s set-piece header and never looked like setting it slip.

Arsenal can close the huge gap to Liverpool at the top of the table but Chelsea come to the Emirates in form and chasing their own Champions League ambitions

Cole Palmer was left out of the Chelsea squad to face Arsenal in the Premier League with Enzo Maresca and the club's medical staff fearing a potential injury issue could be made worse

Chelsea checked off their first piece of silverware in their ongoing pursuit of a quadruple under new manager Sonia Bompastor following their 2-1 win against Manchester City in the Subway Cup final on Saturday.

Chelsea’s quadruple bid in women’s soccer is up and running. A 2-1 win over Manchester City in the Women’s League Cup final on Saturday earned Chelsea its first piece of silverware this season. Chelsea — still unbeaten in all competitions — leads the Women’s Super League by eight points with six games remaining in its title defense,