Why Declan Rice squared up to Chelsea star as Enzo Fernandez loses it against Arsenal

Arsenal cemented their place in second and put a dent in Chelsea's hopes of qualifying for the Champions League after a 1-0 win at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Entering the day knowing that defeat at home would allow their London rivals within three points of them, Mikel Arteta's team did enough to maintain the gap to Nottingham Forest in third.

Mikel Merino gave Arsenal are deserved lead. His looping header was enough to beat Robert Sanchez, who had spent much of the first-half either passing the ball to red shirts or flapping at balls in his box. Chelsea's only effort of note was Marc Cucurella's volley, which David Raya spilled through his legs but also just wide of the post.

Merino might have had a second after the break but Sanchez put his gloves in the right place to deny a goal-bound volley. Chelsea did manage to keep some passive possession after the 30-minute mark but rarely tested Raya seriously.

Here, football.london takes a look at some of finer moments from the afternoon.

Odegaard relationship

Arsenal's dominance of the opening 20 minutes was not only summed up by the power Merino showed in bullying Reece James and Christopher Nkunku at the near post but also by the way the corner was won in the first place. Martin Odegaard got his contribution by swinging in the cross but it was Gabriel Martinelli's run which earned the set piece.

For the second time in the game, Martinelli powered down the line, beating Benoit Badiashile on this occasion. It was Marc Cucurella who was burned by Jurrien Timber earlier on.

With Odegaard operating in his favoured pocket once more and with a genuine winger on hand to burst in-behind, Arsenal had a multi-pronged attack. It is something that has been missing for much of the season without Bukayo Saka and Ben White available.

Martinelli's return tested Cucurella in one-on-one situations as well as dragging Nkunku back to deal with Timber. He took on the White role which has been so vital for Arsenal in the past two years. Odegaard driving in and out, arriving from deep to take possession, then caused Chelsea more and more problems.

It isn't something Arsenal have been able to rely on in much of the campaign but was on show to devastating effect here. Timber nearly had Arsenal ahead after a similar situation of his own.

He took Cucurella to the byline, not giving away a foul, and inflicted carnage after his low cutback was nearly deflected in. Martinelli was the one popping up centrally there, showcasing the flexibility and threat Arsenal had one more.

Fofana finds it funny

Chelsea's early frustrations in the game were demonstrated clearly in the moments after falling behind. Wesley Fofana, playing at right-back against Leandro Trossard, found himself in a duel with Declan Rice.

He bundled the Arsenal midfielder over before trying again to win the ball even with Rice on the floor. With Rice laying flat and protecting the ball, Fofana put his foot down to try and win possession, scraping the back of his opponent's thigh.

The decision was checked and cleared by VAR, although Jhon Duran will not be happy with that after his own 'stamp' on Dan Burn was greeted with a red card earlier this season for Aston Villa away at Newcastle United. Fofana may well have gotten away with one.

He appeared to know it, too, as he met Rice with a cheeky grin. Rice then pulled up his shorts to show the mark on his leg left by Fofana's boot.

As the pair came close together, bordering on squaring up to each other, Fofana stood strongly and his mouth twitched as a smile came across his face. Chelsea were left ragged by Arsenal for the opening half an hour and resorted to a set of late challenges, showing just how far off the pace they were.

They were both involved again in the second half with Fofana trying to kick the ball at Rice to win a throw. He missed and instead leathered it out of play. Fofana was then booked as he threw a ball back onto the pitch in order to slow down the restart. He may have enjoyed the battle but Rice is a warrior too and came out on top.

Fernandez fury

After juggling the ball in his own third for several seconds, Trossard realised he was in trouble and going nowhere. Under pressure from Enzo Fernandez, he took it under his spell and then tried to dribble out instead.

Heading towards the left touchline, Trossard chucked the ball over Fernandez's leg in an attempt to break through and then sent his body tumbling. Chris Kavanagh saw it differently, believing there was contact.

Arsenal got the free-kick and got themselves out of a tight spot. Replays showed that Fernandez was right to be up in arms over the decision. Trossard launched himself to the ground, diving over Fernandez's outstretched shin. A yellow card for simulation would have been more apt but instead it offered Arsenal a chance to rebuild.

Fernandez let out some of his anger, protesting with the nearby linesman. He might have been fortunate not to get a booking himself for the response. Chelsea managed to keep the resulting attack out of the goal, otherwise Fernandez might have let rip.

Raya's instruction

Having been left with very little to do, and the only moment of action really coming from his own mistake, Raya took matters into his own hands in the 70th minute. He sprinted all the way from his goal to the edge of the Chelsea box before a Rice free-kick in order to deliver a message.

Presumably telling Odegaard and Rice about his fellow Spaniard's weaknesses, Raya then ran back to watch the event unfold. It was a big anti-climax as Fernandez blocked the kick with his behind after turning away. It wasn't the best routine or defensive work.

Just a few weeks on from Raya's incredible run when getting back in position following a late corner against West Ham, this stroll back to his own half was much less impressive but just as strange.

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