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Arsenal returned to winning ways in the Premier League with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. The Gunners, who had drawn their previous two league matches, secured a crucial three points thanks to Spanish midfielder Mikel Merino’s continued excellence in an unfamiliar attacking role.

Despite comfortably sealing their place in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals with a commanding 9-3 aggregate win over PSV Eindhoven, Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes have dwindled. Mikel Arteta’s side now trails league leaders Liverpool by 12 points with just nine matches left in the season.

Arsenal’s squad has been plagued by injuries, with no recognised centre-forward available since February. Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, and Bukayo Saka have all been sidelined, forcing Arteta to deploy Merino further up the pitch. The tactical shift has paid off, with the Spaniard heading home Martin Ødegaard’s corner in the 20th minute—securing Arsenal’s first league win in three matches.

READ MORE: Arsenal star leaves Mikel Arteta singing his praises after Chelsea win

Merino has been instrumental for the Gunners, having also scored the decisive goals in their previous 2-0 victory over Leicester City. He nearly added a second against Chelsea but was denied by a superb save from Robert Sanchez.

While Arsenal’s David Raya has impressed since his move from Brentford two seasons ago, speculation continues to link the Gunners with Espanyol’s highly-rated goalkeeper Joan Garcia.

Garcia’s performance in Espanyol’s recent 2-1 defeat to Mallorca has sent Spanish media into a frenzy, particularly after the 23-year-old saved two penalties. Despite his heroics, Espanyol still suffered defeat, but Garcia’s individual display earned widespread acclaim.

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Spanish outlet Diario AS went as far as to call him “one of the best goalkeepers in the world,” stating: “Perfect in the air, he once again demonstrated that, in the eyes of everyone except Luis de la Fuente, he is one of the best goalkeepers in the world. Not in Europe, in the world. It’s that clear.

Two penalties saved today for Joan Garcia. A huge presence in goal, and a beast with his feet. It’s obvious why #Arsenal want him, but would someone of such high quality come to be a number two? We don’t need another Raya Ramsdale saga. #AFC
pic.twitter.com/f9KsHHF19Q

— Adam Keys (@adamkeys_) March 15, 2025

He saved a penalty from Muriqi in a superb move, came close to preventing Mallorca from scoring with a point-blank save, and then saved another penalty, this time from Abdón Prats. With the third penalty, unstoppable, he could do nothing.”

Meanwhile, Mundo Deportivo has boldly claimed Garcia is currently superior to Arsenal’s Raya, stating: “It’s incomprehensible that he wasn’t called up to the national team. His performance was unbeatable. He saved two penalties and came close to a third. He’s currently the best Spanish goalkeeper.”

Garcia, valued at £25 million, was surprisingly left out of the latest Spain squad by manager Luis de la Fuente, a decision that has left Spanish football pundits perplexed.

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