Arsenal star Mikel Merino spoke to the press after the 1-1 draw against Chelsea in the 13th round of the English Premier League, held at Stamford Bridge.

The player said: "On one hand, I feel disappointed because we didn't get the win. When you wear this jersey, you want to win every match. Playing here is very tough, and earning a point from this stadium is not an easy task. We could have done some things better, but the team showed great character."

He added: "Perhaps we should have managed the match better and understood what they were trying to do. Playing against a team with 10 players means we could have been more patient with the ball, relied more on the wings and crosses with players positioned inside the box. Of course, Chelsea is a strong team."

About Casio's intervention on him: "I felt my ankle completely twisted, but fortunately, I have two ankles and a flexible body. I knew it was a dangerous tackle and that a red card would be the inevitable outcome."

He continued about Arsenal's strength in crosses: "This is something we train on daily, and we always try to position ourselves on the blind side of the defenders. When you train with the same group day after day, you learn their strengths and weaknesses."

He concluded: "This is the nature of the English Premier League... a very strong league, which is why you see such a large number of quick transitions. If you win individual battles, you can attack the area directly."