EPL: Arsenal’s Title Hopes Dim as Chelsea Climbs to Fourth
In a dramatic Sunday in the Premier League, Arsenal’s aspirations for the title took another hit as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Manchester United at Old Trafford. Meanwhile, Chelsea secured a vital 1-0 victory over Leicester City, propelling them into the Champions League qualification spots.
With Liverpool having extended their lead at the top of the table to a staggering 16 points following a 3-1 win over Southampton on Saturday, Arsenal faced immense pressure to secure all three points against United. The match saw United captain Bruno Fernandes score a stunning free-kick in first-half stoppage time, putting the hosts ahead.
Arsenal, however, fought back with Declan Rice scoring a clinical equalizer from just inside the area in the 74th minute. Despite their efforts, Mikel Arteta’s side could not find a winner and now sit 15 points behind Liverpool, casting serious doubt on their title ambitions. This draw marks Arsenal’s third consecutive league match without a win, effectively handing the trophy to Liverpool, who are chasing a record-equalling 20th title.
In contrast, Chelsea’s fortunes improved as they edged past Leicester thanks to a brilliant long-range strike from Marc Cucurella. The victory lifts Chelsea above Manchester City into fourth place, two points clear in the race for Champions League qualification. Despite a lackluster performance, Chelsea responded to manager Enzo Maresca’s challenge to secure maximum points from their remaining home games.
The match also featured a missed penalty from Chelsea’s Cole Palmer, whose attempt was saved, extending his goal drought to seven league games. Leicester, now second-bottom, continues to struggle, having lost five consecutive matches and sitting six points adrift of safety.
Tottenham managed to salvage a 2-2 draw against Bournemouth after being two goals down. After conceding to Marcus Tavernier and Evanilson, Tottenham’s Pape Sarr and Son Heung-min both found the net, ensuring a share of the points in a match that saved manager Ange Postecoglou from further scrutiny.
