Arsenal scored from two trademark corners to beat 10-man Chelsea at Emirates Stadium and regain their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League.
Manchester City had heaped pressure on the Gunners by cutting their lead to two points with victory at Leeds on Saturday.
But after a cagey start with few chances, Arsenal opened the scoring from a corner in the 21st minute.
Centre back Gabriel Magalhaes headed Bukayo Saka’s corner back across goal to his defensive partner William Saliba, whose header struck Mamadou Sarr on the arm before going into the net.
Chelsea grew into the match after going behind and threatened with their own set-pieces – scoring from a corner themselves just before half-time as Piero Hincapie flicked Reece James’ delivery into his own net.
Chelsea started the second half better than their hosts – creating a nervy atmosphere inside the stadium – before Jurrien Timber headed in Declan Rice’s corner.
Timber’s goal, Arsenal’s 16th from a corner this season, secured three crucial points in the title race.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta had introduced Gabriel Martinelli from the substitutes bench and when the winger looked to launch a counter-attack, Pedro Neto down brought him.
It meant the Chelsea forward, who was already on a yellow card, saw red with 20 minutes left to play.
Liam Delap thought he had snatched a point late on for the away side when he bundled the ball in but Joao Pedro was well offside in the build-up and the goal was ruled out.
The win puts Arsenal on 64 points, five clear of Manchester City, having played a game more than their rivals.
Manchester United fought back to beat 10-man Crystal Palace and go third in the Premier League amid penalty controversy and a contentious red card decision.
Palace were on course for a third straight win at Old Trafford when Maxence Lacroix, who had opened the scoring for the visitors in the fourth minute, grabbed at Matheus Cunha in the second half.
Although the initial contact was outside the penalty box, Lacroix did not let go as the Brazil forward entered the area.
Relegation-threatened Tottenham’s miserable 2026 continued as their winless run extended to 10 league games with Fulham gaining a deserved victory to boost their hopes of qualifying for European football.
Also Read: Arsenal whips Spurs to restore lead in EPL
Fulham, who scored twice in the first six minutes in their 2-1 win at Spurs in November, again got an early opener with Harry Wilson netting in the seventh minute – his ninth of the season.
However, the goal was controversial as new Spurs boss Igor Tudor felt it should have been disallowed as home striker Raul Jimenez pushed Radu Dragusin as they challenged for a Kenny Tete cross, before Oscar Bobb picked out Wilson to volley home from six yards out.
Tottenham had a similar goal ruled out last week in their 4-1 loss to Arsenal for a foul by Randal Kolo Muani on Gunners defender Gabriel but, following a check from the video assistant referee (VAR) Craig Pawson, Fulham’s goal was allowed to stand, much to Tudor’s fury.
Spurs, though, had no excuses for the 34th-minute second goal with Alex Iwobi left with space to shoot home superbly from 18 yards out, with the ball going in off the inside of the post after a neat exchange with Wilson.
Calvin Bassey should have made it 3-0 only to fire wastefully over from close range at the end of the first half, with Jimenez and Emile Smith Rowe also missing chances.
Spurs pulled one back in the 66th minute when substitute Richarlison headed in Archie Gray’s left-wing cross.
They have now lost both of their matches since Tudor replaced the sacked Thomas Frank, conceding six goals in the process, and last went on a 10-match winless league run at the start of 1994 under Ossie Ardiles.
Spurs, who have been in the topflight of English football in every season since one campaign in the old Second Division in 1977-78, are now 16th, four points above the relegation zone with 10 games left.
Cunha then went down and, after being sent to the screen, referee Chris Kavanagh stood by his initial decision to award a penalty – and sent Lacroix off as the United attacker would have had a goalscoring opportunity.
Bruno Fernandes fired the 57th-minute spot-kick past Dean Henderson to equalise, and Benjamin Sesko put the hosts in front eight minutes later when he powered home a header from Fernandes’ cross.
The Slovenia striker was scoring for the third successive game and took his tally to seven in his past eight matches.
Former United goalkeeper Henderson prevented Casemiro from increasing the hosts’ lead with a brilliant reaction save and later also stopped a dangerous effort from substitute Amad Diallo.
The result extends Michael Carrick’s record in charge to six wins and a draw from seven games and takes his side above Aston Villa into third on goal difference.
It is the first time United have been as high as third since Erik ten Hag’s first season in charge in 2023.
Palace are 14th in the table, 10 points clear of the relegation zone, and will surely target the Conference League as another piece of silverware and European qualification before boss Oliver Glasner leaves the club this summer.
BBC
