Arsenal’s fading hopes of winning the Premier League suffered a fresh blow as Manchester United held the Gunners to a 1-1 draw, while Chelsea boosted their bid to qualify for the Champions League with a 1-0 win over Leicester on Sunday (Monday AEDT).
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After Liverpool’s 3-1 win against Southampton moved the leaders 16 points clear at the top on Saturday, there was no margin for error when Arsenal arrived at Old Trafford 24 hours later.
But United captain Bruno Fernandes put the hosts ahead with a superb free-kick in first half stoppage-time.
Declan Rice’s clinical finish from just inside the United area hauled Arsenal level in the 74th minute.
But Mikel Arteta’s second-placed side couldn’t find a winner and now sit 15 points adrift of Liverpool.
Despite holding a game in hand on Liverpool, Arsenal look certain to miss out on the title yet again after finishing as runners-up for the last two seasons.
Liverpool are bidding to win a record-equalling 20th English title and their first since 2020 in Arne Slot’s first season in charge.
The Anfield club need a maximum of 16 more points from their last nine matches to ensure they clinch the silverware.
Not for the first time, Arsenal have faded as the title pressure mounts, with a run of three league games without a win effectively gifting the trophy to Liverpool.
Troubled Manchester United are down in 14th place, with just one win in their last six games in all competitions.
Adding to the gloom around Old Trafford, thousands of United fans staged a pre-match protest against co-owners the Glazer family and Jim Ratcliffe.
At Stamford Bridge, Marc Cucurella struck with a long-range rocket in the second half to lift Chelsea above Manchester City into fourth place.
The Blues are two points ahead of City in the race for the top four finish that guarantees a Champions League berth.
It was only Chelsea’s fourth victory in their last 12 league games as they responded to boss Enzo Maresca’s challenge to win all their remaining home matches.
Maresca believes that should be enough to ensure Champions League action, but Chelsea will have to improve on a spluttering performance against second-bottom Leicester.
– Cucurella lifts Chelsea –
Chelsea’s Cole Palmer missed the first penalty of his career and was later substituted, making it seven league games without a goal or assist for the England forward.
Second-bottom Leicester have lost five successive league games and sit six points from safety as they slide towards relegation.
Victor Kristiansen’s clumsy challenge pole-axed Jadon Sancho, earning Chelsea a first half spot-kick.
Usually such a ruthless penalty taker, Palmer seized the ball, only for Mads Hermansen to deny him with a superb save.
Chelsea finally took the lead in spectacular fashion on the hour when Spanish defender Cucurella drilled into the bottom corner from 25 yards.
Tottenham fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Bournemouth in north London, saving boss Ange Postecoglou from another embarrassing defeat.
Tottenham lost 1-0 at AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League last 16 first leg on Thursday.
That competition represents Tottenham’s last chance of fulfilling Postecoglou’s boast that he always win a trophy in his second season.
Languishing in 13th in the Premier League, Postecoglou’s side have gone three games without a win in all competitions.
Tottenham conceded in the 42nd minute when Marcus Tavernier applied the finishing touch to Milos Kerkez’s pin-point cross after Pedro Porro carelessly conceded possession.
Bournemouth struck again in the 65th minute as Evanilson raced onto Justin Kluivert’s pass and lifted a composed finish over Guglielmo Vicario.
But Pape Sarr reduced the deficit two minutes later, the Tottenham midfielder catching out Bournemouth keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga with a misjudged cross that somehow dipped in at the far post.
Tottenham completed their escape in the 84th minute as Kepa conceded a penalty with a desperate lunge on Son Heung-min.
Son calmly slotted home from the spot for his first goal in 10 games, taking him to 11 in all competitions this season.
– Spurs must show fighting spirit against Alkmaar: Postecoglou –
Ange Postecoglou urged Tottenham to replicate the fighting spirit that salvaged a 2-2 draw against Bournemouth when they return to action in Thursday’s crucial Europa League tie with AZ Alkmaar.
Postecoglou’s side slumped to a 1-0 defeat in the last 16 first leg at AZ on Thursday and looked set for another loss when Marcus Tavernier gave Bournemouth a half-time lead on Sunday.
Cristian Romero’s return after a three-month injury absence did little to improve Tottenham’s fortunes as Evanilson doubled Bournemouth’s advantage after 65 minutes.
With the atmosphere turning toxic in north London and the pressure mounting on Postecoglou, Tottenham showed some much-needed character to scramble out of trouble.
Pape Sarr’s miscued cross crept in to give Tottenham a fortunate lifeline and Son Heung-min converted an 84th-minute penalty that the South Korean won himself.
Languishing in lower mid-table in the Premier League, Tottenham can now turn their attention to the visit of AZ on Thursday in the second leg.
“Chaotic game, for sure. We added to the chaos and it was a little bit self-inflicted, especially in the first half. Just with the ball, we were really careless with our passing,” Postecoglou said.
“At 2-0 down, it would have been very easy, particularly with the atmosphere as it was, for the boys to just let the game get away from us, but credit to them, they found a way to get back into the game and we got something out of it.
“I don’t think it was a case of being open because we were throwing men forward, we just kept giving the ball away. We certainly need to be better in the way that we execute that part of our game for Thursday.
“You can imagine the noise around if the players didn’t respond. Thursday is obviously a massive game for us.
“At least from that perspective – and even for the players themselves – we’ve obviously got a challenge, but they overcame a fairly big challenge today and hopefully we show the same kind of mindset.”
Adding to Postecoglou’s woes, Romero’s first appearance since December was followed by a pointed social-media post where he thanked the medical staff of Argentina and not Tottenham on his X account.
Micky van de Ven also returned for his first league fixture in three months and lifted a nervous crowd, which Postecoglou conceded could lead to more tension among his players in the AZ clash.
“I can’t sort of dictate to people how they sort of interact, but AZ’s crowd certainly helped them on Thursday night and we need our crowd to get behind the boys,” he said.
“To make it an atmosphere where maybe we lose some of that nervousness and anxiety within our game.
“The reality is, we as a team have to respond irrespective of the atmosphere and one may follow the other. If we start the game strong, it’ll get the place nice and loud, which will help us.”
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