Chelsea’s hopes for a Champions League spot faded with a 1-0 defeat to Arsenal, where Mikel Merino scored the decisive goal. The loss leaves Chelsea in fourth place, but they face competition from several teams close behind. Arsenal, now solidly in second, missed key players due to injuries but managed to secure the win. Meanwhile, Manchester United continued their good form with a 3-0 victory over Leicester, who are struggling, having lost 13 of their last 14 matches. Tottenham also faced challenges, losing 2-0 to Fulham, further complicating their league position.
Chelsea’s quest for a spot in next season’s Champions League suffered a setback with a lackluster 1-0 loss to Arsenal on Sunday, while Manchester United kept their momentum going with a 3-0 triumph over Leicester. Mikel Merino netted the solitary goal in a lackluster match at the Emirates, allowing Arsenal to solidify their position in second place and move within 12 points of the league leaders, Liverpool. The Blues significantly felt the absence of Cole Palmer, injured, which contributed to a damaging loss for their top-four aspirations.
Currently, Chelsea remains in fourth place; nevertheless, they are closely pursued by five teams, from fifth-placed Manchester City to ninth-placed Aston Villa, all within a four-point margin of Enzo Maresca’s squad.
Both managers are looking forward to returning stronger after the upcoming international break.
Bukayo Saka is expected to make a comeback for Arsenal, while Maresca is optimistic about having Palmer, Nico Jackson, and Noni Madueke available for their next match at home against Tottenham on April 3.
“We did enough to deserve the win,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta remarked. “Now we have the international break, so we can take a moment to regroup and hopefully bring some players back.”
Arsenal has struggled to find the net since Kai Havertz’s season-ending injury pushed midfielder Merino into an improvised striker position.
The Spanish international turned out to be the match-winner, heading home from a corner delivered by Martin Odegaard into the far corner just 20 minutes in.
Chelsea’s Robert Sanchez made a spectacular save to stop Merino from doubling Arsenal’s lead with the most notable attempt in the second half.
However, the game continued to lack action in front of goal, and Chelsea’s lackluster performance is likely to increase the criticism of Maresca’s tactics among the supporters.
Leicester set unwanted record
United extended their unbeaten run in open play to seven matches with a solid win against seemingly relegation-bound Leicester.
Rasmus Hojlund broke a 21-match goal drought by scoring the opener in the 28th minute.
Alejandro Garnacho had to wait for his first goal since November, getting flagged for offside early in the second half.
Garnacho, however, made no mistake with a quick shot that Mads Hermansen should have saved.
United has triumphed in all four encounters against Leicester this season, including two matches when the Foxes’ current boss, Ruud van Nistelrooy, was in charge as interim manager of the Red Devils.
However, Van Nistelrooy has not achieved the same success at King Power Stadium.
Leicester has suffered 13 losses in their last 14 league games, leaving them nine points adrift of safety.
Van Nistelrooy’s side also unwittingly set a record as the first Premier League team to go seven home games without a goal.
Bruno Fernandes capped United’s win with a spectacular goal from the edge of the box, marking his seventh goal in as many games.
Tottenham kept their season alive by reaching the Europa League quarter-finals with a victory over AZ Alkmaar on Thursday but faced yet another European hangover with a 2-0 defeat to Fulham.
Ange Postecoglou’s team has managed only three wins in their last ten league matches following a midweek European game.
“It’s been a challenging season for sure,” Spurs captain Son Heung-min acknowledged.
“But I believe we’ve dropped too many points in games we should have secured, and this was one of those matches.”
Fulham’s victory propels Marco Silva’s side into the Champions League race, climbing to eighth place, just four points behind the top four and three points outside the top five.
A top-five finish will likely guarantee a spot in next season’s elite European tournament due to the strong performances of English clubs in continental competitions.
Fulham finally took the lead in the 78th minute when Rodrigo Muniz converted from Andreas Pereira’s assist.
Ryan Sessegnon then added a brilliant second goal against his former team to seal the win late on.
Spurs have now slipped to 14th place, lagging 10 points behind the top half.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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