Arsenal maintained control of the Premier League title race as they chiselled out a nervy 2-1 win over London rivals Chelsea to open up a five-point lead at the top of the table on Sunday.

Jurrien Timber’s 66th-minute header from a Declan Rice corner ensured Arsenal took three precious points, but it was a nervy afternoon in north London.

Mikel Arteta’s side moved to 64 points from 29 games, with Manchester City, who have played a game fewer, on 59.

Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber celebrates scoring their second goal with Gabriel Magalhaes REUTERS/Jaimi Joy 

Defender William Saliba had given Arsenal the lead in the 21st minute from a trademark corner routine.

But it had looked as though an own goal by Piero Hincapie just before halftime would prove costly for the hosts until Timber came to their rescue.

Chelsea, whose six-match unbeaten league sequence under new manager Liam Rosenior was halted, ended the match with 10 men after Pedro Neto was sent off for a second yellow card.

-Reuters

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Manchester United produced a stirring second-half comeback to defeat Crystal Palace 2–1 at Old Trafford on Sunday, with captain Bruno Fernandes inspiring the turnaround that lifted the hosts into third place in the Premier League standings.

Trailing inside four minutes after a dominant start by Palace, United responded through a Fernandes penalty before his pinpoint free-kick was headed home by Benjamin Sesko to seal victory against the 10-man visitors.

The win extended interim manager Michael Carrick’s unbeaten run to seven matches since taking charge in mid-January. United now have 51 points from 28 games and are unbeaten since the January 5 dismissal of Ruben Amorim, climbing into third for the first time since May 2023. Palace remain 14th on 35 points.

“It feels like a big result, we were behind and had to show some character,” Fernandes told Sky Sports. “There are a lot of games to go still, and it is important that we don’t feel that we are in the position that we need to be. We need to make as many points as we can.”

Palace, under Oliver Glasner, were electric in the opening half hour, capitalising on sluggish United play. Defender Maxence Lacroix powered home a header from a corner after muscling past Leny Yoro, scoring the earliest goal United have conceded this season.

The visitors nearly doubled their advantage when Daniel Munoz latched onto an Ismaila Sarr through ball, but goalkeeper Senne Lammens produced a crucial save.

United gradually found their rhythm before the break. Sesko forced Dean Henderson into action with a header from a Fernandes cross, and the Palace keeper also tipped a Fernandes free kick over the bar.

The turning point arrived in the 57th minute when Fernandes converted from the penalty spot after Matheus Cunha was dragged down by Lacroix. Following a lengthy VAR review, Lacroix was shown a red card, reducing Palace to 10 men.

Eight minutes later, Fernandes’ delivery again proved decisive as Sesko rose highest to nod home the winning goal.

United pushed for a third, with Casemiro’s volley drawing a diving save from Henderson and substitute Amad Diallo testing the keeper from distance in stoppage time. Joshua Zirkzee saw efforts blocked, while Kobbie Mainoo’s fierce strike drifted narrowly wide.

Carrick praised his team’s resilience. “The biggest thing for us to take from the game is really the first time that we have been in that situation going in at halftime,” he said. “Being in that position and how we react and showing that personality and belief… to then come back as we did in the second half is the biggest thing for me today.”

Palace pressed late but could not find an equaliser. Glasner admitted his side had let the game slip. “It feels like there was more possible today. A great first 30 minutes, but the red card changed it completely. The second goal just happened too quickly.”

For United, the victory reinforces growing belief under Carrick that a top-four finish—and a return to Europe’s elite competition—is firmly within reach.

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• Summary

• *Arsenal extend league lead with dominant 4–1 win at Tottenham
• *Liverpool snatch dramatic 97th-minute winner
• *Crystal Palace edge Wolves 1–0
• *Fulham down Sunderland with Jimenez double

Arsenal made an emphatic statement in the Premier League title race as they eased their recent jitters with a 4-1 rout of Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, restoring their five-point lead.

After successive draws had raised doubts, two goals each from Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres gave Arsenal their biggest league win at Tottenham since a 5-0 victory in 1978.

“We showed what we are made of, but we have to show it again and again,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said.

“This is the Premier League, it will go all the way for sure. Ten games in the Premier League is a long way.”

Arsenal have 61 points from 28 games, with Manchester City, who beat Newcastle United on Saturday to crank up the pressure, on 56 points, having played one game fewer.

‘MORE THAN WE DESERVED’

Reigning champions Liverpool are not in the title race but boosted their hopes of a top-four finish as they nicked a last-gasp 1-0 win at relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest.

Midfielder Alexis Mac Allister gave his side a scarcely-deserved win, rifling home a rebound in the 97th minute shortly after having a goal disallowed.

“Today, I think we got more than we deserved. A draw would have been a fairer result of this game than for us to win it,” Liverpool manager Arne Slot said.

Liverpool are sixth in the table, level on 45 points with Chelsea and Manchester United, who are fourth and fifth. Forest are 17th on 27 points, two above the relegation zone.

In Sunday’s other games, Crystal Palace eked out a 1-0 win over rock-bottom 10-man Wolverhampton Wanderers who had Ladislav Krejci sent off for picking up two yellow cards.

Evann Guessand sealed it for Palace in the 90th minute, lifting his side to 13th in the table.

Raul Jimenez struck twice as Fulham won 3-1 at Sunderland to move into the top half.

ARSENAL RESPOND IN STYLE

After successive draws, most notably at bottom club Wolverhampton Wanderers in midweek after leading 2-0, Arsenal responded to the barbs about them cracking under the pressure in superb style.

Eze, who was snatched from under the noses of Tottenham in the summer transfer window, returned to rub salt into the wounds of Spurs for the second time this season.

The England forward had not scored for Arsenal since a hat-trick in the reverse fixture in November, but struck in each half while Gyokeres also underlined his growing confidence.

Eze volleyed in a 32nd-minute opener only for Randal Kolo Muani to equalise two minutes later after a mistake by Declan Rice. Gyokeres restored Arsenal’s lead shortly after the interval with a superb curled effort, and Eze’s second gave his side breathing space.

Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze scores their third goal past Tottenham Hotspur’s Guglielmo Vicario. REUTERS/David Klein

Gyokeres then capped a fine display with his second, putting the icing on the cake in stoppage time.

On his side’s response after the crushing disappointment at Wolves, Arteta said: “There is no explanation for how you draw that game. But it happened. Then you have to lift yourself up, you’re angry, upset and ashamed. You have to bring everybody together.”

It proved a chastening first game in charge for Tottenham’s new manager, Igor Tudor, who was left in no doubt that he faces a relegation battle in the weeks ahead.

Tottenham are winless in nine league games and sit 16th in the table, four points above the relegation zone.

“We thought the derby could give us something more, of mentality and motivation, but there are things that you cannot change in three or four training sessions,” former Juventus defender Tudor, who replaced Thomas Frank this month, said.

Arsenal were too much for us at this moment with the problems we have. But it’s nice to understand where we are because you prepare in the best possible way then there is the game to show you the reality.”

-Reuters

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