Sports
Chelsea’s Champions League Hopes Suffer Blow In Arsenal Defeat As Fulham Stun Spurs
By Gideon Ayeni
Chelsea’s pursuit of a top-four finish took a major hit on Sunday as they fell to a lackluster 1-0 defeat against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. Meanwhile, Tottenham’s European struggles continued with a 2-0 loss to Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Arsenal Edge Chelsea in Tight Encounter
Mikel Merino’s first-half header was enough to seal all three points for Arsenal, who moved further ahead in second place and closed the gap to Premier League leaders Liverpool to 12 points.
Chelsea, missing key playmaker Cole Palmer due to illness, struggled to create any meaningful chances. The Blues, who remain fourth for now, are now under pressure with five teams—including Manchester City and Aston Villa—just a few points behind them.
Arsenal, on the other hand, have been forced to adapt after losing Kai Havertz to a season-ending injury, with midfielder Merino filling in as an emergency striker. His decisive moment came in the 20th minute when he met Martin Ødegaard’s corner with a looping header that found the far post.
Chelsea’s best opportunity came from a mistake by Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya, who fumbled Marc Cucurella’s shot, only for the ball to trickle wide. At the other end, Chelsea’s Robert Sánchez produced a fine save to deny Merino a second goal.
The match ultimately faded out with little attacking intensity, further fueling concerns among Chelsea supporters about manager Enzo Maresca’s tactics.
Spurs Struggle Again After European Duty as Fulham Triumph
Tottenham, fresh from securing a spot in the Europa League quarter-finals with a win over AZ Alkmaar, once again suffered a post-European slump. Ange Postecoglou’s side have now won just three of their last 10 league matches following midweek continental fixtures.
Fulham dominated proceedings at Craven Cottage but had to wait until the 78th minute to break the deadlock. Rodrigo Muniz finished off an Andreas Pereira pass to put the hosts ahead before Ryan Sessegnon curled in a superb strike against his former club to seal the victory.
The win boosts Fulham’s hopes of European football next season, as they climb to eighth, just four points behind the top four. With England’s strong showing in European competitions, even a fifth-place finish could secure a Champions League spot.
Spurs’ inconsistency, however, leaves their hopes of a top-four finish in serious doubt.
Later on Sunday, Manchester United will face Leicester City, with new manager Ruben Amorim hoping to keep his side’s Champions League aspirations alive.
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