Chelsea’s push for a Champions League spot suffered a setback as they fell to a lackluster 1-0 defeat against Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday, while Fulham secured a 2-0 victory over Tottenham.
Mikel Merino scored the decisive goal for Arsenal, heading in Martin Odegaard’s corner in the 20th minute. The win solidifies Arsenal’s second-place position, narrowing the gap to 12 points behind league leaders Liverpool.
Chelsea, without the influential Cole Palmer due to illness, struggled to create opportunities and delivered a performance that dented their hopes of securing a top-four finish. Although they remain fourth, the Blues now face pressure from five teams, including Manchester City in fifth and Aston Villa in ninth, all within four points of them.
Arsenal, dealing with their own challenges following Kai Havertz’s season-ending injury, relied on midfielder Merino in a makeshift center-forward role. The Spanish international not only scored the winner but also came close to doubling Arsenal’s lead in the second half, only to be denied by a superb save from Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.
Chelsea’s best chance came when Arsenal’s goalkeeper, David Raya, mishandled Marc Cucurella’s shot, but the ball trickled harmlessly wide.
The match concluded with little action in front of goal, and Chelsea’s uninspiring display is likely to fuel further criticism of Enzo Maresca’s tactics among the club’s supporters.