Man Utd draw puts dent in Arsenal title bid while Chelsea go fourth

LONDON – Arsenal’s dimming hopes of a first Premier League title in nearly 20 years took another hit when the Gunners could only draw 1-1 with Manchester United, but Chelsea kept their Champions League qualification charge on track with a 1-0 win at Leicester on Sunday.

And given Arsenal arrived at Old Trafford 24 hours after Liverpool’s 3-1 win against Southampton, which moved the leaders 16 points clear at the top of the table on Saturday, there was no room for error.

However, United captain Bruno Fernandes gave the hosts a 67th-minute lead with a superb free-kick.

Declan Rice’s low finish from inside the United area hauled Arsenal level in the 74th minute.

But the second-placed Arsenal side managed to find no winner and now finds itself 15 points behind Liverpool.

For Arsenal, having played a game fewer than Liverpool, the title is certain to elude them once more, having finished as runner-up in the last two seasons.

Liverpool are chasing a record-equalling 20th English title, and their first since 2020, in Arne Slot’s maiden season at the helm.

The Anfield outfit require no more than 16 additional points from their final nine fixtures to guarantee them the silverware.

Not for the first time Arsenal had faltered as title pressure had increased, a run of three league games without a victory practically handing the trophy to Liverpool.

“We didn’t have the knife for the last 20 to 25 metres. When you felt that United were tired we didn’t take advantage of it because we rushed the game, we gave the balls away, we could have ended up being 2-0 down’, Arteta said.

“I will stand up for my players all the time but in those moments we have to do better.

An out-of-sorts Manchester United sit 14th while they have won only one of their last six in all competitions.

Further rain on Old Trafford’s parade came in the form of thousands of United supporters protesting against co-owners the Glazer family and Jim Ratcliffe ahead of kick-off.

“It is clear this club is never going to die. You feel it in the streets. We want to give a lot of effort to them. “We won’t play like that in the future,” said United boss Ruben Amorim.

Marc Cucurella scored a long-range rocket in the second half at Stamford Bridge that moved Chelsea into fourth place ahead of Manchester City.

The Blues are two points in front of City in the race for the top-four finish that guarantees a Champions League berth.

It was just Chelsea’s fourth win in their past 12 league matches as they reacted to the challenge from their boss, Enzo Maresca, to win all their remaining home matches.

Cucurella lifts Chelsea

Chelsea’s Cole Palmer missed the first penalty of his career and was then substituted, leaving the England forward with no goal or assist in seven league games.

Second-bottom Leicester have lost five league games in a row and are sitting six points away from safety as they slide towards relegation.

Jadon Sancho was pole-axed by a clumsy challenge from Victor Kristiansen for Chelsea to be awarded a first half penalty.

Always so ruthless from the spot, Palmer grabbed the ball only for Mads Hermansen to make another wonderful save.

Chelsea finally took the lead with an eye-catching goal on the hour when Cucurella drilled into the bottom corner from 25 yards, the Spanish defender richly rewarding.

Tottenham came back from two goals down to draw 2-2 at home to Bournemouth, in north London, to breathe new life into boss Ange Postecoglou’s season after last weekend’s embarrassing defeat.

Sitting 13th in the Premier League, Postecoglou’s side has failed to register a win in any competition in its last three games.

Tottenham were beaten 1-0 by AZ Alkmaar in the first leg of their Europa League last 16 tie on Thursday.

Tottenham fell behind in the 42nd minute when Marcus Tavernier finished off a pin-point cross from Milos Kerkez after Pedro Porro had squandered possession.

Bournemouth scored a third in the 65th minute, when Evanilson chased down a pass by Justin Kluivert before lifting a calm finish over Guglielmo Vicario.

Two minutes later, though, Pape Sarr pulled a goal back for Spurs, the Tottenham midfielder catching out Bournemouth keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga with a poorly conceived cross that somehow dipped in at the far post.

Tottenham’s escape was sealed in the 84th minute when Kepa gave away a penalty by lunging desperately at Son Heung-min.

From the spot, Son nonchalantly slotted home his first goal in 10 games taking him his tally this season, in all competitions, to 11.