With a 2-0 victory over Tottenham in the north London derby, Arsenal moved eight points clear of Tottenham at the top of the Premier League.
Meanwhile, Chelsea beat Crystal Palace 1-0 on Sunday to relieve pressure on manager Graham Potter. With a late goal, Newcastle beat Fulham 1-0 to reclaim third place and keep their title hopes alive.
However, Arsenal will need to be stopped if they are to win the league for the first time since Arsene Wenger’s “Invincibles” in 2003/04 when they defeated Tottenham for the first time in nine years.
Hugo Lloris saved a cross from Bukayo Saka by palming it into his own net in the first half, and Martin Odegaard’s long-range effort hit the bottom corner.
After the break, with Harry Kane and Ryan Sessegnon making saves, Aaron Ramsdale prevented the Spurs from making their customary comeback from two goals down this season.
Tottenham is five points behind the top four after their fourth loss in five league games at home.
To Potter’s relief
Chelsea won with a towering second-half header from Kai Havertz on the same day the Blues announced the signing of Mykhailo Mudryk for a possible 100 million euros (£88 million, $108 million) fee.
Before their first game at home since Gianluca Vialli’s death from pancreatic cancer earlier this month, Chelsea also paid tribute to the former player and manager.
The official announcement that Chelsea had completed the signing of Mudryk during the first half also overshadowed the action on the field. This move increased Chelsea’s spending in their first season under Todd Boehly’s consortium to more than £400 million.
That investment has yielded little so far, but Potter’s injury-ravaged team has managed to grind out just a second victory in 10 league games.
On 64 minutes, Havertz made the breakthrough when he rose highest to head home a cross from Hakim Ziyech that came from a well-worked corner.
After Newcastle kept their hopes of winning the title alive at St. James’ Park, Chelsea continues to be 10 points behind the top four despite the much-needed victory.
Super sub-Isak
Aleksandar Mitrovic had a second-half penalty against his former club disallowed for a double touch of the ball. This was a huge setback for the Magpies.
As the Serbian took the penalty kick, he fell, and his right-footed shot bounced off of his left foot and into the net.
Alexander Isak, a club-record signing for Newcastle, came off the bench to head in the winner a minute before the end.
Isak has now scored three goals in four Premier League games, but the last time he played was in September because of an injury.
Eddie Howe, the manager of Newcastle, stated, “The goal was a special moment.”
“I’m so happy for Alex. You want to get started quickly at a new club, and before the injury, he did. He had to wait while the team did well without him. He has exerted effort. The effort was well worth it in these instances.”
With the victory, Newcastle moves back into third place in the table on goal difference, above Manchester United.