Arsenal reclaimed a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League table with a 2-1 victory over 10-man Chelsea, while Manchester United rose to third place following a crucial win against Crystal Palace. Tottenham Hotspur, meanwhile, continued their poor run of form, losing 2-1 to Fulham.
Arsenal’s victory was built on a commanding display, with defenders William Saliba and Jurrien Timber both scoring. Saliba opened the scoring in the 21st minute, heading in a cross from Gabriel Magalhaes. Chelsea briefly equalized through an own goal by Pedro Hincapie, who deflected a Reece James cross past his own goalkeeper. Timber restored Arsenal’s lead shortly after the hour mark with a header from a corner, marking the club’s 16th goal from set-pieces this season, equalling a Premier League record.
Chelsea’s chances suffered a further blow when Pedro Neto was shown a red card 20 minutes before full time. A late goal for Chelsea was ruled out for offside, leaving the club three points shy of a Champions League spot.
At Old Trafford, Manchester United continued their resurgence under manager Michael Carrick, defeating Crystal Palace 2-1. Palace initially took the lead through Maxence Lacroix’s header from a corner, but the match turned when Lacroix was sent off for pulling down Matheus Cunha, conceding a penalty. Bruno Fernandes converted the spot-kick to level the score, and Benjamin Sesko later scored the decisive header, his seventh goal in eight appearances. The win moved United into the top three for the first time since May 2023.
Tottenham Hotspur’s struggles deepened under interim manager Igor Tudor, as they lost 2-1 to Fulham. Richarlison scored a late consolation goal, but Spurs remain the only Premier League team without a win in 2026 and are just four points above the relegation zone. Tudor admitted concerns over the team’s performance, saying, “We were not good, lacking in every department.”
In other fixtures, Nottingham Forest fell 2-1 to Brighton, leaving them just above the drop zone as they prepare for a challenging clash with Manchester City.
