Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal continued their pursuit of Liverpool at the top of the table thanks to a 1-0 win at home to Chelsea, as Spain star Mikel Merino scored midway through the first half.
The makeshift striker headed in from a corner to win a tight contest and cut Liverpool’s lead at the top of the Premier League to 12 points, with nine games remaining. The Gunners are unlikely to pull off a remarkable chase but they are the best team in London, head and shoulders above the other six teams from the capital city which are currently in the top flight.
In the other North vs West London clash on Sunday there was an impressive 2-0 home win for Chelsea’s neighbours Fulham over Tottenham Hotspur, thanks to late goals from Rodrigo Muniz and Ryan Sessegnon to move the Cottagers up to eighth place and well in the hunt for European football. On Saturday Brentford beat Bournemouth and West Ham United drew with Everton, while Crystal Palace had the weekend off; so it wasn’t a bad weekend on the whole for the London boys; though Chelsea and Spurs fans won’t agree.
With Liverpool in Carabao Cup action, Arsenal vs Chelsea was the Premier League match of the weekend and it was a surprisingly cagey affair which the Blues dominated in terms of possession but the Gunners had more shots on target at four to two. And only a goal-line save from Robert Sanchez denied Merino a double as the former Real Sociedad star hit a sweet volley late in the second half. Chelsea stay in fourth place, one point ahead of Manchester City and five behind Nottingham Forest in third. The latest Premier League 2025 betting odds say the Blues should be in the Champions League next season but there is a lot of work to do in a fascinating race.
Forest aren’t going away
Anyone who thought Nottingham Forest wouldn’t last the pace in the battle for Champions League places, this SBOTOP writer included, is having to think again. I’ll hold my hands up. I predicted a collapse at the City Ground when Nuno Espirito Santo’s Forest lost back to back games against Fulham and Newcastle United. But since then they have drawn with Arsenal, beaten Manchester City and progressed to the quarter finals of the FA Cup.
So what do I know?
On Saturday Nuno’s team blew struggling Ipswich Town away with a blistering spell of three goals in seven minutes, eventually running out 4-2 winners at Portman Road. After holding Forest at bay for 35 minutes the Tractor Boys were derailed when Nicolas Dominguez met a cross from Callum Hudson-Odoi to give the visitors a lead. And by half time Forest were three up as the quick footed Antony Elanga scored a rapid double. His first was a lovely curled shot and his second a deft finish when he latched on to a long ball. Jens Cajuste pulled one back for Ipswich and George Hirst scored a late consolation, but only after Jota Silva had made it four for Forest.
There is still work for Forest to do but, on the back of a truly exceptional set of Premier League 2025 results, Nuno’s men have a six point advantage over fifth placed Manchester City, who drew 2-2 with Brighton and Hove Albion, and it seems that the Premier League is likely to have five, maybe even six Champions League places. Ipswich are in dire trouble after they drifted further from safety as results elsewhere went the wrong way for the Suffolk club.
Wolves take a giant leap to safety
Is the race to avoid relegation now run? It’s certainly beginning to look like it after Wolves won 2-1 away to bottom club Southampton to go nine points clear of the drop zone. And with a far superior goal difference than both Ipswich and Leicester City it is effectively ten points, with nine games to play.
Southampton have been doomed for weeks and they fell to their 24th defeat of the campaign as Jorgen Strand Larsen scored a classy double, both goals set up by Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, on 19 and 47 minutes. Southampton substitute Paul Onuachu halved the deficit with 15 minutes remaining but Wolves held out comfortably to put distance between themselves and the bottom three. Leicester City play Manchester United in the late Sunday match, but the Foxes have lost 12 of their last 15 games so anything other than a Red Devils win would be a triumph for manager Ruud Van Nistelrooy.
The Saints are 14 points from safety and need a miracle.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
