Arsenal survive yet another London Derby scare to go five points clear
From Tanko Bauka
Arsenal had survived yet another London scare by beating their London neighbour and rival Chelsea 2-1 in a keenly contested match at the Emirates Stadium to pocket all three points and restore their five-point lead at the top of the league table.
The league leader points tally had earlier been reduced to just two points following Manchester City 1-0 win against Leeds United at Elland road and the Gunners needs to respond to keep their hope alive of winning a trophy this season and standing between them and the three points are Chelsea which they have already beaten twice this season on their way to the final of the Carabao Cup at Wembley against Pep Guardiola Manchester City later this month.
Chelsea are always a threat to any opponents especially now that their top four finish is under a great threat by Manchester United, Liverpool and Aston Villa and Chelsea wanted to make life so difficult for the league leader as they defended in block and relying only on counter attack to shock Arsenal and go for the three points to boast their chances but Arsenal as usual had to apply plan B when all the plans seems not to be working. They have to take the set piece route and got their 2 goals and the three points.
Chelsea could not manage the Gunners when it comes to set pieces, though Chelsea had opportunities when the Tie was at 1-1 to make it 2-1 but could not take the chance and in the end had to pay dearly for their mistakes.
Chelsea were later reduced to ten men when Pedro Neto was dismissed for two bookable offences.
With the three points, Arsenal restored their five-point lead and are on 64 points while their closest rival Manchester City are on 59 points with an outstanding match to play.
Manchester United leapfrog Aston Villa into the third position with a 2-1 win against Crystal Palace at Old Trafford with goals from Bruno Fernandes and Benjamin Sesko to snatch all three points for the Red Devils.
West Ham United’s hope of survival fortunately suffered a major setback as the defending Champions Liverpool demolished them 5-2 to boost their European football charge next season while Newcastle United’s woeful nightmare continues as they were beaten by Everton at Saints James Park stadium.
Igor Tudor’s reign as Tottenham Hotspur’s interim manager is seriously under severe threat as he lost again against Fulham to further pushing the team closer to a relegation battle as Spurs are just four points above the relegation zone. Tottenham Hotspur are occupying the 16th position and are on 29 points while Nottingham Forest in the 17th position are on 27 points and closely followed by West Ham United on 25 points.
The other teams down the parking order are Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers whose hope of survival hangs in the balance.
Wolverhampton Wanderers shocked their neighbours Aston Villa with a comfortable 2-0 win at the Molineux stadium to take their points tally to 13 out of 29 matches while Burnley were denied a point by a VAR decision when Barnes thought he had salvaged a point for the home team only to be denied by VAR which ruled that he handled the ball with his hand.
Brighton continued their impressive run with yet another 2-1 win against Nottingham Forest while AFC Bournemouth and Sunderland settled for a one-all draw.
In the Spanish La Liga, the defending Champions FC Barcelona are flying high with yet another comfortable 4-1 win against the Yellow submarine owners Villarreal with Lamine Yamal on a hat trick but Rayo Vallecano were held to a one-all draw by Athletic Bilbao while Real Oviedo were beaten 1-0 by Atletico Madrid.
Mallorca were beaten 1-0 by Real Sociedad, Valencia beat Osasuna 1-0 while Elche were held to a a two all draw by Espanyol with Girona losing 2-1 to Celta Vigo as Real Betis and Sevilla settled for a two-all draw.
Real Madrid take on Gatafe on Monday night football.
In the Italian Serie A Inter Milan put aside their UEFA Champions League disappointing exit by defeating Genoa 2-0 while the defending Champions Napoli have Lukaku to thank for a last minute last gap goal which gives them all the three points at stake.
Como beat Lacce 3-1 while Cremonese lost 2-0, and Sassaulo beat Atalanta 2-1.
Torino beat Lazio 2-0 as AS Roma played out a pulsating 3-3 draw with Juventus.
In the German Bundesliga, Bayern Munich survive Burussia Dortmund scare from Borussia Dortmund with a 3-2 win to continue their charge for the league trophy while Hoffenheim lost 1-0 to FC St Pauli as Borussia Monchengladbach beat Union Berlin 1-0.
Werder Bremen beat Heidenheim 2-0 while Bayer Leverkusen were held to a one-all draw by Mainz 05 with Stuttgart demolishing Wolfsburg 4-0.
Eintrach Frankfurt beat SC Freiburg 2-0 with Hamburger loosing 2-1 to RB Leipzig.
Results across Europe
English Barclays Premier League
Wolves 2- Aston Villa 0
AFC Bournemouth 1-Sunderland 1
Burnley 3- Brentford 4
Newcastle United 2- Everton 3
Liverpool 5- West Ham United 2
Leeds United 0- Manchester City 1
Brighton Albion 2- Nottingham 1
Manchester United 2- Crystal Palace 1
Fulham 2- Tottenham Hotspur 1
Arsenal 2- Chelsea 1
Spanish La Liga
Lavente 2- Deportivo Alaves 0
Rayo Vallecano 1- Athletic Bilbao 1
FC Barcelona 4- Villarreal 1
Mallorca 0- Real Sociedad 1
Real Oviedo 0- Atletico Madrid 1
Elche 2- Espanyol 2
Valencia 1- Osasuna 0
Real Betis 2- Sevilla 2
Girona 1- Celta Vigo 2
Italian Serie A
Parma 1- Cagliari 1
Como 3- Lacce 1
Hellas Verona 1- Napoli 2
Inter Milan 2- Genoa 0
Cremonese 0- AC Milan 2
Sassaulo 2- Atalanta 1
Torino 2- Lazio 0
AS Roma 3- Juventus 3
German Bundesliga
FC Augsburg 2- Koln 0
Hoffenheim 0- FC St Pauli 1
Monchenglabach 1- Union Berlin 0
Werder Bremen 2- Heidenheim 0
Leverkusen 1- Mainz 05 1
Dortmund 2- Bayern Munich 3
Stuttgart 4- Wolfsburg 0
Frankfurt 2- SC Freiburg 0
Hamburger 1- RB Leipzig 2
