FOOTBALL – Leaders Arsenal claimed three more points in their Premier League title push as Mikel Merino’s early goal and a late one from substitute Bukayo Saka earned them a nervy 2-0 home victory over Brentford last night.
Spaniard Merino headed in from Ben White’s cross after 11 minutes as the hosts stretched their unbeaten run in all competitions to 18 but it was a night of hard graft.
Kevin Schade hit the crossbar for a well-drilled Brentford in the first half and Arsenal looked laboured after the break until Saka eased the growing sense of anxiety in the first minute of stoppage time.
It was far from fluent from Mikel Arteta’s side but he will not care about that as his team re-established a five-point lead at the top over Manchester City. They have 33 points from 14 games with City on 28.
Meanwhile, Chelsea’s title hopes suffered a major setback with a humbling 3-1 defeat at Leeds United, which lifted the hosts out of the relegation zone.
An attacking start from Leeds was rewarded with a sixth minute goal when Jaka Bijol powered in a header from a corner and the home side doubled their lead with Ao Tanaka scoring a stunner two minutes before halftime.
Chelsea pulled one back five minutes after the break through substitute Pedro Neto but their comeback attempt was ended when they gifted Leeds a third goal in the 72nd minute, Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting to wrap up the win.
Chelsea remain on 24 points and slipped to fourth in the standings, three points behind third-placed Aston Villa who won 4-3 at Brighton & Hove Albion.
Liverpool’s blushes were spared as Florian Wirtz’s shot was deflected in off Nordi Mukiele to salvage a 1-1 draw with Sunderland at Anfield after Chemsdine Talbi had put the visitors ahead.
Arne Slot’s men, whose 2-0 victory over West Ham United on Sunday ended their worst run in over 70 years, are eighth in the table on 22 points, 11 behind leaders Arsenal, while Sunderland are sixth on 23.
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