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Arsenal have brought their three-game winless run in the Premier League to an end with a 1-0 victory over Chelsea at the Emirates to strengthen their grip on second place as they try to chase down runaway leaders Liverpool.
Mikel Merino’s first-half header settled the London derby on Sunday and saw second-placed Arsenal move within 12 points of leaders Liverpool.
But in another all-London clash, there was more disappointment for Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou as he watched his side succumb 2-0 at Fulham.
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Arsenal’s title hopes have faded in recent weeks, but they closed the gap on Liverpool, who were playing Newcastle in the League Cup final later in the day.
Merino rose in the 20th minute to flick Martin Odegaard’s near-post corner beyond Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, and it proved enough to secure a first league win for Mikel Arteta’s team since February 15.
Defeat for fourth-placed Chelsea means they missed the chance to extend their one-point lead over Manchester City in fifth and boost their chances of qualifying for the Champions League next season.
Arsenal, on 58 points, are 10 points clear of four-time defending champions City.
Another setback for Tottenham is likely to only increase the pressure on Postecoglou heading into the international break.
Spurs, in 14th, have only won one of their last five in all competitions, and this was a 15th league defeat of the season.
Postecoglou was fuming over an incident in the 85th minute when Fulham’s Calvin Bassey launched a challenge on Lucas Bergvall inside the penalty area.
“I’ll leave that to the officials, but I will say that we don’t carry on like a lot of other clubs and I think that hurts us for sure.
“I don’t think there’s ever any noise around us and decisions. We get one slightly in our favour and there’s national headlines for a week.
“Things go against us and there’s not even a sentence on it.”
Rodrigo Muniz gave Fulham the lead in the 78th at Craven Cottage and Ryan Sessegnon doubled the home team’s lead 10 minutes later.
“I said to the players I’m not going to allow anyone to think about Europa and nothing else,” Postecoglou said.
“We can’t let this league season go the way it has. We have lost way too many games. Unacceptable.”
Fulham are eighth, four points behind Chelsea in the race for a Champions League place.
**_with AAP_**