Premier League: Chelsea Stages Comeback, Arsenal Slumbers
Chelsea staged a remarkable comeback to beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-3 and move four points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool, but Arsenal dropped points in the title race after drawing 1-1 with Alex Iwobi’s Fulham on Sunday.
Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea side were 2-0 down after 11 minutes when Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski both scored to give the hosts a dream start. However, Chelsea hit back in thrilling style with Jadon Sancho rifling in a shot after 17 minutes to reduce the deficit as the instrumental Cole Palmer then equalised from the spot on the hour
Palmer was heavily involved again as Enzo Fernandez volleyed Chelsea in front after 73 minutes from the edge of the area.
English Footballer of the Year, Palmer, then put the icing on the cake with a cheeky ‘Panenka’ penalty after he had been brought down in the area.
Forward Son Heung-min’s stoppage-time goal was only a consolation for Tottenham as the match finished 3-2 in favour of chelsea.
Chelsea’s fourth successive Premier League win lifted them to second place with 31 points from 15 games, while Tottenham are down in 11th place on the table.
Four wins in a row for @ChelseaFC who move to within four points of Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table! 📈#TOTCHE pic.twitter.com/P5kLhCwt1k
— Premier League (@premierleague) December 8, 2024
“2-0 down, it was the worst picture for us. We conceded two goals from (Marc) Cucurella and a couple more chances from the wrong build-up,” Maresca said. “Second half, we deserve to win.”
Maresca has talked down Chelsea’s title chances but his free-scoring side are now part of the conversation having banged in a league-leading 35 goals so far this season.
With Liverpool’s match postponed and fourth-placed Manchester City only drawing on Saturday, Arsenal had the opportunity to make up ground but slumbered after a 1-1 draw with Fulham at Craven Cottage.
The Gunners were stunned when Raul Jimenez gave Fulham an 11th-minute lead. Arsenal defender William Saliba equalised from close range shortly after the interval and the Gunners thought they had won it in the 88th minute when Bukayo Saka headed in, but the goal was ruled out by VAR.
However, the match finished 1-1 as Arsenal dropped valuable points in yet another title race.
Arsenal move up to second, six points behind leaders Liverpool
The points are shared at Craven Cottage 🤝#FULARS pic.twitter.com/XJdUUC9Rpo
— Premier League (@premierleague) December 8, 2024
“We dominated most of the game… It’s frustrating not to win,” Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard said in an interview after the match. “We have to focus on ourselves.”
“We don’t care about the other teams (in the title race). It’s a very long way to go. We’ve said hundreds of times we have to keep going game by game.”
Fulham, who also thwarted the Gunners both home and away last season, have lost just one of their last seven league games and are in 10th place.
Arsenal have 29 points from 15 games while Liverpool, whose derby at Everton on Saturday was postponed because of high winds, have 35 points from 14 games and remain in first place.
📈 @ChelseaFC move into solo second with a remarkable win against Spurs!
Meanwhile Arsenal were held to a draw against Fulham… pic.twitter.com/fCz8r2pZRx
— Premier League (@premierleague) December 8, 2024
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