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United KingdomGameweek 32 of the Premier League came to an end on Sunday, with wins for Tottenham and Arsenal in the English top-flight. If you miss what happened in Saturday’s action there is a recap here.
However, if you wish to know what happened in Sunday’s game read on.
Tottenham make history at Chelsea
Tottenham travelled to Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge on Sunday knowing that the weight of history was against them. However, Mauricio Pochettino’s side recorded a 3-1 win at the Bridge, their first ever win at Chelsea in the Premier League era.
Tottenham enjoyed a slow start to the game and the home side looked the more dangerous in the early exchanges. It was the home side who struck first on the half-hour mark. Victor Moses found space and crossed from the right, Spurs ‘keeper Hugo Lloris misjudged the flight of the ball and Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata got up the highest to guide a header into an empty net.
Just as it looked like Chelsea were heading into the break with a deserved lead, the visitors struck in first-half stoppage-time. Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen picked up the ball 30 yards out fired in an effort on goal that swerved wickedly to beat Willy Caballero. The goal changed everything.
The visitors came out for the second half looking far more assured and on 62 minutes took the lead. Eric Dier produced a fantastic 50-yard pass over the Blues defence to Dele Alli who took a deft touch to bring the ball down before firing past Caballero. The midfielder doubled his tally four minutes later. Heung-Min Son attempted an effort inside the area only for the ball to take a few deflections and end up at the feet of Alli, who fired home from around six yards out.
The Blues attempted to come back. However, Tottenham managed the last quarter of the game very well to record a historic win. The victory means that Pochettino’s side are now eight points clear of fifth-place Chelsea in the race for fourth spot. Chelsea are very much outsiders to clinch a Champions League spot.
Gunners eventually overcome the Potters
Earlier in the day, Tottenham’s north London rivals Arsenal recorded a 3-0 win over relegation-threatened Stoke at the Emirates Stadium. It was far from easy going for Arsene Wenger’s side, though.
It took until the 75th minute for the Gunners to break through the stubborn Stoke backline. The goal came in controversial circumstances, as Bruno Martins Indi was adjudged to have brought down Mesut Ozil in the penalty area. Replays showed the defender got the ball first. It mattered little, though, as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang stroked home the spot-kick.
With four minutes remaining, the Gunners doubled their tally. A Stoke defender knocked on Mesut Ozil’s corner kick and Aubameyang fired home a powerful effort on the half-volley from just inside the area. On 89 minutes, the home side were awarded a far less controversial penalty kick, when Potters midfielder Badou pushed Alexandre Lacazette over in the area. The French striker took the penalty himself and made no mistake on his return from injury.
The win means that the sixth-place Gunners are now five points behind fifth-place Chelsea. However, they are unlikely to catch the top-four. Meanwhile, Stoke remain 19th place in the Premier League table, three points from safety.
Are Chelsea’s hopes of a top-four finish now over?
