Arsenal Strengthen Premier League Lead as Chelsea Fall at Leeds

Arsenal extended their advantage at the top of the Premier League after a controlled 2-0 win over Brentford that restored a five-point cushion. The performance lacked full rhythm, but the result carried weight as the club continued pushing toward a potential first league title in 22 years. Mikel Merino delivered the opener after keeping his place up front ahead of a fully fit Viktor Gyokeres. Ben White provided the perfect cross, and Merino powered home his eleventh goal of the season for club and country. Mikel Arteta praised him afterward, saying, “It’s unbelievable what he has done again today. The goal is magnificent. The movement, the quality, the finish, how he times it… It’s phenomenal.”

Bukayo Saka entered the match on the hour and sealed the result in stoppage time. His driven strike beat Caoimhin Kelleher and confirmed another vital step in Arsenal’s title pursuit.

Why did Chelsea crumble at Leeds?

Leeds delivered one of their strongest performances of the season with a 3-1 win over Chelsea, just as pressure mounted on manager Daniel Farke after four straight losses. The response was immediate and spirited. Jaka Bijol headed in Anton Stach’s corner inside six minutes, energizing the already intense home atmosphere. The momentum pressed on, and Ao Tanaka doubled the lead with a forceful finish from the edge of the box.

Pedro Neto briefly revived Chelsea’s hopes with a second-half goal, yet a costly mistake from Tosin Adarabioyo inside his own box allowed Dominic Calvert-Lewin to reclaim full control for the hosts. Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca summed up the night bluntly, saying, “A very poor night. They deserved to win the game. They were better than us in all the aspects.”

How did the rest of the league shake up?

Liverpool’s 1-1 draw with Sunderland kept frustration high at Anfield. Chemsdine Talbi punished a loose Virgil van Dijk pass, and although Florian Wirtz appeared to equalize, the goal was ultimately recorded as a Nordi Mukiele own-goal. Sunderland nearly secured a historic win before Federico Chiesa cleared a late Wilson Isidor chance off the line.

Aston Villa continued their surge with a thrilling 4-3 comeback at Brighton. Despite going down 2-0 through Jan Paul van Hecke and a Pau Torres own-goal, Villa flipped the momentum. Ollie Watkins struck twice before halftime, Amadou Onana headed in a go-ahead goal, and Donyell Malen added a fourth. Brighton pulled one back through Van Hecke, but Villa held firm for their eighth win in nine matches.

Elsewhere, Nottingham Forest edged Wolves 1-0 thanks to Igor Jesus’ header, pushing Sean Dyche’s men three points clear of relegation danger. Burnley stayed in the bottom three after Daniel Munoz secured Crystal Palace a 1-0 win that lifted the London side into fifth place.

By Yockshard Enyendi