LONDON — Mikel Merino led Arsenal to a 1-0 win against Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday.
Merino's first-half header settled the London derby at the Emirates Stadium and saw second-placed Arsenal move within 12 points of leader Liverpool.
In another all-London clash, Fulham beat Tottenham 2-0.
Arsenal's title hopes have faded in recent weeks, but it closed the gap on Liverpool, which was playing Newcastle in the English League Cup final later in the day.
“The only thing we can do is try to win our matches. If we do, we are in a better position,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said.
Merino rose in the 20th minute to flick Martin Odegaard's near post corner beyond Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez. It was enough to secure a first league win for Mikel Arteta's team since February 15.
Defeat for fourth-placed Chelsea means it missed the chance to extend its one-point lead over Manchester City in fifth and boost its chance of qualifying for the Champions League next season.
Arsenal, on 58 points, is 10 clear of four-time defending champion City.
Spurs fall
Another setback for Tottenham is likely to increase the pressure on coach Ange 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.
“It’s been a difficult campaign for sure. But I feel we’ve lost too many games that we should have got stuff out of, and this was one of those games," Postecoglou said. “It’s another international break we go into off a loss and you feel that. We just need to make sure we’re ready for when we come back.”
Rodrigo Muniz gave Fulham the lead in the 78th at Craven Cottage and Ryan Sessegnon doubled the home team's lead 10 minutes later.
Fulham is eighth and four points behind Chelsea in the race for a Champions League place.
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