Arsenal, Man Utd’s Top Four Hopes Over, Chelsea Now Third
Arsenal’s hopes of a top-four Premier League finish are all but over after the lacklustre hosts were held by Brighton at Emirates Stadium.
Similarly, Manchester United will also have to settle for Europa League football next season after being held 1-1 by a Huddersfield side who were relegated in March.
The Gunners are three points behind rivals Tottenham in fourth with one game to play but would need an eight-goal swing as well as results going their way.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang put Arsenal in front with a ninthminute penalty after Alireza Jahanbakhsh was judged to have fouled Nacho Monreal despite appearing to get the ball.
Aside from occasional bursts, Unai Emery’s side were shaky and sloppy for long periods, with Granit Xhaka conceding an absurd foul on Solly March to concede a penalty that Glenn Murray converted on 61 minutes.
Arsenal frantically searched for a winner but Aubameyang volleyed wide from seven yards out and Brighton keeper Mat Ryan made a series of fine saves.
Pascal Gross should have won the game for Brighton late on but skewed his effort out towards the sideline with the goal unmanned after Bernd Leno’s superb save from March.
Earlier yesterday in the Manchester United versus Huddersfield clash, the Terriers who had managed just four points in their previous 23 games - but watched by outgoing chairman Dean Hoyle, they earned a draw as Isaac Mbenza’s first goal for the club levelled Scott McTominay’s first-half effort.
In a frantic finish, young United substitute Tahith Chong had a shot saved and Paul Pogba hit the bar before David de Gea denied Karlan Grant a winner at the other end.
It draw result means United have now gone five games without a win, their worst sequence since they went eight games without a victory under Louis van Gaal between November and December 2015.
At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea boosted their chances of securing Champions League football next season with 3-0 victory over Watford to move up to third in the Premier League.