Premier League Round 26: MU Escapes Defeat, Arsenal Stalls

Round 26 of the Premier League concluded with a series of dramatic events that heavily influenced the title race and the top 4 battle, while also intensifying the fight at the bottom of the table.

Manchester United Snatches a Point in the 90+6th Minute

At the London stadium, Manchester United fell behind to West Ham after Tomas Soucek scored early in the second half. The visitors increased their pressure throughout the remainder of the match and had a goal disallowed for offside.

Just when it seemed they would accept defeat, MU unexpectedly equalized in the 90+6th minute. From a right-wing cross by Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko made a clever run and finished with a precise shot to seal a 1-1 draw. This result extends the “Red Devils” unbeaten streak in the Premier League to nine matches and secures their place in the top 4.

Man City Dominates and Closes Gap on Arsenal

At Etihad Stadium, Man City showcased their superiority by defeating Fulham 3-0. Antoine Semenyo opened the scoring before Nico O’Reilly doubled the lead with a sharp counterattack. Erling Haaland Finished the First Half with his 153rd goal for Man City, equaling Colin Bell’s all-time club scoring record. The victory reduces Pep Guardiola’s team’s gap to Arsenal to just three points, reigniting the title race.

Arsenal Held to Draw, Advantage Shrinks

Arsenal Failed to Capitalize on a Chance to Break Away as they were held 1-1 by Brentford. Noni Madueke gave the “Gunners” the lead after halftime, but Keane Lewis-Potter quickly leveled the score. This result leaves Arsenal only four points ahead of Man City instead of extending their lead, making the title race even more intense.

Liverpool Closes in on Top 4

Liverpool secured a narrow 1-0 win against Sunderland thanks to a header from Virgil van Dijk in the 61st minute. The Merseyside club controlled the game well and maintained their advantage until the final whistle. This crucial three points bring Liverpool just three points behind Manchester United in the battle for the top 4 and extend their unbeaten run against Sunderland to 12 matches.

Chelsea Squanders Victory

Chelsea disappointed by allowing Leeds to come back for a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge. Despite leading by two goals from Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer, the home side collapsed in the second half. Lukas Nmecha scored a penalty and then assisted Noah Okafor to equalize. Chelsea missed the chance for a fifth consecutive win and continued to show inconsistency.

Tottenham Falls Deeper into Crisis

Tottenham suffered a 1-2 home defeat to Newcastle, marking their 15th loss this season. Spurs have won only 2 of their last 16 matches and hold 29 points after 26 games. The London club is now dragged toward the relegation zone, facing the threat of a survival battle—a scenario few predicted at the season’s start.

Other Matches

In other Round 26 fixtures:

• Everton lost 1-2 to Bournemouth.
• Burnley edged Crystal Palace 3-2.
• Aston Villa defeated Brighton 1-0.
• Nottingham Forest drew 0-0 with Wolves.