Arsenal boost Champions League push with 4-2 win at Chelsea

Arsenal went ahead twice in a pulsating first half at Stamford Bridge thanks to Nketiah – who pounced on a weak back pass by Andreas Christensen – and Emile Smith-Rowe, only to be pegged back by equalisers from Timo Werner and Cesar Azpilicueta.

Nketiah restored the visitors’ lead in the 57th minute when he seized on another mix-up in Chelsea’s defence to make it 3-2, stabbing the ball home after Thiago Silva’s interception bounced into his path off Malang Sarr.

Bukayo Saka rounded off the win when he converted a penalty in the 92nd minute after he was adjudged to have been fouled by Azpilicueta.

The win left Arsenal just outside the Champions League qualifying positions in fifth place but level with Spurs on 57 points and only behind them on goal difference.

Chelsea stayed in third place on 62 points having played a game less than both Spurs and Arsenal and still looking on course for their own Champions League spot next season.

Everton striker Richarlison scored in second-half stoppage time to snatch a vital point in a 1-1 draw with Leicester City following a spirited Premier League encounter at Goodison Park on Wednesday.

The result leaves Everton, who meet Liverpool in the Merseyside derby on Sunday, four points above the relegation zone on 29 points, while Leicester are in ninth on 41 points.

Harvey Barnes put the visitors in front in the fifth minute, poking home a pass from James Maddison from close range as Everton struggled to find their feet, and the home side did not register a shot on target in the first half.

Richarlison finally forced a save from Kasper Schmeichel in the 67th minute but he was guilty of several bad misses before redeeming himself with a scuffed shot in the second minute of stoppage time at the end of the game to grab a point.

Miguel Almiron’s superb first-half goal sealed Newcastle United’s ninth win in their last 13 Premier League games as their renaissance under Eddie Howe continued on Wednesday.

Paraguayan Almiron played in Bruno Guimaraes’s pass in the 32nd minute and curled a left-footer into the top corner of the net for his first goal of the season.

Newcastle were in charge throughout against a Palace side who appeared to be suffering a hangover from Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final defeat and rarely threatened the home goal.

The hosts were unable to add to Almiron’s cracker but the mood at St James’ Park was buoyant throughout as the home side moved to within goal difference of the top half of the table.

When Howe took charge in November, Newcastle were 19th in the table after 11 games, five points from the safety zone.

REUTERS