Arsenal overcame the disappointment of their Champions League elimination and moved back to the top of the Premier League with a 2-0 victory over Wolves on Saturday.
Leandro Trossard and Martin Odegaard scored towards the end of each half to put the Gunners one point ahead of Manchester City, who have a game in hand.
Arsenal's season was at risk of completely derailing after a three-game winless streak.
Mikel Arteta's team suffered their first Premier League defeat in 2024 last weekend, losing 2-0 at home to Aston Villa, and were also eliminated from the Champions League quarter-finals by Bayern Munich.
However, they bounced back to maintain pressure on champions City, who defeated Chelsea 1-0 to reach the FA Cup final earlier on Saturday.
Arteta made only three changes from the team that lost 1-0 in Munich on Wednesday, and it took some time for the slow visitors to find their rhythm.
Wolves manager Gary O'Neil stated that his team is facing the worst injury crisis he has experienced in his professional career.
However, the understaffed hosts almost took the lead when David Raya was forced to deflect Joao Gomes' powerful shot onto the crossbar.
Despite dominating possession, Arsenal had only sporadically posed a threat before the break.
However, they got the bit of luck they needed to kickstart their pursuit of a first title in 20 years when Trossard's mishit shot rebounded in off the far post just before half-time.
There was little goalmouth action in the second half as fatigue affected Arsenal in their fourth game in 11 days.
Nevertheless, without the threat of the injured Matheus Cunha and Pedro Neto, Wolves lacked the attacking spark to further dent Arsenal's title ambitions.
Odegaard sealed the win five minutes into stoppage time by catching Jose Sa off guard at his near post.
Liverpool, in third place, can draw level on points with Arsenal when they play against Fulham on Sunday.
– Luton suffer heavy defeat –
At the foot of the table, Luton's hopes of avoiding relegation were crushed by Brentford's 5-1 victory at Kenilworth Road.
Luton's most significant home league loss of the season leaves them still one point behind Nottingham Forest, who face Everton on Sunday in a crucial bottom-of-the-table clash.
"Today was a tough day for us as a club, but the teams directly above us play each other, and we will still be in the fight this weekend. It's important for all of us to remember that," said Luton boss Rob Edwards.
Brentford practically secured their position in the top flight with a dominant performance despite the absence of England striker Ivan Toney due to injury.
Yoane Wissa scored twice before half-time, while Ethan Pinnock, Keane Lewis-Potter, and Kevin Schade also found the net for the Bees.
Burnley are now just two points behind Luton and three points away from avoiding relegation after a comfortable 4-1 win against bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United.
Two of the Clarets' five league victories this season have come against the Blades.
Burnley scored twice in two minutes just before half-time, courtesy of Jacob Bruun Larsen and Lorenz Assignon.
Gustavo Hamer pulled a goal back for the home team early in the second half.
However, United are certain to go straight back down to the Championship because of their very poor defending.
Lyle Foster and Johann Gudmundsson completed the scoring, leaving Chris Wilder’s team 10 points behind safety with only five games left.
“I won’t mention any names, but I believe there were a few players out there who wanted to leave quickly after the fourth goal,” stated Wilder. “You just can’t have that.”
AFP
