Arsenal Survive Chelsea Drama as Tottenham Slump Deepens 2026

Key Points

• Arsenal secured a tense 2-1 victory over Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium in north London on Sunday, holding on despite Chelsea’s late pressure and a red card to Pedro Neto, moving five points clear at the top of the Premier League.​
• Tottenham Hotspur’s winless league run extended to 10 games after a 2-1 defeat at Fulham, deepening concerns for the north London club under manager Thomas Frank, who have lost both matches since his appointment.​
• In Scotland, Celtic and Rangers played out a thrilling 2-2 draw in the Old Firm derby at Ibrox, with Rangers blowing a two-goal lead; Hearts remain six points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
• Neither Celtic nor Rangers are conceding defeat in the three-way (or four-way) title race, with Hearts holding the initiative after the rivals’ stalemate.​
• Manchester United, under interim head coach Michael Carrick, continue their impressive form with a 2-1 comeback win over Crystal Palace, marking six victories in seven games and equalling a Premier League record.​

(North London News) March 2, 2026 – Arsenal survived a late scare to defeat Chelsea 2-1 in a high-stakes Premier League clash at the Emirates Stadium, extending their lead at the summit to five points amid conflicting fortunes for north London rivals Tottenham, whose winless streak hit 10 games after losing at Fulham. In Scotland, a dramatic 2-2 draw between Celtic and Rangers at Ibrox kept Hearts firmly in control of the Scottish Premiership title race. Meanwhile, Manchester United’s resurgence under interim boss Michael Carrick gathered pace with another victory.

What Happened in Arsenal’s Tense Win Over Chelsea?

Arsenal’s victory was defined by set-piece prowess, as reported in the official Chelsea match report on chelseafc.com. William Saliba headed the Gunners ahead in the 21st minute from a corner, with the ball deflecting off Mamadou Sarr . Chelsea levelled just before half-time through an own goal by Pierro Hincapie from a Reece James corner, as detailed by Chelsea’s account .

Jurrien Timber restored Arsenal’s lead in the 66th minute, rising highest to head in another Declan Rice delivery, Chelsea’s site confirmed. Pedro Neto was sent off shortly after for two yellow cards, first in the 67th minute and then for halting Gabriel Martinelli, leaving Chelsea with 10 men for the final 20 minutes .​

As per ESPN’s live coverage, Arsenal’s 16th league goal from a corner that term sealed the three points, despite Chelsea’s second-half dominance including chances from Enzo Fernandez and Joao Pedro. Late drama ensued when Liam Delap appeared to equalise in stoppage time, but the goal was ruled offside after Joao Pedro’s acrobatic effort was saved by David Raya . Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta praised his side’s resilience post-match, though no direct quote was attributed in the fetched reports.​

How Did Tottenham’s Winless Run Reach 10 Games?

Tottenham’s woes intensified with a 2-1 loss at Fulham, extending their barren Premier League run to 10 matches, according to Yahoo Sports. The north London side, already reeling from a 4-1 derby defeat to Arsenal last week, conceded early and fought back late via a Richarlison header in the 73rd minute from Archie Gray’s cross.​

Fulham’s goals came via a disputed strike and another, with VAR official Craig Pawson upholding one after Tottenham protests, mirroring a disallowed goal in their prior loss. Manager Thomas Frank, appointed after sacking predecessor Ange Postecoglou, has now overseen two defeats, conceding six goals, the report noted. Spurs sit 15th, eight points above relegation, echoing their last 10-game winless streak in 1994-95.

Earlier reports from AllFootball highlighted Tottenham’s historical midweek struggles, winless in 11 such games since January 2024.

“Relegation-threatened Tottenham’s miserable 2026 continued,”

Yahoo Sports summarised.

What Unfolded in the Celtic-Rangers Old Firm Draw?

The Old Firm derby at Ibrox ended 2-2 in a match of two halves, as covered by Reuters’ ASG on March 1. Rangers striker Youssef Chermiti opened with a stunning overhead kick from Andreas Skov Olsen’s cross in the 8th minute, then added a second in the 26th by stealing from Julian Araujo and slotting past the keeper.​

Celtic fought back post-interval; Kieran Tierney headed the first in the 56th from Benjamin Nygren’s delivery. Reo Hatate sealed parity in the 91st minute with a penalty on the third attempt, leaving Rangers six points behind leaders Hearts. Rangers coach Danny Rohl told BBC:

“Right now, the sentiment is predominantly disappointment since we let two points slip away after leading 2-0. It’s often a bit fortunate for a team to receive a late penalty. I think it’s the same for us when we get one late in a match.”.​

BBC Sport noted Hearts, under Derek McInnes, are six points clear and eight ahead of Celtic post-draw. Sky Sports described it as an “epic” four-way race involving Motherwell, with Hearts top on 50 points after recent wins.

Are Hearts Poised to Win the Scottish Premiership?

Hearts hold the initiative in a three-way (or four-way) title race, six points clear of Rangers and eight ahead of Celtic after the Ibrox stalemate. The Independent’s report on March 2 quoted a Tynecastle banner: ‘Nine to go… Believe!’ after their latest win.

Derek McInnes’ side responded to an Edinburgh derby loss with three straight victories, including a strong record against the Old Firm (four wins from four this season). Martin O’Neill of Celtic noted post-match: ‘The [Rangers] crowd were perhaps turning on their own players’ during their second-half dominance. Sky Sports’ Lee Miller called Hearts “favourites” with the kindest run-in.

Rangers’ Danny Rohl insists they’re not out, per Sky Sports on February 28. Neither Old Firm club admits defeat, maintaining pressure on Hearts [query summary].​

Why Is Michael Carrick’s Man United Thriving?

Manchester United came from behind to beat Crystal Palace 2-1 under interim coach Michael Carrick, his sixth win in seven games, equalling a Premier League record, as per the Mirror on March 1. Carrick, a club icon, took over after Ruben Amorim’s January sacking, starting with wins over Manchester City and Arsenal.

Recent triumphs include Fulham, Tottenham, Everton, and Palace; only a West Ham draw mars the run. The Mirror noted United have trailed just three times under him, now third and eyeing Champions League spots. Carrick post-Palace: he had “anticipated a moment of adversity” for his players.​

Football365 cited Fabrizio Romano on internal feelings favouring Carrick permanently. ESPN highlighted his unfazed approach despite rivals like Oliver Glasner. His prior 2021 interim spell yielded two wins from three.

What Do These Results Mean for North London and Beyond?

Arsenal’s win solidifies title credentials, contrasting Tottenham’s slide into relegation worries. Chelsea’s Liam Rosenior faces a quick turnaround at Aston Villa . In Scotland, Hearts dream historic, ending 40-year Old Firm dominance.

Carrick’s formula revives United hopes. Conflicting north London emotions persist, with Arsenal hunting glory and Spurs in crisis, mirroring Scotland’s tension.