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Arsenal is in a great position to qualify for the Champions League after defeating Chelsea.
Arsenal's 1-0 win over Chelsea in the Premier League gave Mikel Arteta's side a nice confidence boost after back-to-back draws in all competitions.
After the striker shortage derailed Arsenal's Premier League title hopes, we wrote at least about how if things go south, the Gunners might end up in a fight they want no part of—a top four battle.
The Gunners didn't have that much room to breathe a few weeks ago as a series of poor results not only knocked them out of title contention, but it also brought their top four standing into question if the skid had continued.
Thankfully, it hasn't.
Arsenal take big Champions League step vs. Chelsea
Three wins in its last six games have Arsenal moving forward in a manner that, as things stand, while not squash buckling, is good enough with the Gunners now nine points clear of Chelsea, who sit in fourth.
There was a real concern that had the Gunners not been able to arrest the slide they were on, that Chelsea, and even Manchester City might have been able to overtake them, but right now, things seem in good order.
"We have to win our football matches, that's what we have to do, win against Fulham and we'll be closer," Arteta said via arsenal.com.
So that will settle the nerves a little and while some fans might not have seen not finishing top four as a feasible outcome, had the slide continued, it would have made for interesting viewing to close out the season.
So, Arsenal took a big step in the top four battle, and it also extended an extraordinary run its been on against the "big six" in the Premier League.
With the win over Chelsea, the Gunners are now 20 games unbeaten against Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham (12 wins, eight draws) with the last loss coming in April of 2023, a 4-1 defeat to City.
That is some record for Arsenal, having gone years with battering after battering, particularly on the road, but that tide seems to have turned under Arteta, with the Gunners no longer easy beats against the big dogs of the competition.
The win wasn't pretty, but right now, wins are like gold and against Chelsea, Merino answered the call to give the Gunners a priceless win, and a big Champions League boost in the process.