Max Dowman, 16, propelled Arsenal towards the title by becoming the Premier League’s youngest ever goalscorer in a dramatic 2-0 win against Everton on Saturday, while Chelsea slumped to a 1-0 defeat by Newcastle.
Mikel Arteta’s side struggled to break down obdurate Everton until the teenage substitute turned the game in the final moments.
Viktor Gyokeres finally found a way through in the 89th minute, with a helping hand from Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford who flapped at Dowman’s cross.
The ensuing scenes of delirium on the pitch and in the stands underlined the significance of a fourth successive league win that moves Arsenal ever closer to a first title in 22 years.
There was still time for Dowman to run the length of the pitch and slot into an empty net with Pickford nowhere to be seen after coming up for an Everton corner in stoppage time.
Aged just 16 and 73 days, Dowman is now the youngest scorer in the history of the Premier League and in Arsenal’s history.
“He changed the game every time he got the ball. He made things happen and we looked like more of a threat,” added Arteta.
“To do it at that age, in this context, with the pressure and expectations to win the game, it’s just not normal.”
The Gunners are now 10 points ahead of second-placed Manchester City, who face West Ham at the London Stadium in the day’s late kick-off.
Arsenal, trophyless since 2020, remain in the hunt for a quadruple.
But the leaders rode their luck to beat a depleted Everton, adding to the mounting feeling that they will be one of the least stylistically impressive champions in recent memory if they do take the crown.
Arteta and company won’t care about that ahead of a huge week.
The Gunners have a Champions League last-16 second leg against Bayer Leverkusen next week, with the tie level at 1-1, before heading to Wembley to face City in the League Cup final.
Fifth-placed Chelsea were beaten by Anthony Gordon’s goal at Stamford Bridge to round off a painful week.
Thrashed 5-2 at Paris Saint-Germain in the last-16 first leg, Liam Rosenior’s side were breached in the 18th minute when Tino Livramento’s pass allowed Joe Willock to burst clear and tee up Gordon for a composed finish.
Chelsea trail Aston Villa and Manchester United by three points having played a game more than their top-four rivals.
And they will drop to sixth as long as Liverpool avoid defeat against struggling Tottenham on Sunday.
A rare win at Stamford Bridge propels Newcastle up to ninth and within six points of the top five.
Brighton beat Sunderland 1-0 to climb into the top half thanks to Yankuba Minteh’s strike.
A 0-0 draw between Burnley and Bournemouth did little for either side in their battle to beat the drop and qualify for Europe respectively.
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