Arsenal reclaimed fourth spot after edging West Ham United 2-1 at the London stadium in Sunday’s Premier League fixture.
Mikel Arteta’s men knew only a win would lift them back into the Champions League places after city rivals Tottenham Hotspur beat Leicester 3-1 earlier in the afternoon.
But the Gunners responded by grinding out a vital three points to boost their chances of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
It was Arsenal’s centre-backs who came up with the goods, with Gabriel Magalhaes and Rob Holdiing getting on the score sheet while Jarrod Bowen scored for the Hammers.
Arsenal are now on 63 points just three points behind Chelsea who are in third and fifth place Spurs are two adrift.
Earlier on Sunday, Chelsea lost 1-0 to relegation threatened Everton inside Goodison Park.
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Brazilian forward Richarlison got the only goal in the first minute of the second half.
Thomas Tuchel’s side are now winless in their last two games.
West Ham’s only realistic chance of qualifying for the Champions League now is to win the Europa League – and Moyes’ team would be forgiven for having one eye on overturning their 2-1 deficit in the semi-final second leg against Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany on Thursday.
Arsenal struggled to get a foothold, though, before Eddie Nketiah’s clever run and low shot forced a corner.
The resultant corner was converted by Holding on 38 minutes after he climbed highest to head in Saka’s delivery for his first Premier League goal.
West Ham equalized on the stroke of half time off Bowen’s smart finish but on 54 minutes the Gunners went ahead again this time through Gabriel.
The Brazilian was left unmarked at the back post and headed in past former Arsenal stopper Lukasz Fabianski at his near post.
Nketiah could have sealed the success on the break, only to curl wide, but Arsenal held on for the crucial three points.
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