Chelsea hold Arsenal, Newcastle go fourth

Arsenal FC were held to a goalless draw by Chelsea FC, while Newcastle United FC staked their claim for a UEFA Champions League berth with a routine 3-0 win against Stoke City FC as Tottenham Hotspur FC lost at Queens Park Rangers FC.

Chelsea coach Roberto Di Matteo rested several key players ahead of his side's UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg against FC Barcelona on Tuesday, but third-placed Arsenal failed to take advantage. Laurent Koscielny and Robin van Persie came closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half when they struck the bar and post respectively.

Newcastle are now just three points back as their impressive season continued with a sixth consecutive success. Yohan Cabaye (14, 57) scored either side of Papiss Demba Cissé's ninth goal in that winning sequence to sink Stoke. Tottenham lie fifth following a third successive defeat inflicted by a winner from QPR's Adel Taraabt (24), who was subsequently dismissed.

Blackburn Rovers FC helped their relegation battle with a 2-0 win against Norwich City FC, while Wigan Athletic FC suffered only their second defeat in eight, 2-1 at Fulham FC. Bolton Wanderers FC remain a point adrift of safety after a 1-1 draw with Swansea City AFC and Aston Villa FC were held 0-0 at home by Sunderland AFC.