EPL: Arsenal seize control as Man City slip, Chelsea thrash Villa, Man U lose

Arsenal seized control of the Premier League title race as Bukayo Saka’s goal secured a priceless 1-0 win at Brighton and Hove Albion and Manchester ​City could only draw 2-2 at home to relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.

Mikel Arteta’s side went into their south coast assignment leading ‌the table but looking over their shoulders at City.

But they ended the night with a first title since 2004 glinting on the horizon after a big swing in their favour.

Saka’s deflected effort in the ninth minute proved sufficient as Arsenal kept a 14th Premier League clean sheet of the season with a gritty display that Saka described as “ugly”.

Wasteful City twice ​led with goals by Antoine Semenyo and Rodri but both times Forest hit back, first through Morgan Gibbs-White’s crafty backheel and then in ​the 76th minute through Elliot Anderson’s low drive.

City bombarded Forest’s area in the closing stages and almost scored with the ⁠last kick of the game but Savinho’s effort was cleared off the line by Murillo.

Arsenal have 67 points from 30 games to City’s 60 from 29 ​and are now firmly in the driving seat again, although they do still have to go to City on April 19.

Arteta said: “It’s a really difficult place to ​come and win.

“Every team that comes here suffers but we did what we had to do to win.

“We’re coming back from very difficult games with a lot of intensity, with players really going through the line in every game with difficulties, not able to train and to come here and get the result that we ​got, it’s remarkable.”

City dominated Forest and should have been celebrating a fifth successive league win but they looked deflated at the final whistle as ​two points slipped away, although manager Pep Guardiola said there was still a long way to go.

“Still many games to play, them one less,” Guardiola said of the gap ‌to Arsenal, adding: “Now ⁠it’s Newcastle (in the FA Cup) and I always think about what’s next.

“If we analyse, then in general it was a good performance and there were many good things.

“Of course we have things we can improve but in general pretty good.”

The battle for a top-five finish and qualification for the Champions League took another twist as Manchester United suffered their first defeat under interim manager Michael Carrick, losing 2-1 to 10-man Newcastle United.

William Osula came off the bench to score ​a superb late solo winner for ​Eddie Howe’s side.

Newcastle had Jacob Ramsey ⁠sent off for a second yellow card in first-half stoppage time but they then took the lead with an Anthony Gordon penalty only for Casemiro to head an equaliser in a chaotic spell before the halftime whistle.

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“Newcastle deserved to ​win tonight, it hurts me to say that,” Carrick said, adding: “That is how it was.

“We need to get back ​to work and be ⁠better for the next game.”

United remained in third place with 51 points while Aston Villa also have 51 in fourth place after being thrashed 4-1 at home by Chelsea, for whom Joao Pedro scored a hat-trick.

Chelsea moved above Liverpool into fifth place with 48 points.

“There is still three points difference between them and us ⁠but now ​we are in a bad moment,” Villa boss Unai Emery said.

Forest’s surprise draw at City kept ​them out of the relegation zone on goal difference from West Ham United who won 1-0 at Fulham thanks to a goal by Crysencio Summerville.

Both sides have 28 points and are breathing ​down the necks of Tottenham Hotspur who have 29 ahead of their now crucial home clash with Crystal Palace on Thursday.

Reuters.

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