Arsenal seize control as Saka strike at Brighton sends them seven points clear
Arsenal ground out another three points in their Premier League title quest with Bukayo Saka marking his 300th appearance for the club with the only goal in a 1-0 victory at Brighton and Hove Albion that sent his side seven points clear on Wednesday.
When the referee blew his whistle at the end of seven minutes of stoppage time, Arsenal’s travelling fans roared with delight and they soon had double reason to celebrate as news of Manchester City’s draw with Nottingham Forest came through.
It was not a memorable display by Arsenal who managed only two shots on target but they defended magnificently to blunt Brighton’s attack on what could prove to be a pivotal night if the London club win their first title since 2004.
“This feels like a massive win definitely for us,” Saka told TNT Sport. “We heard the fans celebrating (the Man City result) so I knew it went well for us in the other games.
“But we focus on ourselves. It’s a nice feeling and we focus on ourselves. We both needed to win and we did and they didn’t so we are happy today.”
Saka was again wearing the captain’s armband in the absence of the injured Martin Odegaard and he led by example to provide the decisive moment, albeit with a slice of luck.
He was allowed to cut in from the right and his left-footed shot brushed off a Brighton defender to divert the ball just enough to deceive home keeper Bart Verbruggen with the ball going into the net off his leg.
Manchester City could only draw 2-2 at home to relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest.
Mikel Arteta’s side went into their south coast assignment leading the table but looking over their shoulders at City, but ended the night with a first title since 2004 glinting on the horizon after a big swing in their favour.
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.
“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,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said.
“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.”
MAN CITY DEFLATED
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. “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.
“Newcastle deserved to win tonight, it hurts me to say that,” Carrick said. “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.
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