Manchester City beat Arsenal 4-1 to take control in EPL

Manchester City have struck a huge blow in the Premier League title race with a 4-1 victory over leaders Arsenal.

City, who have two games in hand, reduced the gap to Arsenal to two points as Mikel Arteta’s side were blown away at the Etihad Stadium.

Kevin De Bruyne scampered away from Erling Haaland’s pass to set City on their way after seven minutes.

John Stones doubled the lead with a header in first-half added time, the goal given by VAR after originally being ruled offside, before De Bruyne’s second after 54 minutes killed off the Gunners.

Rob Holding did pull one back late on, but Haaland had the final word deep in added time with his 49th City goal of an extraordinary season.

Pep Guardiola’s side, who can go top with victory at Fulham on Sunday, are now strong favourites to win a third successive title.

Nottingham Forest climbed out of the relegation zone with a 3-1 victory over Brighton at the City Ground.

Brighton recalled Jason Steele after Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final shoot-out defeat to Manchester United and the goalkeeper saved Brennan Johnson’s early penalty.

Facundo Buonanotte put Brighton ahead after 38 minutes but an own goal by Pascal Gross on the stroke of halftime spurred Forest on.

Danilo levelled on 69 minutes before Morgan Gibbs-White converted a late spot- kick after VAR spotted a handball by Brighton skipper Lewis Dunk.

Forest move above Everton and Leicester into 17th as Brighton’s hopes of European football next season suffered a hit.

Liverpool clinched a third straight success with a 2-1 win at West Ham.

The Hammers led through a wonderful 12th-minute strike from Lucas Paqueta but were quickly pegged back by Cody Gakpo’s drive.

West Ham thought they had regained the lead only for Jarrod Bowen’s effort to be disallowed for offside.

Liverpool’s winner came midway through the second half when an unmarked Joel Matip headed home Andy Robertson’s corner.

The win takes Liverpool to within six points of fourth-placed Manchester United, having played two games more, while West Ham are 14th and five points above the relegation zone.

Frank Lampard’s miserable return to the Chelsea dugout continued as Brentford enjoyed a 2-0 West London derby victory at Stamford Bridge.

This was a fifth consecutive loss for Lampard since he took over from Graham Potter earlier this month.

Brentford led through Cesar Azpilicueta’s first-half own goal after Chelsea had again struggled to create chances and some fans booed off Lampard’s men at the break.

Chelsea’s sixth winless game in a row at home was confirmed when Bees substitute Bryan Mbeumo ran half the length of the pitch unchallenged to add a second 12 minutes from time.

 

 

AAP (C) 2023

Kevin De Bruyne (left) scores the opening goal in Manchester City’s 4-1 EPL destruction of Arsenal. (AP PHOTO)