Manchester City falter as Premier League leaders Arsenal go seven points clear
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Arsenal's Bukayo Saka celebrates after their March 4 match against Brighton.
PHOTO: REUTERS
BRIGHTON, England - Manchester City stumbled in the Premier League title race on Wednesday, held to a costly 2-2 draw by Nottingham Forest as Bukayo Saka’s goal against Brighton sent Arsenal seven points clear.
The Gunners are favourites to win their first English league crown since 2004 but have found it impossible to shake off the attentions of Pep Guardiola’s charging City.
The two teams will go head to head at the Etihad on April 19 but the March 4 results could have a huge impact on the title race when the dust settles.
On a busy night of action, Arsenal drew first blood in the battle for the Premier League crown, with Saka celebrating his 300th Arsenal appearance with a goal in the ninth minute at Brighton’s Amex Stadium.
The England man received the ball on the right before cutting in and hitting a shot from the edge of the penalty area which took a deflection off Carlos Baleba before squirming through the legs of goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen.
Arsenal's Bukayo Saka scores the winning goal past Brighton and Hove Albion’s Bart Verbruggen.
PHOTO: REUTERS
The home side dominated possession and had more shots but Arsenal kept them at bay, digging deep to see out a nerve-jangling 1-0 win.
Second-placed City, who have a game in hand, appeared to be on course to match their rivals and stay within five points of the top.
But they twice surrendered their lead to relegation-threatened Forest, whose battling performance in a 2-2 draw kept them out of the drop zone, above West Ham on goal difference.
Erling Haaland was back for City after missing the win against Leeds at the weekend but it was January signing Antoine Semenyo who caught the eye again.
Antoine Semenyo of Manchester City (right) scores their first goal of the match against Nottingham Forest.
PHOTO: EPA
The former Bournemouth man volleyed home in the 31st minute from an awkward height following a cross by Rayan Cherki.
Since his City debut in January, only Viktor Gyokeres (10) has been involved in more goals in all competitions among Premier League players than Semenyo, who has seven goals and two assists.
But Morgan Gibbs-White produced a moment of magic to pull Forest level, backheeling home in the 56th minute after Ola Aina’s deep cross was nodded back across goal by Igor Jesus.
Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White backheels the ball to draw level.
PHOTO: REUTERS
That sparked a renewed sense of urgency from City and they were back in front just six minutes later after the unmarked Rodri headed home Rayan Ait-Nouri’s corner.
However, Forest were far from beaten and midfielder Elliot Anderson picked out the bottom corner of the goal with a beautifully crafted finish in the 76th minute to peg City back again.
Joao Pedro hat-trick
In the tight race for Champions League qualification, Joao Pedro scored a hat-trick for Chelsea, who came from behind to beat Aston Villa 4-1, pushing Liverpool down to sixth spot.
Douglas Luiz flicked home in the second minute to put Unai Emery’s men ahead but Joao Pedro tapped home in the 35th minute for his 12th Premier League goal of the season.
A clever clip over the goalkeeper on the cusp of half-time gave the Brazilian his second of the game.
Cole Palmer made it 3-1 in the second half and Joao Pedro tapped home Alejandro Garnacho’s cross to complete his hat-trick.
Chelsea's Joao Pedro scores their fourth goal to complete his hat-trick.
PHOTO: REUTERS
The win lifted Chelsea to fifth spot in the Premier League, three points behind fourth-placed Villa.
The top five teams in the Premier League are almost certain to qualify for the Champions League thanks to the strong showing of English sides in Europe this season.
West Ham beat Fulham 1-0 courtesy of a goal from Crysencio Summerville to move level with Forest on 28 points.
Forest and West Ham are now just one point behind Tottenham, who are in action against Crystal Palace on March 5.
Newcastle end Carrick’s unbeaten run
At St James’ Park, William Osula came off the bench to score a late winner as a 10-man Newcastle United beat high-flying Manchester United 2-1, to end Michael Carrick’s unbeaten run as interim manager.
Playing the entire second half with a player down, Newcastle stunned third-placed United with a spectacular solo goal on the stroke of fulltime.
The defeat left the visitors nine points adrift of second-placed Manchester City and still level with Aston Villa on 51 points.
The game turned on a chaotic 10 minutes of first-half stoppage time, when Jacob Ramsey was sent off for a second yellow card after the referee decided he had taken a dive, with the clock at 45+1.
Anthony Gordon won a penalty after a clash with United captain Bruno Fernandes five minutes later and put Newcastle 1-0 up with his ninth successful spot kick out of nine so far this season.
The halftime whistle had still to be blown when Fernandes, from a set piece, found Casemiro who headed in the equaliser at 45+9.
Despite the numerical advantage, Carrick’s side struggled to assert themselves in the second half and at times looked more like the team with 10 as Newcastle pushed forward in search of the winner. AFP, REUTERS
