Arsenal moved closer to the Premier League title after a hard fought 1-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion on Wednesday. Bukayo Saka scored the only goal of the match as Arsenal strengthened their place at the top of the table.
The night became even better for Arsenal after Manchester City dropped points at home. City could only manage a 2-2 draw against Nottingham Forest.
Arsenal started the match strongly on the south coast. Saka scored in the ninth minute with a shot that took a slight deflection before going in. That early goal proved enough.
The visitors then focused on defending their lead. They stayed strong at the back and recorded their 14th clean sheet of the season. Saka later described the win as “ugly”.
City had a very different night at the Etihad Stadium. Pep Guardiola’s side twice took the lead but could not hold on.
Antoine Semenyo opened the scoring for City. Nottingham Forest responded when Morgan Gibbs White scored with a clever backheel. City then went ahead again through Rodri.
Forest refused to give up. Elliot Anderson scored in the 76th minute with a low shot to level the match again.
City pushed hard in the final minutes and almost found a winner with the last kick of the game. However, Savinho’s effort was cleared off the line by Murillo.
After the results, Arsenal now have 67 points from 30 matches. City have 60 points from 29 matches. Arsenal still have to travel to City on April 19 in what could be a key match in the title race.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta praised his team after the win.
“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,” 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.”
City manager Pep Guardiola said the title race is still open.
“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.”
Elsewhere, Manchester United suffered their first loss under interim manager Michael Carrick. They went down 2-1 to Newcastle United.
Newcastle won the match despite playing with ten men. Jacob Ramsey was sent off late in the first half after receiving a second yellow card.
Anthony Gordon gave Newcastle the lead from the penalty spot. Manchester United equalised soon after when Casemiro scored with a header.
The match looked set for a draw before William Osula scored a brilliant late solo goal to seal the win for Newcastle.
“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 remain third in the table with 51 points. Aston Villa also have 51 points but sit fourth after a heavy 4-1 defeat at home to Chelsea. Joao Pedro scored a hat trick for Chelsea.
Chelsea now move up to fifth place with 48 points, just ahead of Liverpool.
“There is still three points difference between them and us but now we are in a bad moment,” Villa manager Unai Emery said.
Nottingham Forest’s draw at City helped them stay out of the relegation zone on goal difference. West Ham United also have 28 points after beating Fulham 1-0 thanks to a goal from Crysencio Summerville.
Both teams sit just behind Tottenham Hotspur, who have 29 points before their important home match against Crystal Palace on Thursday.
