EPL Review: Arsenal takes huge title step with win over Brighton after City slip

Premier League weekend recap: Wolves stun Villa, City 2-2 Forest, Arsenal (7-pt lead), Chelsea 4-1 Villa, Newcastle 2-1 Man Utd – title to the wire.

Bukayo Saka's 300th game at Arsenal was marked with a huge goal, which has sent Arsenal 7 points clear at the top of the log after Manchester City drew 2-2 at home. (Photo credit: Arsenal.com)

Arsenal fans must be feeling euphoric after Wednesday night's match, which provided a dream scenario in their pursuit of a first Premier League title in 21 years.

The Gunners travelled to Brighton, knowing only a win will look good on them, and things started on a sticky note as David Raya’s miscued pass found Carlos Baleba around the Arsenal area, but the Cameroonian’s effort was cleared off the line by Gabriel Magalhães.

It wasn’t long before the only goal of the game arrived. Bukayo Saka danced in from the right and curled one in; his effort went in off Baleba as the Arsenal skipper marked his 300th game at the club with a goal that would have huge bearing on their title hopes.

The rest of the game was a little underwhelming as the Gunners seemed contented with the one goal, much to the frustrations of Fabian Hürzeler. The win even tasted a lot better as the Amex Stadium erupted from the away end around the 75th minute.

The noise was as loud as they made when Bukayo Saka found the back of the net. It was the news of Nottingham Forest’s equaliser away at the Etihad. Who would have thought that Pep Guardiola’s side would drop points at home to a relegation-threatened Forest?

The ask from Arsenal and City is simple: win all your remaining games and you will become champions. That is not the case again with Manchester City, as they now need the Gunners to drop points after what happened on Wednesday night.

Antoine Semenyo, who seems to be on a scoring run, found the back of the net early in the game, but Forest levelled early in the second half. Rodri rose the highest from a corner kick to send City 2-1 up, but disaster struck with just a quarter of an hour to play. Elliot Anderson bent one past Gigi Donnarumma, and City didn’t have answers anymore.

Murillo cleared off the line with the last kick of the game, and the result meant Arsenal extended their lead at the top to seven points. Arsenal will host Everton next, right after the FA Cup break, and the Cityzens will be away at West Ham.

Chelsea returned to winning ways as they beat Aston Villa 4–1. Joao Pedro hit a hattrick in the process, and Cole Palmer scored the other as Aston Villa slumped to yet another defeat. Villa’s title hopes can now be forgotten, but the madness of Wednesday night didn’t end there.

Manchester United, under Michael Carrick, suffered loss for the first time at Newcastle with William Orsula firing in a beauty at the death. Jacob Ramsey was sent off for simulation late in the first half, but it was Anthony Gordon who scored the opener from the spot.

Casemiro levelled not long after, and Aaron Ramsdale kept out the Red Devils with strong saves before the winner arrived. The top-five race is heating up, with Liverpool now outside the equation after losing at Wolves on Tuesday.