Arsenal once again put the pressure on Premier League leaders Liverpool by reducing the deficit to just four points after a crucial 2-1 victory over rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday evening.
Under the astute leadership of Mikel Arteta, the Gunners seized the opportunity presented by Liverpool’s surprising draw against Nottingham Forest on Tuesday evening. The encounter at the Emirates Stadium saw Leandro Trossard emerge as the hero, scoring the decisive goal in a hard-fought north London derby.
The match started ominously for Arsenal when Son Heung-min unleashed a spectacular shot to give Tottenham the lead in the 25th minute. However, the hosts responded with a dramatic equalizer just before half-time, courtesy of a Dominic Solanke own goal from a corner that brought Arsenal back into the game.
Four minutes later, Trossard struck low from inside the box, blasting the Emirates to put Arsenal in front.
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Although Liverpool are still a game behind the Gunners, their recent form has raised eyebrows, with the Reds having drawn two of their last two league matches and winning just one game in their four last outings in all competitions – a solitary victory against lower-tier side Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup.
Arsenal’s victory was a timely response to their recent FA Cup elimination at the hands of Manchester United, allowing them to open up a crucial two-point gap over third-placed Nottingham Forest.
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Isak’s brilliant form continues
In other Premier League fixtures, Alexander Isak continued his winning ways, scoring in his eighth consecutive league game and helping Newcastle United climb into the top four with a resounding 3-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The Swedish striker found the net twice, taking his season tally to an impressive 17 goals in all competitions. Isak becomes the fourth player in Premier League history to score in eight consecutive matches, joining the likes of Ruud van Nistelrooy, Jamie Vardy and Daniel Sturridge.
His first goal came in the 34th minute, and he doubled the lead shortly after halftime in the 57th minute. Anthony also continued his fine scoring streak, scoring his fourth goal in as many matches.
Under manager Eddie Howe, Newcastle are on cloud nine with a nine-game winning streak, now sitting a point ahead of fifth-placed Chelsea.
Moyes faces tough return
David Moyes’ long-awaited return to Everton was overshadowed by disappointment as his side lost a slim 1-0 to Aston Villa. It marked his 519th match in charge of the Toffees, and although the Goodison Park crowd gave him a warm welcome, it was not enough to inspire his struggling side.
The crucial moment came six minutes into the second half when Ollie Watkins scored, giving Villa all the points.
With Everton currently 16th in the table, just one point outside the relegation zone, Moyes urgently needs to find a way to boost his side’s attacking potential, having found they have failed to score in nine of their eleven last matches in the league.
Leicester’s struggles continue
Leicester City, under new management of Ruud van Nistelrooy, remains struggling after a home defeat to Crystal Palace left them at the bottom of the table. The 2016 champions have yet to win a league game since Van Nistelrooy’s appointment in early December, with six consecutive defeats now haunting the team.
To add to their woes, goals from Jean-Philippe Mateta and Marc Guehi in the second half condemned them to another defeat at the King Power Stadium.
Manchester United sit uncomfortably in 15th place in the table ahead of their clash with Southampton on Thursday. The Red Devils watched from the sidelines as Palace’s victory tightened the battle for survival.
As the race for the title and survival heats up, every point counts, and clubs will be carefully scrutinizing their upcoming fixtures in this unpredictable season.
For more updates, follow James Robson on Twitter: @jamesalanrobson
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