Leaders Arsenal extended their advantage at the top of the Premier League to seven points today, winning away at Brighton (1-0) and benefiting from Manchester City’s home draw against Nottingham Forest (2-2), managed by the Portuguese Vítor Pereira.
In the 29th round, Arsenal claimed their 20th win of the season — and third in a row — through an early Bukayo Saka goal (9 minutes), in the captain’s 300th appearance for the Gunners, who are seeking to reclaim the title 22 years on. Arsenal consolidated first place with 67 points (having played one more game), against Manchester City’s 60, with the second-placed side failing to claim a fifth consecutive win against Forest.
Starting Portuguese trio Matheus Nunes, Rúben Dias and Bernardo Silva, City scored through Ghanaian Antoine Semenyo (31 minutes) and Spaniard Rodri (62), but squandered both leads to goals from captain Morgan Gibbs-White (56) and Elliott Anderson (76).
Vítor Pereira picked up his first points in his third Premier League match with Forest, who sit 17th — the first position above the relegation zone — level on 28 points with West Ham in 18th, after the side managed by Portuguese Nuno Espírito Santo won away at Fulham (1-0), managed by fellow compatriot Marco Silva. Dutchman Crysencio Summerville decided the London derby in favour of the Hammers, who had gone three rounds without a win and started Portuguese midfielder Mateus Fernandes — Pablo was absent through injury. Fulham are 10th with 40 points, level with Bournemouth in ninth and Sunderland in 11th, a trio being chased by Brighton in 12th with 37.
The top three is completed by Manchester United, who visit Newcastle today having started the round on 51 points, matching Aston Villa in fourth — the last Champions League qualification spot. Villa suffered a second consecutive defeat, beaten at home by Chelsea (4-1) in a match they had been leading thanks to a goal from Brazilian Douglas Luiz (2 minutes). Fellow Brazilian João Pedro (35, 45+6 and 64 minutes) scored his first Chelsea hat-trick and assisted Cole Palmer (55) in the world champions’ comeback, who were without Portuguese pair Pedro Neto — suspended — and Dário Essugo through injury, but ended a three-match winless run. Chelsea are fifth with 48 points, level with defending champions Liverpool in sixth, who on Tuesday lost away at bottom side Wolverhampton (2-1) with a stoppage-time goal, dropping out of the European qualification places.
The 29th Premier League round concludes on Thursday when Tottenham, 16th with 29 points, host London rivals Crystal Palace, 14th with 35.
