Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal opened up a seven-point lead on the high of the Premier League. Photograph: AFP
LONDON:
Arsenal settled fears of a collapse of their pursuit of a primary Premier League title in 22 years by thrashing Leeds 4-0 on Saturday as Chelsea got here from two targets right down to beat West Ham 3-2.
Liverpool have been additionally compelled to come back from behind to safe their first league win of the yr as Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz shone in a 4-1 win over Newcastle.
The Gunners’ benefit over Manchester Metropolis and Aston Villa on the high of the desk stretches to seven factors as Mikel Arteta’s males took one other step in direction of the title at Elland Street.
A primary dwelling defeat of the season final weekend to Manchester United capped a run of simply two factors from a potential 9 in Arsenal’s earlier three league video games.
After ending runners-up for the previous three seasons, questions have been raised over the mentality of Arteta’s males and their capability to recover from the road in a title race.
The guests have been dealt one other blow earlier than kick-off as Bukayo Saka was injured within the warm-up.
However his alternative Noni Madueke performed a significant half in inflicting only a second defeat in 12 video games on Leeds.
“A really spectacular efficiency, a really spectacular outcome, particularly within the context that we have achieved it,” stated Arteta.
Madueke’s cross was headed in by Martin Zubimendi to open the scoring.
Leeds goalkeeper Karl Darlow may then solely parry one other harmful supply from the England winger into his personal purpose earlier than half-time.
Regardless of a nice run of kind, Leeds stay solely six factors above the relegation zone.
Their first defeat at dwelling since November was confirmed when the much-criticised Viktor Gyokeres latched onto Gabriel Martinelli’s cross to blast in his eleventh purpose since becoming a member of Arsenal from Sporting Lisbon.
Gabriel Jesus got here off the bench to spherical off the scoring with a blistering strike 4 minutes from time.
Arsenal will probably be hoping native rivals Tottenham can do them a favour when Metropolis go to north London, whereas Villa host Brentford on Sunday.
Rosenior evokes Chelsea comeback
Chelsea’s nice begin beneath Liam Rosenior continued however they climbed into the highest 4 the exhausting approach after being outplayed by relegation-threatened West Ham for 45 minutes at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues have been booed off at half-time by their very own followers after targets from Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville gave the guests a deserved lead.
A 3rd consecutive league win would have taken Nuno Espirito Santo’s facet to inside two factors of security.
However they wilted beneath the burden of Chelsea strain after Rosenior’s triple half-time substitution impressed a reworked second-half efficiency.
“The response within the second half tells me that we have got one thing actually, actually particular right here if I can utilise the squad within the appropriate approach,” stated Rosenior.
Two of these launched on the break, Joao Pedro and Marc Cucurella, introduced Chelsea stage earlier than Enzo Fernandez fired within the winner in stoppage time.
Liverpool climbed into fifth thanks to 2 of their huge cash summer time signings starting to return on that funding.
Newcastle deservedly led at Anfield when Anthony Gordon fired the Magpies in entrance.
However two targets in two minutes from Ekitike, the primary of which was brilliantly arrange by Wirtz, reworked the temper round Anfield and eased the rising strain on Arne Slot.
The Reds rolled over a jaded Newcastle after the break as Mohamed Salah teed up Wirtz for his sixth purpose in 10 video games.
Ibrahima Konate then broke into tears after scoring Liverpool’s fourth in his first match for the reason that demise of his father.
Everton snatched a 1-1 draw at Brighton due to Beto’s 97th-minute equaliser in a outcome that does little for both facet’s aspirations of European soccer subsequent season.
Bournemouth ended any remaining worries of being dragged right into a relegation struggle as targets from Eli Kroupi and Alex Scott earned a 2-0 win at bottom-of-the-table Wolves.
