Arsenal moved to within two points of Premier League leaders Liverpool with a dominant 4-1 win over Newcastle at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday night, while Phil Foden inspired Manchester City to a hard-fought 1-0 win over Bournemouth.
Arsenal took the lead in the 18th minute when Gabriel Magalhaes headed goalwards and Newcastle keeper Loris Karius could only parry the ball onto Sven Botman, who deflected the ball into his net.
Kai Havertz doubled the lead with a clinical finish in the 24th minute after Jorginho and Gabriel Martinelli carved open the visitors’ defence.
Bukayo Saka netted Arsenal’s third in the 65th minute as he weaved past Tino Livramento and fired into the far corner from an acute angle.
Jakub Kiwior flicked in Declan Rice’s corner to make four in the 69th minute, giving rampant Arsenal 15 goals in their last three league matches.
Joe Willock’s 84th-minute header was no consolation for out-classed Newcastle.
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After losing 1-0 at Porto in the Champions League last 16 first leg in midweek, Mikel Arteta’s team are back on track and sit two points behind Liverpool after a sixth successive league victory.
City were again far from their flowing best but, just like in a 1-0 victory over Brentford in midweek, did enough to keep their title challenge on track.
The in-form Foden scored the only goal at the Vitality Stadium as the England international stroked into an empty net for his 16th goal of the season after Neto parried Erling Haaland’s initial effort.
At the other end, Ederson was required to save City from dropping two costly points when he kept out Dominic Solanke’s header on the line by the finest of margins.
Enes Unal was also inches away from an equaliser when his header shaved the post in stoppage time.
Aston Villa opened up a five-point lead over Tottenham in the battle for a top-four finish with a 4-2 win over Nottingham Forest, who remain just four points above the relegation zone.
Oliver Glasner got off to a dream start as Crystal Palace’s manager after replacing Roy Hodgson with a 3-0 win over second-bottom Burnley.
Everton were denied a huge win in their battle to beat the drop by Lewis Dunk’s 95th-minute equaliser for Brighton in a 1-1 draw at the Amex.
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