Saka double sends Arsenal eight points clear
Arsenal will head into the international break eight points clear in the Premier League title race after Bukayo Saka scored twice in a 4-1 home defeat of Crystal Palace yesterday.
With chasers Manchester City engaged this weekend in the FA Cup, Arsenal took full advantage with Gabriel Martinelli opening the scoring in the 28th minute and Granit Xhaka also on target.
Jeffrey Schlupp got Palace's first goal in five league games to briefly raise their hopes in the second half, but Arsenal were never going to miss the chance to tighten their grip on top spot as they chase a first English title for 19 years.
Arsenal now have 69 points from 28 games.
Saka doubled Arsenal’s lead in the 43rd when he guided home a low shot from Ben White's pass.
Arsenal were running riot when Xhaka made it 3-0 10 minutes into the second half, but Schlupp replied just past the hour and there were a few jittery moments before Saka made sure with his 12th league goal of the season in the 74th.
● Sheffield United came from behind twice to edge Blackburn Rovers 3-2 in an entertaining FA Cup quarterfinal yesterday after Tommy Doyle’s superb 91st-minute strike booked a Wembley trip.
With the score at 2-2 in added time, Doyle fired a shot from 25m that arrowed into the top corner.
Blackburn took the lead in the 21st minute after a penalty for Jack Robinson’s handball, which was converted by Ben Brereton.
Blackburn’s Sam Gallagher then scored an own goal seven minutes later after Max Lowe’s shot from range took a deflection off the striker’s knee to nestle in the corner of the net.
Gallagher made amends on the hour when he sprang the offside trap to put Sammie Szmodics through to restore Blackburn’s lead by firing low past keeper Wes Foderingham.
United forward Oli McBurnie produced a moment of magic in the 81st when he slid the ball beyond keeper Aynsley Pears to make it 2-2 before Doyle, on loan from City, scored his late winner.
● Brighton & Hove Albion ended fourth-tier Grimsby Town's dream run in the FA Cup with a 5-0 win as 18-yearold Evan Ferguson’s double guided the Premier League club into the semifinals.
The home side went ahead in the sixth minute when Deniz Undav pounced on a loose ball in the box to score after Moises Caicedo’s shot from distance was saved.
Six minutes after the break,
Brighton doubled their lead when Ferguson expertly controlled a high ball from Alexis Mac Allister before turning on the spot to fire home.
Ferguson had the ball in the net minutes later for a goal that was ruled out for offside but he managed to get his second when he was put through by Undav, finishing with aplomb.
Brighton made it 4-0 when Adam Webster scooped the ball into the box where Solly March scored with a stooping header before Kaoru Mitoma wrapped up the win with a shot that was deflected in.
● Bruno Fernandes scored twice to put Manchester United into the FA Cup semifinals with a 3-1 win over Fulham.
Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrovic opened the scoring in the 50th minute, but Erik ten Hag's side roared back with a vengeance at Old Trafford midway through the second half.
A melee erupted when
Willian was flagged for a handball and sent off. Mitrovic, who appeared to shove the referee, and manager Marco Silva were also shown red cards.
Fernandes’s penalty put United on the scoreboard, and two minutes later Marcel Sabitzer put them ahead with a backheel chip into the net.
Fernandes scored again seconds before the end.