Arsenal goes back on top of EPL

MANCHESTER, England — The three-way race for the Premier League title looks likely to go down to the wire after wins for Arsenal and Manchester City made it even tighter at the top.

Arsenal moved back to the summit by beating Luton 2-0, while City routed Aston Villa 4-1 to go level on points with secondplace Liverpool.

Just one point separates the top three teams in what is shaping up to be the most compelling title fight in recent history. But it is three-time defending champion City that has the pedigree.

“If we are in and around it with 10 games to go then we know we are capable,” said City forward Phil Foden, who scored a hat trick against Villa. “We are in and around it again now so it is still possible. We have to keep believing. That was what the manager was big on today, believe and fight until the end.”

Liverpool had taken advantage of its two rivals drawing 0-0 on Sunday and moved two points clear at the top.

By the end of Wednesday’s games, Jurgen Klopp’s team was playing catch-up to Arsenal again and was ahead of City only on goal difference — even if it has a game in hand on both; at home to last-place Sheffield United today.

The question for Arsenal is whether it can go the distance after falling away so badly at the end of last season. The Londoners led the table for 248 days before eventually being overtaken by a City team that won its third title in a row and completed a treble of trophies which also included the Champions League and FA Cup.

Mikel Arteta’s players have improved head-to-head against City — winning and drawing against the defending champion. But it remains to be seen how they handle the pressure with just eight league games to go.

Martin Odegaard opened the scoring for Arsenal in the 24th minute and an own goal from Daiki Hashioka in the 44th made it 2-0 by halftime.