Arsenal, Man City win big as title race remains tense
LONDON: The Premier League title race looks to be going to the wire. There’s no sign of an endof-season collapse by Arsenal this time.
Keeping the pressure on Manchester City, Arsenal beat Bournemouth 3-0 on Saturday for a fourth straight win in the league.
It pushed Arsenal four points clear of second-place City, but the champions took the field later and reduced the gap to just a point with a 5-1 home victory against Wolves.
Erling Haaland stole the show with four goals, with Julian Alvarez scoring the fifth. City have a game in hand and remain the favourites.
Last season, Arsenal’s title challenge faded in the spring as a fast-finishing City clinched a third straight league championship with three games to spare. Twelve months on and the title race is heading into the final week of the season. Indeed, given the form of the top two, it is likely to be decided in the last round of games on May 19. Bukayo Saka converted a penalty in the 45th minute before second-half goals by Leandro Trossard and Declan Rice gave Arsenal victory at Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal’s 26th Premier League victory this season equalled the club’s top-flight record for a single campaign.
“It was probably the best first half we’ve played all season,” Arteta said. “We were unbelievable. Everything flowing, super composed on the ball.”
Burnley slipped closer to the drop thanks to its 4-1 loss at home to Newcastle combined with relegation rivals Nottingham Forest’s 3-1 win at lastplace Sheffield United.
It left next-to-last Burnley five points adrift of Forest, who occupy the place directly above the relegation zone.
Real Madrid bag La Liga title after Barca lose
MADRID: Real Madrid earned a comfortable 3-0 win over Cadiz on Saturday and won the La Liga title after Barcelona lost to Girona 4-2 later in the day.
Los Blancos did their homework against the Andalucian stragglers to move a step closer to a record-extending 36th Spanish title.
Brahim Diaz netted in the 51st minute to put Madrid ahead and then set up Jude Bellingham for the second, with Joselu tapping home a third to leave Madrid just one point away from clinching the title.
“When we started to defend well we improved,” Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. “(He) is a very important player for us. Courtois came back very well, he’s in good shape.”