Wins for Arsenal and City makes it very tight at the top
The threeway 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 20, while City routed Aston Villa 41 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.
While Arsenal was expected to beat relegationthreatened Luton at home, there was always the potential for a slip.
That never looked likely after Martin Odegaard opened the scoring in the 24th minute and an own goal from Daiki Hashioka in the 44th made it 20 by halftime.
No Erling Haaland, no problem.
Foden justified Guardiola’s decision to leave his leading scorer on the bench by netting a stunning hattrick as City powered to a 41 win against Villa.
Guardiola had described Haaland as the best striker in the world after he had been criticised by former Manchester United captain and now TV analyst Roy Keane. So it was a surprise to see the league’s top scorer left out of City’s starting lineup in a game of such importance.
But in his absence, Foden provided the goals with three supremely taken strikes.
Brentford’s winless run extended to eight games after a 00 draw against Brighton.
The Bees have only won two in their last 19 games in all competitions but still moved a point further away from the relegation zone after Luton’s loss at Arsenal.
The results: Arsenal 2 (Odegaard 24, Hashioka 44-og) bt Luton 0; Brentford 0 drew with Brighton 0; Manchester City 4 (Rodri 11, Foden 45+1, 62, 69) Aston Villa 1 (Duran 20).