Man City in box seat as results go their way
LONDON: Arsenal’s Premier League title push was hit by late goals from Aston Villa’s Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins yesterday as they suffered a surprise 20 home defeat and handed the initiative to leaders and defending champions Manchester City.
Villa substitute Bailey tapped home from close range in the 84th minute before Watkins’ sublime finish three minutes later sent Gunners fans streaming for the exits.
Arsenal’s loss, their first in 12 league games, leaves them second, two points behind City and level on points with thirdplaced Liverpool with six games left to play.
Following Liverpool’s 10 defeat at home to Crystal Palace earlier yesterday, the weekend belonged to City who bolstered their chances of an unprecedented fourth straight league title with a 51 demolition of visiting Luton Town on Sunday.
‘‘We knew that this moment could come and now it’s about reacting and keep believing and doing what we can,’’ Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said.
Sport statistics company Opta now gives City a 70% chance of winning the Premier League. Arsenal is on just over 18% and Liverpool nearly 12%.
The win boosts fourthplaced Villa’s chances of qualifying for next season’s Champions League and moves them three points above Tottenham Hotspur, albeit having played a game more.
Bailey gave Villa the lead when he turned in Lucas Digne’s dangerous cross before Watkins broke Arsenal hearts with a beautiful chip over keeper David Raya to settle the contest.
The goal was Watkins’ 19th in the league which, with his 10 league assists, puts him behind only Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane and Paris St Germain’s Kylian Mbappe for goal involvements in Europe’s top five leagues this season.
Villa manager Unai Emery, who has repeatedly played down the prospects of his side qualifying for Europe’s elite club competition, accepted they are now contenders for the top four.
‘‘We prepared this match really as a very difficult match, but a great opportunity to try to get three points,’’ he said.
Liverpool’s bid to win the Premier League title in manager Juergen Klopp’s final season with the club suffered a huge blow at Anfield.
Eberechi Eze scored in the 14th minute in the third consecutive disappointing result for Liverpool.
Tyrick Mitchell found Eze unmarked in the box after a beautiful buildup of 21 passes and Eze slotted home with his first touch to put Palace ahead.
Poor finishing by Liverpool sealed their first league loss at Anfield since October 2022.
Liverpool were coming off a 30 loss to Atalanta in the first leg of their Europa League quarterfinal on Friday and a costly 22 draw with Manchester United in their previous league game.
In yesterday’s other game, Fulham won 20 at West Ham. — Reuters