Premier League title race: Arsenal take six-point lead after Fulham win

Arsenal strengthened their Premier League title bid with a 3–0 win over Fulham, scoring all three goals before half-time. Viktor Gyokeres scored twice and assisted Bukayo Saka as Arsenal moved six points clear at the top. Manchester City remain second with two games in hand, and goal difference may yet matter.

Arsenal moved six points clear at the top of the Premier League on Saturday. The lead came after a 3-0 home win over Fulham. All three goals arrived before half-time. The result increased the pressure on second-placed Manchester City. City had not played a league match since Arsenal lost top spot 10 days earlier.

Viktor Gyokeres scored twice and assisted the other goal for Bukayo Saka. Arsenal now held a better goal difference by four than City. That margin could decide the title if results matched. City still had two matches in hand. The next game came at Everton on Monday.

Arsenal Premier League title race shifts after Fulham win

Arsenal’s latest win followed a league victory over Newcastle last weekend. It came against a Fulham side chasing European qualification. The home team looked stronger for long periods. Arsenal also had three league games left. They were West Ham away, Burnley at home, and Crystal Palace away.

Saka returned to the starting team after six weeks out with an Achilles injury. Saka created the opener for Gyokeres in the ninth minute. Gyokeres later set up Saka in the 40th minute. Saka drove a shot inside the near post. Gyokeres then headed in Leandro Trossard’s cross in first-half stoppage time.

City had replaced Arsenal at the top after ending Arsenal’s 200-day spell in first place. Many then viewed Pep Guardiola’s team as the favourites. City did not play in the league in the 10 days after that change. Arsenal’s back-to-back wins suggested the momentum had shifted again. Arsenal’s run-in also looked easier on paper than City’s.

West Ham Premier League survival fight tightens after Brentford loss

West Ham’s survival push suffered with a 3-0 defeat at Brentford. Brazil striker Igor Thiago scored, including a penalty for a 22nd goal this season. West Ham remained two points above Tottenham in third-to-last. That position marked the final relegation place. Tottenham visited Aston Villa on Sunday with three rounds remaining.

Brentford’s win moved the club up to sixth place. Brentford sat seven points behind fifth-placed Aston Villa. The top five qualified automatically for the Champions League. Brighton later slipped to seventh. Brighton trailed Brentford by one point after losing to Newcastle.

Newcastle Premier League win ends losing run and eases pressure

Newcastle ended a four-match league losing streak by beating Brighton 3-1. The result reduced pressure on manager Eddie Howe. William Osula and Dan Burn scored in the first half. Jack Hinshelwood replied for Brighton after the break. Harvey Barnes added a late third goal in stoppage time.

Premier League red card for hair-pulling after Tolu Arokodare incident

A hair-pulling incident produced another red card this season. There had been three such sendings-off in the Premier League campaign. Tolu Arokodare was the player pulled for the second time. Sunderland defender Dan Ballard tugged the Wolverhampton striker’s hair. Sunderland led 1-0 through Nordi Mukiele’s corner header when it happened.

Already-relegated Wolverhampton, the league’s last-placed club, later levelled the match. Santiago Bueno scored the equaliser and the game finished 1-1. Across the league, the weekend results also tightened fights for Europe and survival. At the top, Arsenal’s win and goal difference boost left Manchester City needing results. The title race remained open with games still in hand.

With inputs from PTI