The English Premier League resumes play on Sunday afternoon, just a day after Saturday's matches. Brentford enjoyed an impressive and comfortable win over West Ham United in the opening game of the day. The Hammers head to Gtech Stadium hoping for a second straight win after beating the Reds last week. First-half goals from Bryan Mbuemo and Yoane Wissa dealt a blow to West Ham's relegation battle.
Manchester City, on the other hand, have extended their lead in the Premier League table by four points. Ikay Gundogan and Erling Haaland were the stars of the match after scoring twice and once respectively. Former league leaders Arsenal Football Club welcomed Brighton and Hove Albion to Emirates Stadium later today. The highly-anticipated game dealt a blow to Arsenal, who were crushing Manchester City.
Mikel Arteta's army did not need to drop another point in front of Man City's form, but unfortunately Brighton played too well to be defeated. Second-half goals from Enscio and Denis Undav added salt to Arsenal's wounds in their attempt to knock down Manchester City at bottom. When things settled, Manchester City sat comfortably with four points and one game to play.
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Arsenal's Premier League hopes are over after Brighton parted ways with the Gunners to put Manchester City on the edge of a third league title in the rotation.
It was nice while it lasted.
But Arsenal's dwindling title challenge effectively ended in defeat and despair at the Emirates. They were bombarded with stellar performances at Brighton, but the whole season looks set to come to Arsenal overnight.
?If there is a change in the title race, it has to be by the end of this week, in fact. But Manchester City's crunch win over Everton earlier in the day sucked all the energy and positivity out of the stadium even before the game even started. ?Arsenal was so bummed that they simply couldn't get up and when the final whistle blew, Emirates was less than half of the people, which is a shame because surely fans can't complain about the whole thing. season together.
?But Arsenal have boomed horribly over the past few weeks and that must have been down to their inexperience and naivete as they have won just two of their last seven games. It was perhaps the heaviest defeat of all, as Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi gave Mikel Arteta a good second-half formation as the visitors tore Arsenal's net.
?Disappointment enveloped Arsenal fans, referee Andy Madley had a hot game without authority but if a few of them took off their red glasses, Gabriel Martinelli was lucky not to be sent off. before leaving due to injury.
?Martinelli's shocking tackle on Kaoru Mitoma was considered reckless rather than dangerous by VAR, so the referee was not advised to change his mind and was not even given a yellow card. ?What might not have been part of the plan was a physical battle between two teams better known for their football than their hard stuff. Martinelli was knocked down shortly afterwards by a rough tackle from Brighton full-back Moises Caicedo.
?Leandro Trossard replaced Martinelli - who reappeared after the final whistle in warm-up - and every touch of the former Brighton winger was booed by the away fans. Trossard sent the ball over the bar and Bukayo Saka's shot from close range brought Arsenal.
But the second half is a different story. Brighton looked stunning as they kicked at high speed. They took the lead in the 51st minute after a Pervis Estupiñán cross, Arsenal defender Jakub Kiwior fell and one of the small players on the pitch, Julio Enciso, headed into the net.
?Arsenal fouls when Jakub Kiwior thinks he's been caught by Evan Ferguson, but what kind of defender would fall behind and not try to defend his goal? That's pretty weird, especially when he's able to move on after that.
?Arteta made substitutions to try to move his wing forward and replace Reiss Nelson's shot that went wide of the post. But Brighton are Arsenal's ghost team when the Gunners have only beaten them once at the Emirates in the past 5 seasons.
?The second goal came after 86 minutes. Aaron Ramsdale's throw-in found Trossard, Pascal Gross made a tackle and the ball went to his substitute Deniz Undaz, who had already conceded the Arsenal keeper.
?Brighton coach De Zerbi ran along the touchline, Jose Mourinho style. Then he slipped his knee behind the third goal in stoppage time. Undav's shot was saved by Ramsdale and Estupiñán scored. Complete the work.
?Brighton deserves it. What a team they put together. Levi Colwill is one of their stars and the Chelsea loanee is certainly an England defender in wait. ?
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