AFP – Arsenal took advantage of a share of the points between Manchester City and Liverpool to move top of the Premier League after a weekend that left the top four separated by just four points.
The Gunners needed a late winner by Kai Havertz to beat Brentford 1-0.
Liverpool ended City’s 23-game winning streak at the Etihad with a 1-1 draw, while Aston Villa won 2-1 at Tottenham to move into the top four.
Manchester United and Newcastle also secured big wins, over Everton and Chelsea respectively, to close in on the top four.
AFP Sport looks at three talking points from the Premier League weekend. City’s bid for an unprecedented fourth consecutive English top-flight title appeared a formality when Pep Guardiola’s men won their opening six games.
However, City have won just three of their last seven in the Premier League to leave the title race wide open.
The champions were left to rue not pressing home their advantage after Erling Haaland’s 50th Premier League goal in a record 48 appearances opened the scoring.
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s fine strike 10 minutes from time earned Liverpool a draw and kept Jurgen Klopp’s men just one point behind their title rivals. Guardiola admitted afterwards that City have missed the injured Kevin De Bruyne and the departed Ilkay Gundogan when it comes to finding the killer ball in the final third. His side may well still have too much for their challengers come May, but some rare imperfections from the treble winners are helping foster a fascinating title race.
Meanwhile, on a day when Tottenham paid tribute to Terry Venables after their former manager’s death aged 80, Spurs’ current generation were unable to deliver a victory to mark the poignant occasion in north London after losing to Aston Villa 2-1.
