FOOTBALL – ARSENAL took a seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League after a scoreless draw with Nottingham Forest yesterday following an exhilarating 2-0 derby victory for Manchester United that dealt a devastating blow to Manchester City’s title hopes.
Arsenal could have gone nine points clear with a win at Forest, but Sean Dyche’s side fought tooth and nail to secure the draw, becoming only the second team to prevent Mikel Arteta’s side from scoring in the Premier League this season.
“We tried to at the end find a goal. I don’t think we conceded a single shot, again. But that’s the margins and we didn’t find a way to win it,” Arteta said.
However frustrating the draw might have been for Arteta’s side, Pep Guardiola’s City suffered a whole lot worse as former United player Michael Carrick’s return for a second stint as interim manager lifted the gloom over Old Trafford with a deserved victory.
Second-half goals by Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu rewarded a dominant display by the hosts who moved temporarily into the top four before Liverpool later dropped them to fifth. Second-placed City have now gone four Premier League games without a victory.
Arsenal have 50 points from 22 games with City on 43 from 22. Aston Villa, who host Everton today, also have 43.
Liverpool climbed back above United with 36 points but drew for the fourth league game in succession, held 1-1 at home by second-bottom Burnley.
Chelsea’s new manager Liam Rosenior enjoyed victory in his first Premier League game in charge as his side beat Brentford 2-0 at Stamford Bridge with goals by Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer as they leap-frogged their opponents into sixth place.
West Ham United won 2-1 at London rivals Tottenham Hotspur to snap a 10-game winless run in the league and revive their survival hopes -- Callum Wilson sealing victory in stoppage time.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side remained four points from the safety zone but will take a huge lift from a result that heaped more pressure on Tottenham manager Thomas Frank.
Manchester United had won only once in their six previous league matches and exited the FA Cup last week, meaning they have only a European qualifying place to play for.
But what feels like 18 months of gloom was lifted as United mauled their rivals with a vibrant attacking display that had been sadly missing under Ruben Amorim who was sacked this month.
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