There were more twists in the title race this weekend and a number of surprise results across the entire Premier League. Here, we look at the more significant ones.
By Sam McGuire, Premier League expert
Forest stun the Champions
Manchester City put on a finishing clinic against Arsenal during the mid-week clash between the two title challengers. It felt as though they were about to go on one of their yearly winning runs but their finishing deserted them at the City Ground.
City missed more big chances (5) than Nottingham Forest had shots (4). Yet for all of their domination, the away side couldn’t claim all three points. Bernardo Silva opened the scoring just before the break but the visitors couldn’t build on that. Kaylor Navas made five saves on the day as on-loan Newcastle United striker Chris Wood found an equaliser with the home side’s only shot on target.
Pep Guardiola’s side are now two points off the top having played a game more.
The resolve of future Champions
Arsenal were winless in four heading to Villa Park and found themselves behind after just five minutes. Buyako Saka equalised but they weren’t level for long, with Philippe Coutinho putting the hosts ahead yet again just after the half-hour mark.
Oleksandr Zinchencko levelled it up after an hour and then it was just an Arsenal onslaught. The away side racked up an xG of 3.28 and created five big chances. Aston Villa, on the other hand, created chances worth just 0.51 xG.
Arsenal needed a bit of luck to finally take the lead in stoppage time with Jorginho’s long-range effort cannoning back off the bar before hitting Emiliano Martínez and going in. Gabriel Martinelli then added gloss to the scoreline when he tapped it an empty goal following the Villa goalkeeper’s decision to push up for a corner.
The Gunners came from behind twice before finding a winner in added time. A sure sign of future champions. It was a rather emphatic way to bring their winless streak to an end.
Ending the streak
Newcastle United welcomed Liverpool to St James’ Park looking to avenge their only defeat of the season. The Reds needed an injury-time winner in August to beat the Magpies and following that Eddie Howe’s men had been on a 17-match unbeaten run.
A win for the hosts would’ve seen them open up a 12-point lead over Jürgen Klopp’s struggling team in the race for a top-four place. However, the Toon Army now find themselves just six points ahead of the Merseysiders having played a game more.
The game was over after 22 minutes. Darwin Núñez and Cody Gakpo had both got their names on the scoresheet before Nick Pope was sent off for handling outside his penalty area. It was an odd game after that with both sides having chances, big ones at that, with the Reds not really dictating things despite their one man advantage.
The unlikeliest of scorers
Seamus Coleman scored what turned out to be the winner as Everton leapfrogged Leeds United out of the relegation places. The right-back claimed to have meant it and who are we to say otherwise? His Maicon-like finish was the deciding factor in a game that the Toffees deserved to win.
Sean Dyche’s side had a superior Expected Goals haul (1.47 to 0.54), had more shots and created more big chances (two to one). Managerless Leeds just couldn’t get going and now find themselves just a point off the bottom of the league.
Another defeat for Chelsea
In the 10 games played since the turn of the year, Chelsea have won just one. Defeat to Southampton on Saturday now means the Blues have lost exactly half of their matches in 2023 and find themselves in purgatory. They are 11 points off of the Champions League places but also just 11 points off of the relegation zone.
The deadlock was broken by yet another James Ward-Prowse free-kick before Chelsea spurned a number of opportunities. It has been the story of their season under Graham Potter who now appears to be on borrowed time at Stamford Bridge.
Rashford’s run continues
Another game for Manchester United, another goal for Marcus Rashford. Since returning from the World Cup, the Man United No.10 has 16 goals across all competitions in just 17 appearances. He’s also chipped in with four assists during this period, stepping up to be the main man for the Old Trafford side following the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo.
His double against Leicester City now means he’s scored in five successive matches for the second time during this purple patch. He really is unstoppable.
(Images from IMAGO)
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