Arsenal extend lead with win over Brighton as Man City drop points

By Tosin Omojola –

Arsenal extended their lead to seven points after a hard-fought 1-0 win over hosts Brighton on Wednesday night.

A ninth-minute strike by Bukayo Saka was enough to earn the Gunners all three points on a night their title rivals, Manchester City, dropped two points on home soil.

Saka’s early goal proved decisive as Mikel Arteta’s men increased their tally to 67 points from 30 matches, with eight games left to play this season.

While the Gunners’ faithful celebrated the crucial win, their joy was compounded by Manchester City’s failure to secure victory at home against Nottingham Forest at the Etihad.

Pep Guardiola’s side were held to a 2-2 draw by Forest, who came from behind twice to snatch an unlikely point.

Antoine Semenyo scored City’s first goal in the 31st minute, his seventh of the season, but Morgan Gibbs-White levelled for the visitors in the 56th minute.

Rodri restored City’s lead in the 62nd minute, only for Elliot Anderson to equalise for Forest in the 76th minute as the match ended 2-2.

The result leaves Guardiola and his players ruing missed opportunities as they trail Arsenal by seven points, although they have a game in hand over the Gunners.