A fifth league defeat of the season left Arsenal on 81 points with two games remaining to Manchester City’s 85 with three left and victory for Pep Guardiola’s side next weekend against Chelsea would wrap up it’s fifth title in six seasons.
The fluttering embers of Arsenal’s Premier League title dream were all but extinguished as it suffered a 3- 0 home trouncing by Europe- chasing Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday.
With grim Manchester City winning at Everton in the before onset to move four points clear, long- time league leader Arsenal knew only a palm would serve.
But it produced a laboured display against the tricky south seacoast club and was outplayed after the break as Julio Enciso, Deniz Undav and Pervis Estupinan scored for Roberto De Zerbi’s side, putting City on the point of securing the title.
The result also moved Brighton up to sixth place with games in hand on the brigades around it.
Arsenal’s former Brighton forward Leandro Trossard struck the bar in the first half, but Arsenal looked deflated after Enciso struck in the 51st nanosecond and crestfallen when Undav lofted over Aaron Ramsdale in the 86th nanosecond.
Estupinan completed Arsenal’s misery in cessation time to the delight of Brighton’s suckers who may soon be watching the club’s first adventure into European competition.
A fifth league defeat of the season left Arsenal on 81 points with two games remaining to City’s 85 with three left, meaning palm for Pep Guardiola’s side coming Sunday against Chelsea would wrap up City’s fifth title in six seasons.
City could indeed secure it before that if Arsenal loses against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
Brighton has 58 points with four games still remaining.
“Yeah it looks delicate now to be honest, we’ve to be realistic. I don’t suppose City are going to do too numerous miscalculations now, ” Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard said.
“It isn’t a good feeling at the moment. The way we played, particularly in the alternate half, I don’t know what happed to be honest. It feels like there’s no stopgap now. ”
There was a hint of abdication in the air amongst Arsenal’s suckers as they streamed towards the Emirates Stadium after hail of Manchester City’s before 3- 0 palm at Everton, an 11th consecutive league palm for City.
And there was a languor about Arsenal’s play as Brighton smelled the life out of it with its measured end game.
Arsenal wasn’t helped by losing forward Gabriel Martinelli to injury interior through the first half after he failed to shake off the goods of a hefty Moises Caicedo attack.
The Brazilian was replaced by Trossard, who came closest to breaking the impasse before halftime with a shot that cropped the top of the bar.
Odegaard drilled a shot just wide and Bukayo Saka did the same in first- half cessation time, but Brighton owned possession and was always a trouble with Enciso doubly having a clear sight of thing.
The home suckers tried to galvanise their platoon but the mood fell flat six twinkles after the interval as Brighton attacked down the left and after his original cross was blocked, Estupinan lifted a ball into the area for Enciso to head in.
Arsenal no way looked satisfying as it tried to respond and shot itself in the bottom when Ramsdale passed the ball out to Trossard and his film rebounded back towards thing, giving Undav all the time in the world to heave the ball into the net.
With Arsenal in tatters, Estupinan put the icing on Brighton’s cutlet, steering in a answer after Ramsdale had sidestepped Undav’s important shot.
While defeat soaked for Arteta’s side, the damage had really formerly been done last month when it drew with Liverpool and West Ham, having led in each game by two pretensions, and also drew 3- 3 at home to deportation- bound Southampton.
Those results handed the action to City which has churned out points with ruthless effectiveness.
While City has taken 40 points from the last 42 on offer, Arsenal’s stalwart challenge for a first title since 2004 has unravelled in disappointing fashion as the pressure mounted. Know More Football News…
