Premier League: Man United climb to third as Arsenal drop valuable points in title race
Manchester United moved into third position in the Premier League table courtesy of a comfortable 2-0 victory over struggling Nottingham Forest at the City Ground while Arsenal dropped valuable points in the quest to win their first Premier League since 2003-2004.
Defeats for Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday have made it a particularly strong weekend for the Red Devils, who are now six points ahead of fifth-placed Spurs with a game in hand, placing them in a commanding position to claim a top-four spot.
Antony made the breakthrough in the 32nd minute of the contest before Diogo Dalot doubled Man United’s advantage in the 76th minute, and it would have been more comprehensive but for the heroics of Keylor Navas, who was excellent between the sticks for Forest.
The 20-time English champions have now beaten Forest four times in all competitions this season, and the result has left Steve Cooper’s side in 18th spot on 27 points, level on points with 17th-placed Everton.
Man United, who lost Marcel Sabitzer to an injury in the warm-up, had a golden chance to take the lead inside the first minute at the City Ground when Navas palmed an Aaron Wan-Bissaka cross into a dangerous area, but Jadon Sancho’s strike from an excellent position was blocked by Forest defender Felipe.
The home side had a shout for a penalty in the 19th minute when the ball struck Maguire’s arm inside the box following a corner, but the referee was happy for the play to continue and VAR agreed.
Navas did well to keep out a low drive from Martial, but Antony was first on the scene, with the Brazil international bundling the ball into the back of the net from close range to score his first league goal since October.
Awoniyi had a brilliant chance to level for Forest late in the first period when a heavy touch from Dalot set up the striker inside the Man United box, but he fired over the crossbar, before Fernandes somehow headed a brilliant Christian Eriksen cross wide of the post from a dangerous area down the other end.
Forest had another shout for a penalty early in the second half, with Dalot handling inside his own box, but once again, the home side were left frustrated.
Awoniyi headed wide of the Man United goal in the 52nd minute, with the home side having their moments on the break, but Ten Hag’s team continued to dominate the possession.
Navas made a stunning save to tip a thunderous Fernandes strike onto the crossbar in the 56th minute, before Antony missed the post with a curling effort shortly after, with Man United forcing the issue heading towards the hour mark in Nottingham.
The visitors managed to double their advantage in the 76th minute, though, with Dalot collecting a brilliant pass from Antony before slotting the ball into the corner of the net, which sparked huge celebrations in the away end at the City Ground.
Fernandes, Sancho and Antony had efforts to score thirds for Man United late on, but it ultimately finished 2-0, which is a result that flattered the home team.
Man United will now switch their attention back to the Europa League, preparing to travel to Sevilla on Thursday for the second leg of their quarter-final, with the score delicately poised at 2-2.
Ten Hag’s side will then take on Brighton & Hove Albion in the semi-finals of the FA Cup next Sunday during a defining period in their campaign.
Forest, meanwhile, will continue their survival battle in the Premier League with a trip to Liverpool on Saturday, and another defeat would further increase the pressure on head coach Cooper.
Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes suffered a devastating blow as they threw away a two-goal lead for the second week running to draw 2-2 with West Ham United at the London Stadium.
Gabriel Jesus and Martin Odegaard put Mikel Arteta’s side two goals to the good inside the opening 10 minutes, but Said Benrahma and Jarrod Bowen responded either side of a missed Bukayo Saka penalty for the relegation-threatened Hammers, who capitalised on another Arsenal collapse to give Manchester City a helping hand in the race for glory.
A few meaty challenges flew in from those in claret and blue during the early exchanges, but as was the case against Newcastle, the Hammers’ backline was carved open at will.
It took Arsenal just seven minutes to draw first blood, as an intricate passage of play around the penalty area ended with Odegaard slipping in Ben White, who squared for Jesus to tap home at the back post.
David Moyes’s backline barely had time to regroup before they were breached again, as Gabriel Martinelli’s cross to the back post was on the money for Odegaard, who ghosted in unchallenged to volley home in the 10th minute to put Arsenal in cruise control.
West Ham were being made to pay for comical defending, but rather than going for more, Arsenal were content to knock the ball around as the game approached the half-hour mark, with West Ham showing little signs of a revival.
However, as complacency crept in for Arsenal, West Ham gave themselves a lifeline out of nowhere, as Thomas Partey gave the ball away to Declan Rice in a dangerous area – the Ghanaian stopped and appealed for a handball against the Hammers’ captain, which fell on deaf ears.
Rice advanced into the box and cut back for the onrushing Lucas Paqueta, who went down under a challenge from Gabriel Magalhaes, and David Coote wasted no time in pointing to the spot in the 33rd minute.
Four months after scoring from the spot at the Emirates, Benrahma sent Aaron Ramsdale the wrong way from 12 yards to cut the deficit in half, and there were shades of Anfield for Arteta’s side as West Ham suddenly sprung into life.
The Gunners got to half time with their slender lead intact, and it was their turn to step up to the penalty spot in the 52nd minute, as Michail Antonio was penalised for handball.
However, in similar fashion to Mohamed Salah’s missed attempt last week, Saka sent his spot kick wide, and West Ham took full advantage of that reprieve only two minutes later.
Arsenal failed to adequately clear a throw in, allowing Thilo Kehrer to loft the ball back in for Bowen, and a stagnant Arsenal defence were powerless to stop the Englishman volleying home – Ramsdale may have felt that he should have done better, though.
The visitors’ attempts to restore their lead were futile, and West Ham came agonisingly close to stealing all three points in the 82nd minute, as Antonio struck the bar with a header from a tight angle.
Arsenal have famed themselves on dramatic late goals this season, but Arteta’s cavalry could not produce something similar in five minutes of injury time and may very well be ruing the result of this London derby come next month.
The Gunners are four points ahead of Manchester City having played a game more, and they return to the Emirates to face Southampton on Friday, while West Ham stay 15th – four clear of the drop zone – and Moyes’s men now prepare to host Gent in the second leg of their Europa Conference League quarter-final on Thursday.
