Arsenal stretched their lead at the top of the Premier League to eight big points on Sunday, with a quite brilliant 4-1 victory over managerless Crystal Palace.
With Manchester City in FA Cup action this was a chance for Mikel Arteta’s team to put their case forward and they did so in emphatic style as man-of-the-match Bukayo Saka scored a brace. The Eagles have been terribly shot shy in recent weeks, failing to register a win in 2023 and with only four goals since the turn of the year, but they came within a whisker of going ahead at the Emirates when Wilfried Zaha fired a shot against the upright. But Arsenal are clinical when they get the chance, and Gabriel Martinelli and Saka both netted to make it 2-0 at half time.
Midfield ace Granit Xhaka made it three, just after the break, but then Palace pulled one back when Jeffrey Schlupp netted their first goal in five games. Saka scored his second to make it 4-1 as Arsenal sent a statement to Manchester City who have scored 13 unanswered goals in two cup matches this week.
The Gunners are holding their nerves and have a great chance of winning their first Premier League title since 2004, but the Eagles, without a win in 13, are in a relegation scrap.
Spurs bottle it in Southampton
While Arsenal put in another impressive performance their North London rivals continued to frustrate their fans as Tottenham Hotspur surrendered a two goal lead to draw 3-3 with battling Southampton.
We previewed this game here at SBOTOP and said the Saints had no reason to fear Spurs and so it turned out, though we expected a low scoring affair and that was wide of the mark as goals rained in at both ends of the pitch. Pedro Porro blasted two efforts over the bar to give the Saints a warning but then he beat Gavin Bazunu to give Tottenham a lead. It was Porro’s first goal for the Whites but it was cancelled out, minutes after the break, when Theo Walcott pulled a ball back for Che Adams to poke home to make it 1-1.
Harry Kane, with a trademark header, and Ivan Perisic with a clinical finish put Antonio Conte’s team in charge and it looked like the Saints were heading for defeat with just 15 minutes remaining. But the Whites couldn’t see it through and when Walcott halved the deficit on 77 minutes the home fans sensed a comeback. The Saints piled forward and when Pape Sarr tripped Ainsley Maitland- Niles on 92 minutes the referee pointed to the spot.
James Ward-Prowse stepped forward and did the business to give Southampton a crucial point.
Tottenham would have climbed to third place in the table with a win, but they remain fourth and just two points ahead of Newcastle United who have two games in hand. The latest Premier League 2023 betting odds rank Spurs as outsiders for a top four place now, with the Geordies in the best position and Liverpool circling.
This was a worrying day at the office for Conte.
Isak puts Magpies back in the frame
Newcastle United’s record signing Alexander Isak finally announced himself on the Premier League stage with two goals to re-ignite the Magpies top four challenge. Emmanuel Dennis gave Nottingham Forest a first half lead but Isak levelled. Elliot Anderson thumped a header in to make it 2-1 but his celebrations were spoiled by a VAR intervention which spotted an offside in the build up. But when Newcastle won a penalty in stoppage time and Isak fired the spot kick home to give the Magpies a 2-1 win.
Nottingham Forest have relied entirely in their home form in a brave attempt to avoid relegation back to the Championship, so this was a major blow to Steve Cooper’s side.
Rodrigo back as Leeds march on
Leeds United top scorer Rodrigo made a triumphant return to action as the Whites won crucial three points in a thrilling 4-2 win away to Wolverhampton Wanderers, which lifted then out of the relegation zone. Jack Harrison put the Yorkshiremen in front with just six minutes on the clock and Luke Ayling and Rasmus Kristensen made it 3-0.
But the Wolves fought back with a screamer from Jonny and another from Matheus Cunha and the hosts sniffed a result. Btu Jonny’s sending off changed the game in Leeds’ favour and the returning Rodrigo made the points safe.
If the Whites can put a decent set of Premier League 2023 results together, between now and May, then Gracia will steer them to safety and another campaign in the top flight.
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