Arsenal put on a performance worthy of potential champions of England as they cruised to a 3-0 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Gabriel MagalhĆ£es, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard were the scorers in Arsenalās fifth straight win, which was made much more comfortable by the absence of Fulhamās suspended midfielder Joao Palhinha.
Leandro Trossard ā a January signing who has quickly fitted in ā benefitted most from the extra space that Palhinhaās absence allowed, providing the assist for all three goals.
City had applied pressure on Mikel Artetaās team by winning 1-0 at Crystal Palace on Saturday, briefly reducing the gap to two points.
There was further good news for Arsenal, with Brazil striker Gabriel Jesus coming off the bench in the 77th for his first appearance since undergoing surgery on Dec. 6 on a medial collateral ligament injury sustained during the World Cup.
āA perfect win,ā was how Trossard described it.
They cut through Fulham time and again in a 3-0 win on Sunday to re-establish a five-point lead over second-place Manchester City, the reigning champion which isnāt giving up the trophy easily.
Eleven games remain for both clubs in what is surely now a two-team race for the title.
Thatās because third-place Manchester United dropped 16 points off the pace with a 0-0 draw at home to last-place Southampton, which failed to fully capitalize on a first-half red card to United midfielder Casemiro.
Manchester United Vs Southampton
Manchester United held on for a 0-0 draw against Southampton at Old Trafford on Sunday, despite playing for nearly an hour with 10 men after Casemiro’s red card.
The Brazilian midfielder Casemiro faces a four-match suspension after being sent off in the first half of Manchester United’s Premier League clash with Southampton.
It was Casemiro’s second sending-off in his last three league games and will earn him a four-match ban ā three of them to be served in the league.
Given his importance, United could be vulnerable to the teams just below them.
He was initially cautioned by referee Anthony Taylor for a heavy challenge on Saints midfielder Carlos Alcaraz.
However, VAR ordered Taylor to review the decision and go across to the pitchside monitor.
Upon review, the experienced referee made the decision to give Casemiro his second red card.
The 31-year-old was sent off during last month’s 2-1 win over Crystal Palace and, as a result, was suspended for the back-to-back clashes with Leeds United and the 3-0 win over Leicester City. He only returned to the side in the league as recently as last weekend for the 7-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield.
Man United manager Erik ten Hag blamed the referee referee Anthony Taylor following the draw with Southampton.
āThis game was influenced by the referee,ā Ten Hag said after seeing Casemiro get another red card, this time for a studs-up challenge on Carlos Alcaraz that initially earned him a yellow card.
Taylor changed it to a red after the VAR advised him to look at the incident again on the pitch side monitor.
āWhen you freeze it, it looks bad,ā Ten Hag said, ābut everyone who knows something about football ā¦ they know what is bad and what isnāt bad, what is fair.
āI tell you Casemiro is a really fair player.ā
Southampton hit the goal frame through James Ward-Prowse ā off a trademark curling free kick ā and Kyle Walker-Peters, while United midfielder Bruno Fernandes had a long-range shot tipped onto the post by Southampton goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu.
United moved two points clear of fourth-place Tottenham and has a game in hand.
Southampton stayed in last place. The bottom nine teams in the league are separated by just five points.
Almironās Winner
Miguel Almiron scored Newcastleās winner against Wolves in the 79th minute as his team moved above Liverpool.
Wolves substitute Hwang Hee-chan had canceled out the opener by Alexander Isak.
In the dayās other match, West Ham drew 1-1 with Aston Villa to climb out of the relegation zone.
AFP