Arsenal regained first place in the English Premier League, at least for one night, after goals from Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard secured a 3-0 win that dented Brighton’s push for Europe on Saturday.
Mikel Arteta’s team arrived at Amex Stadium having dropped to third place following Manchester City’s 4-2 win at Crystal Palace earlier in the day.
Saka, declared fit after missing the midweek win over Luton through injury, set the Gunners on course to return to the summit by converting a first-half penalty after Tariq Lamptey was adjudged to have tripped Gabriel Jesus despite appearing to touch the ball first.
Havertz tapped in the second goal before setting up substitute Trossard to seal victory over his former club.
The visitors were worthy winners on the south coast and sit a point ahead of both Liverpool, whose game in hand is at Manchester United on Sunday, and City. Arsenal’s attention switches to a Champions League quarterfinal against Bayern Munich, with the first leg on Tuesday.
Brighton faded after a strong start and its first top-flight home loss in 13 outings, dating to August, left the team with an uphill task to secure European football for the second successive year, on the back of this season’s Europa League adventure.
City scores win against Crystal Palace
A stunning strike by Kevin De Bruyne elicited kisses from the sideline from Pep Guardiola and launched title-chasing Manchester City’s comeback in a 4-2 win at Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday.
City’s four-month unbeaten streak in all competitions was placed in jeopardy almost immediately after kickoff at Selhurst Park when Jean-Philippe Mateta gave Palace a third-minute lead with a goal on a breakaway.
In the end, there was nothing for City to worry about.
De Bruyne equalized 10 minutes later and it was one for the season highlight reel as the Belgium playmaker cut inside from the left and curled a right-footed shot from the corner of the area into the top corner of the net.
The excitable Guardiola responded by placing his fingers to his lips and blowing kisses to De Bruyne, and the manager also enjoyed a strike by Rico Lewis two minutes into the second half that put City in front for the first time.
Erling Haaland scored for the first time in four City matches by tapping in De Bruyne’s cross in the 66th for his league-leading 19th goal of the campaign.
De Bruyne sealed City’s impressive recovery in the 70th by ramming home a left-footed shot off Rodri’s layoff for his second goal of the game, taking him to 100 for the club since joining from Wolfsburg in 2015.
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