Mikel Merino’s powerful header and Bukayo Saka’s late strike helped Arsenal secure a 2-0 victory over Brentford, extending their unbeaten run to 18 matches across all competitions.
Merino continued his scoring form with the opening goal in the 11th minute, and although Saka made it 2-0 only in stoppage time, Brentford failed to register a single shot on target throughout the match.
Good link-up play between Noni Madueke and Ben White allowed White to set up Merino, who scored for the second consecutive game. As the match opened up late on, Saka latched onto Merino’s precise through ball to seal the win and move Arsenal five points clear at the top of the Premier League table.
Leeds United stunned Chelsea with a 3-1 win at Elland Road. Jaka Bijol and Ao Tanaka put Daniel Farke’s side 2-0 up by halftime. Pedro Neto pulled one back for Chelsea in the 50th minute, but Dominic Calvert-Lewin sealed the victory for Leeds in the 72nd minute.
Ollie Watkins scored twice as Aston Villa came from 2-0 down to win a seven-goal thriller 4-3 away at Brighton, moving into third place. Brighton initially led 2-0 through Jan Paul van Hecke and a Pau Torres own goal, but Watkins pulled one back before halftime. Amadou Onana and Donyell Malen then extended Villa’s lead to 4-2, before Van Hecke scored his second to give Brighton some late hope.
Florian Wirtz’s deflected strike earned Liverpool a 1-1 draw at home against Sunderland. The visitors had taken the lead in the 67th minute through Chemsdine Talbi after Virgil van Dijk got caught out.
Daniel Munoz’s goal on the stroke of halftime gave Crystal Palace a 1-0 win away at Burnley, who have now lost five consecutive games.
Nottingham Forest moved further away from the relegation zone with a 1-0 win away at Wolverhampton Wanderers, who remain at the bottom with just two points all season.
–IANS
