Arsenal handed title boost as Man City and Villa stumble

Arsenal received a timely lift in the Premier League title race as both Manchester City and Aston Villa dropped points on a pivotal night in the campaign. The results give the league leaders a chance to strengthen their grip on top spot ahead of a high‑stakes clash with Liverpool.

At the Etihad Stadium, Manchester City were held to a 1–1 draw by Brighton, extending their run to three consecutive league draws. Erling Haaland put City in front from the penalty spot in the first half, marking his 150th goal for the club, but Kaoru Mitoma levelled after the break to frustrate Pep Guardiola’s side. The dropped points leave City five behind Arsenal having played a game more, further denting their hopes of retaining the title.
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Aston Villa also faltered, playing out a 0–0 stalemate away to Crystal Palace in a tight contest. Unai Emery’s team struggled to break down a disciplined Palace defence, with Ollie Watkins going closest when he struck the frame of the goal late on. Villa remain five points adrift of Arsenal and, like City, have now lost momentum after a strong start to the season.
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The combination of City’s draw and Villa’s stalemate opens the door for Arsenal to create significant daylight at the top of the table. A victory over Liverpool in their upcoming fixture would move Mikel Arteta’s side eight points clear, giving them a substantial cushion over their nearest challengers. With rivals stuttering and pressure mounting, Arsenal’s next performance could prove decisive in shaping the direction of this year’s title race.
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