Arsenal 7 Points Clear as Carrick’s United DESTROY City 

Arsenal stretched their lead at the top of the Premier League to seven points despite being frustrated in a goalless draw at Nottingham Forest, as Michael Carrick marked his Manchester United league return with a commanding derby victory over Manchester City.
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Arsenal arrived at the City Ground knowing a win would further tighten their grip on the title race, but Mikel Arteta’s side were held to a 0-0 stalemate by a disciplined and combative Forest outfit. The visitors created the better chances and controlled long spells of possession, yet lacked precision in the final third, repeatedly denied by Forest’s packed defence and an assured display from goalkeeper Matt Turner. Despite dropping points, the draw moved Arsenal to 50 points from 22 games and, crucially, widened the gap over their closest challengers after Manchester City’s slip at Old Trafford.
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Nottingham Forest, entrenched in the relegation battle, treated the point as a valuable result in their fight for survival. They became only the second side this league campaign to prevent Arsenal from scoring, relying on aggressive pressing and deep defensive organisation to blunt one of the division’s most fluid attacks. The result leaves Forest still hovering near the bottom three but with renewed confidence after taking a result off the leaders.
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At Old Trafford, the mood was very different as Carrick enjoyed a dream league start in the dugout with a 2-0 win over noisy neighbours Manchester City. United produced a high-energy, front-foot performance that rekindled memories of classic derby nights, repeatedly unsettling City with their intensity and quick transitions. Second-half goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu capped a dominant display in which United also struck the woodwork twice and had three efforts ruled out, underlining their control of the contest.
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City, already under pressure after a stuttering run of league form, looked short of their usual fluency and struggled to match United’s tempo. The defeat extended their winless league streak to four matches and left their title defence in serious doubt with the gap to leaders Arsenal now seven points after 22 games. Pep Guardiola’s side fashioned few clear chances and were repeatedly exposed on the counter, raising further questions about their balance and resilience at a pivotal point in the season.
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For United, the win could prove a turning point as it propelled them back into the race for European qualification and injected belief into an underperforming squad. Carrick’s proactive approach, with aggressive pressing and a more expansive attacking structure, was warmly received by the Old Trafford crowd and offered a template for the weeks ahead. With Arsenal edging further clear at the summit and both Liverpool and City dropping points, the weekend’s results reshaped the landscape at both ends of the table, sharpening the stakes as the season enters its decisive phase.
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