LONDON: Manchester United inflicted Arsenal&#39;s first home defeat of the season in a 3-2 thriller to blow the Premier League title race open on Sunday as Aston Villa beat Newcastle to close within four points of the Gunners. Villa&#39;s impressive 2-0 victory at Newcastle took Unai Emery&#39;s men level on points with Manchester City, whose own title chances were boosted by events at the Emirates Stadium. A week on from dominating City in the Manchester derby, Michael Carrick&#39;s dream start as United boss continued thanks to Matheus Cunha&#39;s stunning late winner. &quot;A really painful one,&quot; said Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta. &quot;But now it is time to be very close to those players that have given us so much joy and support them because we all want to win.&quot; A Lisandro Martinez own goal put Arsenal in front, but the Red Devils quickly leveled when Bryan Mbeumo pounced on an error by Martin Zubimendi. Patrick Dorgu&#39;s brilliant strike put the visitors in front early in the second half. Not for the first time this season, despite their lofty league position, Arsenal were blunt as an attacking force from open play. But they could rely on their prowess from set-pieces to equalize when Mikel Merino forced in a corner on 84 minutes. Just moments later, Cunha took aim from outside the box and delivered a telling blow to the Gunners&#39; hopes of a first league title in 22 years. Victory also propelled United into the top four to boost their chances of Champions League football next season for the first time in three years. &quot;To come here and score three goals in the manner we did, going one down, coming back, then the setback, and still keeping going,&quot; said Carrick. &quot;It was a huge moment for us.&quot; Chelsea inflict more pain on Palace Villa kept their outside shot at a first league title since 1981 alive with their first victory at St. James&#39; Park for 21 years. &quot;We are competing against Arsenal, <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/haaland-sends-man-city-top-chelsea-fightback-frustrates-newcastle" style="color:#0073e6;">Manchester City</a>, Chelsea,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/salah-back-in-liverpool-squad-after-afcon" style="color:#0073e6;">Liverpool</a>, Newcastle, Tottenham... Wow, the power they have!&quot; Emery said. &quot;But we are competing and we are there.&quot; Emiliano Buendia&#39;s brilliant strike from outside the box opened the scoring before Ollie Watkins secured victory when the England international headed in Lucas Digne&#39;s cross two minutes from time. Newcastle slip to ninth but still only four points outside the top five, which will likely be enough for a place in the Champions League. Chelsea piled more pain on Crystal Palace with a 3-1 win at Selhurst Park. Oliver Glasner promised to do his best to turn around a miserable run for the Eagles despite announcing he will leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the season. Palace are now winless in 11 games and never recovered after a wayward back-pass from Jaydee Canvot freed Estevao to sprint clear and fire in Chelsea&#39;s opener on 34 minutes. The Brazilian then set up compatriot Joao Pedro to gallop in behind the Palace defense and double the Blues&#39; advantage just after half-time. Enzo Fernandez&#39;s penalty rounded off a fourth win in five games for Liam Rosenior since he took charge at Stamford Bridge. Nottingham Forest gave their survival chances a huge boost by inflicting just the second home defeat of the season on Brentford. Forest moved five points clear of the drop zone with a 2-0 win in west London thanks to goals from Igor Jesus and Taiwo Awoniyi.

Football

Newcastle slip to ninth, still only four points outside the top five, enough for a place in the Champions League; Chelsea pile more pain on Crystal Palace with a 3-1 win at Selhurst Park.

Arsenal rocked by Man Utd, Villa rekindle Premier League title bid

LONDON: Chelsea quelled criticism of Enzo Maresca&#39;s rotation policy with a 3-0 win against Wolves featuring the first goal of Malo Gusto&#39;s career on Saturday.&nbsp;Former Manchester United star Wayne Rooney said Chelsea&#39;s senior players should &quot;question&quot; Maresca&#39;s selections after the Italian made seven changes for a 2-2 draw against Azerbaijani minnows Qarabag in the Champions League on Wednesday.&nbsp;Having defended himself from Rooney&#39;s jibe by insisting the physical demands on players are greater than ever, Maresca made eight changes at Stamford Bridge.&nbsp;It was the sixth consecutive match that Maresca had made seven or more alterations and the move paid off with a strong second half performance that lifted Chelsea into second place in the Premier League.&nbsp;French defender Gusto, who arrived from Lyon in 2023, put Chelsea ahead after the interval with his maiden professional goal.&nbsp;Joao Pedro doubled the lead and Pedro Neto wrapped up Chelsea&#39;s fourth win in their last five league games as they closed within six points of leaders Arsenal.&nbsp;Although they will drop out of second place after Manchester City face Liverpool on Sunday, Maresca will be relieved to silence his critics heading into the international break.&nbsp;&quot;It&#39;s more noise from outside. Inside, we are convinced that as a club as a team we are going in the right direction and doing good things,&quot; Maresca said.&nbsp;&quot;We played well. I think the only difference between the first half and second half is that in the second half we scored the goals that we didn&#39;t in the first half.&quot;&nbsp;On the rotation controversy, he added: &quot;It&#39;s part of my job, it&#39;s part of the game.&nbsp;&quot;At the end this is a business that when you don&#39;t win there are problems but when you win everything is good.&quot;&nbsp;Bottom-of-the-table Wolves, led by academy coaches James Collins and Richard Walker after Vitor Pereira&#39;s sacking last weekend, are eight points from safety following their ninth defeat in 11 league games.&nbsp;Middlesbrough have granted their manager Rob Edwards permission to speak to Wolves over the job after agreeing a compensation deal on Saturday.&nbsp;Chelsea only arrived home in London at six o&#39;clock on Thursday morning after their long flight back from Baku and, despite Maresca&#39;s switches; they looked jet-lagged in the first half.&nbsp;Chelsea hit their strideAlejandro Garnacho had rescued Chelsea with an equaliser against Qarabag and the Argentine winger should have opened the scoring in the early stages in west London.&nbsp;Enzo Fernandez&#39;s pass sent Garnacho through but his low drive was well saved by Sam Johnstone.&nbsp;Johnstone came to Wolves rescue again, tipping over Fernandez&#39;s blast from the edge of the area.&nbsp;After making two fine stops, Johnstone was guilty of a mistake when he allowed Fernandez&#39;s corner to loop over him towards the goal, with Toti Gomes making an agile clearance off the line.&nbsp;Despite Chelsea&#39;s territorial dominance, their fans began to grow frustrated at their ponderous passing and failure to put Wolves to the sword.&nbsp;Joao Pedro squandered a golden opportunity to ease Chelsea&#39;s angst on the stroke of half-time when he shot wide from an unmarked position on the edge of the area.&nbsp;Chelsea were booed off at the interval, but their frustrated fans were finally able to cheer in the 51st minute.&nbsp;Garnacho was the catalyst with a driving run and cross into the six-yard box, where Gusto headed home with aplomb.&nbsp;Maresca sent on emerging star Estevao Willian and the teenage Brazilian took just 67 seconds to make immediate impact as he set up Chelsea&#39;s second goal in the 65th minute.&nbsp;Estevao&#39;s dynamic burst ended with a perfectly-weighted cross for Joao Pedro, who drilled a fierce strike past Johnstone from 12 yards.&nbsp;The Blues had hit their stride and Neto put the seal on the victory in the 73rd minute, the former Wolves winger tapping in Garnacho&#39;s tempting cross.

It is the sixth consecutive match that Maresca made seven or more alterations and the move paid off with a strong second half performance that lifted Chelsea into second place in the Premier League.

Articles tagged with "English Premeir League"

Arsenal rocked by Man Utd, Villa rekindle Premier League title bid

Chelsea down Wolves to ease criticism of Maresca's rotation policy