Arsenal claimed a 2-0 victory over struggling Luton on Wednesday to dislodge Liverpool from the top of the Premier League table, once again moving into the lead in a thrilling three-way title fight.
Gunners captain Martin Odegaard opened the scoring midway through the first half and an own goal just before the break gave the much-changed home side an advantage.
The result takes Arsenal to 68 points, one ahead of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, who host Sheffield United on Thursday.
Elsewhere on Wednesday, Phil Foden scored a hat-trick as reigning champions Manchester City crushed fourth-placed Aston Villa 4-1 to move back level on points with Liverpool.
A neat team performance 🤩
Discover the highlights of an exceptional evening at N5 👇 pic.twitter.com/LPxjV9jJD0
-Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 3, 2024
“We want to be at the top – winning our games is the only thing we can do,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said. BBC.
“We managed to rotate and refresh the team a bit,” he added. “Those who came did really, really well.”
Arteta’s men, in the absence of top scorer Bukayo Saka, dominated possession in the early stages at the Emirates but created few clear openings in front of an impatient crowd.
But they broke the deadlock in the 24th minute, thanks to a sweet left-footed strike from Odegaard.
Emile Smith Rowe, who has been a peripheral figure this season, dispossessed Pelly straggler Ruddock Mpanzu in the visitors’ half.
He fed Odegaard, who played a one-two with Kai Havertz before slotting the ball home for his 10th goal of the season.
Impact of Smith Rowe
Arsenal doubled their lead in the 44th minute thanks to an own goal from Luton defender Daiki Hashioka, who converted into his own net after further good work down the left from Smith Rowe.
The home side, playing in second gear, managed only three shots on target in the first half but were well worth their lead.
Most of the second half was flat, although Luton entered the game more, looking for an opening to get back into the contest.
Arteta brought on midfielder Declan Rice and striker Eddie Nketiah, introducing Gabriel Martinelli with 15 minutes remaining.
Arsenal substitute Takehiro Tomiyasu went close, bending one just wide, and Nketiah forced a save from scrambling Thomas Kaminski in the final minutes.
They failed to score a third but finished the game with few alarms.
The Gunners, who have not been crowned champions of England since 2004, set the tone for most of last season before faltering as they approached the finish line.
But, adding steel to their style, they have now won nine of their last 10 league matches, with the only failure in that run being a goalless draw against City on Sunday.
Arsenal, who have conceded just four league goals in 2024, travel to Brighton on Saturday before hosting Villa on April 14.
Between these matches, they host Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.
Defeat for depleted Luton leaves Rob Edwards’ side third from bottom of the English top flight, three points from safety and facing an immediate return to the Championship.
Brentford drew 0-0 with Brighton to move further away from the drop zone.
Foden scores hat-trick as Man City crush Aston Villa
Phil Foden shone in the absence of Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne as the England international’s hat-trick helped Manchester City to a thumping 4-1 victory over Aston Villa on Wednesday.
The champions responded emphatically to questions about their ability to win the biggest games to move within a point of leaders Arsenal at the top of the Premier League.
City had not beaten a top-five Premier League team in six attempts this season before fourth-placed Villa’s visit to the Etihad.
But Pep Guardiola showed confidence in his squad’s depth by leaving Haaland and De Bruyne on the bench for a full 90 minutes ahead of a busy schedule for their three-competition defense.
A sensational way to seal the treble! 🚀@PhilFoden ✨ pic.twitter.com/yFtRPAln0f
-Manchester City (@ManCity) April 3, 2024
“The schedule is terrible and we have to bring energy. Everyone has to be involved,” Guardiola said of his decision to leave out Haaland and De Bruyne.
Guardiola hailed Foden as the best player in England’s top flight this season and the 23-year-old backed up his manager’s words by taking his goal tally for the season to 21.
“Phil, when he plays in a central position, he has an eye for goal,” Guardiola added.
“He’s a really top player – he has a natural talent, a gift.”
City were beaten 1-0 by Villa when the sides met in December, but that was their latest defeat as Guardiola’s men are now unbeaten in 24 games.
And Unai Emery admitted the gap between the teams was visible.
An emphatic victory at the Etihad with a superb @PhilFoden hat trick! ✨
Highlights 👇 pic.twitter.com/y9aS0feYv3
-Manchester City (@ManCity) April 3, 2024
“We played very well in different circumstances (at home against City). Today they showed their power and deserved to win,” said the Villa boss.
Jeremy Doku was one of those to return to the City side among four changes and the Belgian rewarded his manager with his finest performance in a City shirt in months.
Doku was the creator of the opener as he headed past Lucas Digne and his cross was swept high past Villa substitute goalkeeper Robin Olsen by Rodri.
Villa’s normal number one, Emiliano Martinez, was just one of several key absences for the visitors.
Top scorer Ollie Watkins was sidelined due to injury, while captain John McGinn was suspended.
However, Jhon Duran showed he was a capable deputy to Watkins as the Colombian scored a fine equalizer after exchanging a one-two with Morgan Rogers.
City restored their lead just before half-time to calm the growing tension among the Etihad crowd thanks to Foden’s first of the evening.
His free-kick slipped through a hole in the Villa wall caused by Nicolo Zaniolo jumping out of position to leave Olsen unnoticed.
City’s number two goalkeeper Stefan Ortega is having a rare spell in the team due to Ederson’s thigh injury.
And the German had to make a vital save after the break to prevent Villa equalizing for a second time through Douglas Luiz.
Foden made the points safe when he swept Rodri’s pass inside the post.
And he completed his hat-trick in style by driving into the top corner from outside the box.
But City will be quietly confident of becoming the first team to win four consecutive English top-flight titles, with the worst of their showdown now resolved.
Guardiola’s men have just one game left against a top-six opponent, in Tottenham, in their final eight games of the season.
The defeat leaves Villa just two points clear of Spurs in the race for the top four, having played a game more.
