AGENCIES

Arsenal moved a step closer to ending a 22-year wait for the Premier League title after a flawless weekend saw the Gunners extend their lead to six points.

A commanding 4-0 win at Leeds quelled doubts over Mikel Arteta’s side succumbing to the pressure of being favourites, with Martin Zubimendi’s header and a Karl Darlow own goal giving Arsenal a 2-0 half-time advantage.

Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Jesus added late goals, silencing criticism over the team’s goal-scoring reliance on set-pieces. “We really wanted to show how much we wanted it, and I think we’ve certainly done that,” Arteta said.

Manchester City and Aston Villa faltered as Arsenal surged ahead.

City, appearing unsettled despite a significant squad overhaul, surrendered a 2-0 half-time lead to draw 2-2 at Tottenham, with Dominic Solanke striking twice.

Villa, seven points adrift, lost 1-0 at home to 10-man Brentford, highlighting the gap between the top two and the chasing pack.

The battle for Champions League places remained fierce. Manchester United staged a dramatic comeback at Old Trafford, overturning a 2-0 deficit to beat Fulham 3-2 thanks to Benjamin Sesko’s late winner, lifting them above Chelsea and Liverpool into fourth.

Michael Carrick described the rollercoaster victory as capturing the emotion that makes fans “love it so much.” Chelsea and Liverpool, meanwhile, both secured vital wins to stay in contention, keeping the top-five race tense.

Newcastle suffered heartbreak at Anfield, losing 3-1 to Liverpool despite Anthony Gordon’s early strike. Hugo Ekitike’s quickfire double and Florian Wirtz’s goal showcased Liverpool’s attacking firepower, with Ekitike now on 15 goals this season.

Wirtz, after a slow start at the club, has scored six times in 10 games since his £100 million move from Bayern Leverkusen, proving Liverpool’s summer recruitment is beginning to pay dividends.

Arsenal, in contrast, looked steady and composed, seemingly determined not to repeat the late-season collapses of recent years.

With rivals dropping points and their own form peaking at the right moment, the Gunners appear poised to secure the title that has eluded them for over two decades.

The league’s final stretch promises drama, but after a weekend of emphatic performances and slipping competitors, the question is no longer if Arsenal can win it, but when.