EPL: Arsenal go seven clear as City drop points

Arsenal tightened their grip on the Premier League title race after edging past Brighton while Manchester City stumbled at home against Nottingham Forest.

With both contenders kicking off simultaneously, Mikel Arteta’s side secured a narrow win on the south coast as City were held at the Etihad, stretching the Gunners’ advantage at the summit to seven points. Although City have a game in hand.

Arsenal survive Brighton pressure

Arsenal’s night at Brighton almost began in disaster. Within seconds, David Raya’s clearance fell straight to Carlos Baleba, but Gabriel recovered to head the midfielder’s weak chip off the line.

The breakthrough arrived after nine minutes when Bukayo Saka’s routine effort deflected off Baleba and slipped through the legs of Bart Verbruggen, a moment that ultimately proved decisive.

Brighton dominated large spells and grew increasingly frustrated, particularly just before the hour when Raya saved from Georginio Rutter and then required treatment while clutching his shoulder, prompting fury from the home support.

The hosts piled on sustained pressure and should have equalised, only for Mats Wieffer to head straight at Raya from point-blank range.

In the closing stages, Brighton ran out of momentum, allowing Arsenal to grind out a scrappy but significant victory.

City falter at home

At the Etihad Stadium, Manchester City failed to keep pace. Despite controlling possession, they were pegged back twice by relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest.

City struck first after the half-hour mark when Rayan Cherki delivered a delicate cross and January signing Semenyo volleyed home his seventh goal for the club.

Forest threatened immediately on the counter. Morgan Gibbs-White was denied by Gianluigi Donnarumma, who also parried a low drive from Igor Jesus.

The visitors levelled on 56 minutes when Gibbs-White improvised brilliantly, backheeling Igor Jesus’ knockdown beyond Donnarumma.

City responded as Erling Haaland’s deflected effort led to Rodri heading home from a corner to restore the lead.

But with 13 minutes remaining, Elliot Anderson curled in from 25 yards to earn Forest a crucial point and leave City seven adrift.