Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal have dropped two more points in the Premier League title race, while Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United have tightened their grip on a top-four spot
Sunday was a tough day for Arsenal fans.
The Gunners threw away a two-goal lead at West Ham – with the game finishing 2-2 – to allow Manchester City to move within four points of the leaders. Pep Guardiola’s side will now be sensing a fifth Premier League title in six years.
Elsewhere, Manchester United won 2-0 at Nottingham Forest on Sunday. Erik ten Hag’s side are now six points clear of Tottenham in fifth with a game in hand after Spurs lost 3-2 at home to Bournemouth on Saturday. Yet Tottenham remain in touching distance of a top-four finish after Aston Villa’s 3-0 win against Newcastle on the same day.
Frank Lampard, meanwhile, suffered a third consecutive defeat as Chelsea manager, with his team losing 2-1 at home to Brighton on Saturday.
Rice comments on Arsenal speaks volumes
Declan Rice has been linked with an Arsenal switch for much of the current campaign, and he might see his display for West Ham against the Gunners as a successful audition.
The Hammers captain saw his team fall two goals behind inside 10 minutes, with Gabriel Jesus and Martin Odegaard on target, but he led a spirited comeback from David Moyes’ side. Rice played a part in the build-up as Said Benrahma halved the deficit from the penalty spot, before Jarrod Bowen levelled things up in the second half.
Before the game, West Ham’s number 41 had praised his England team-mates who play their club football for Arsenal. However, after his fellow Three Lions star Bukayo Saka missed a penalty at the London Stadium, Rice ended the afternoon celebrating a point gained.
Ten Hag knocks back Maguire theory
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has ruled out the idea of Harry Maguire returning to his long-time position of left-centre-back following Lisandro Martinez’s season-ending injury.
Martinez suffered a broken metatarsal during United’s 2-2 draw against Sevilla on Thursday. With Raphael Varane and Luke Shaw also unavailable, Ten Hag was forced to call on club captain Maguire and Victor Lindelof against Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
Maguire and Lindelof are used to playing alongside each other at centre-back, with Maguire featuring on the left and Lindelof on the right throughout Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s time in charge of the Red Devils. Yet the Norwegian’s successor Ten Hag is reluctant to play Maguire on the left and explained why after the 2-0 win against Forest at the City Ground.
Dalot reflects on Premier League firstTen Hag knocks back Maguire theory
Diogo Dalot reserved special praise for Antony after the Manchester United winger teed him up for his first ever Premier League goal during Sunday’s 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest.
The Portuguese right-back produced a composed finish to seal the points at the City Ground after Antony had nudged Erik ten Hag’s side into the lead in the first-half.
Dalot, 24, had only scored twice for United prior to the weekend, with both coming in cup competitions, and he admitted that his maiden league strike was a “special” moment.
Ten Hag makes Antony demand
Erik ten Hag hailed Antony for keeping Manchester United on course for a top-four finish… but wants him to be more consistent.
Antony scored United’s opener – his first Premier League goal since October – and set up the second for Diogo Dalot as Ten Hag’s side moved back up into third place with a 2-0 win against Steve Cooper’s struggling Nottingham Forest on Sunday afternoon.
United are now six points clear of fifth-placed Tottenham with a game in hand, with Ten Hag singling out £85million Brazilian winger Antony for special praise.
Rice’s comments on Arsenal “friendships”
Declan Rice has been linked with an Arsenal switch for much of the current campaign, and he might see his display for West Ham against the Gunners as a successful audition.
The Hammers captain saw his team fall two goals behind inside 10 minutes, with Gabriel Jesus and Martin Odegaard on target, but he led a spirited comeback from David Moyes’ side. Rice played a part in the build-up as Said Benrahma halved the deficit from the penalty spot, before Jarrod Bowen levelled things up in the second half.
Before the game, West Ham’s number 41 had praised his England team-mates who play their club football for Arsenal. However, after his fellow Three Lions star Bukayo Saka missed a penalty at the London Stadium, Rice ended the afternoon celebrating a point gained.