O Arsenal rose to second place in Premier League with a 2-1 victory over Nottingham Forest (16th), this Tuesday (30th), at the opening of the 22nd round, in which leaders Liverpool host Chelsea (9th), on Wednesday.
The ‘Gunners’ are two points behind Liverpool and three above current champions Manchester City, third placed with 43, who host Burnley (19th) on Wednesday and have a game in hand, which will be played on February 20 , against Brentford.
At the City Ground, Arsenal completely dominated the match (they had more than 75% of the ball possession), but did not look dangerous in the first half, with just one shot on goal.
The Gunners were more precise and threatening after returning from the dressing room, with Bukayo Saka’s shot deflected by Matt Turner (53′) and Gabriel Jesus’ shot hitting the post (57′).
The perseverance of the two attackers was then rewarded. Gabriel Jesus took advantage of a quick touch from Oleksandr Zinchenko to enter the area and score almost from an angle, with the involuntary help of the goalkeeper, who deflected the ball (65′).
The Brazilian completed his work with a decisive pass to Saka, who scored with a cross shot (72′).
Taiwo Awoniyi, recovering from injury, reduced the lead in the final minutes after showing his strength against William Saliba (89′) and then forced Spanish goalkeeper David Raya to make a saving save in stoppage time (90’+3).
Arsenal have two wins from two games in 2024 before hosting Liverpool on Sunday.
Villa’s unbeaten run ends
Also this Tuesday, Aston Villa suffered their first home defeat in the championship since February 2023, against Newcastle (3-1). The result ended the Birmingham club’s 17-game unbeaten run in the Premier League.
Arsenal were the last team to win at Villa Park in the championship, on February 18, 2023, four to two.
The “Villans” then played 17 matches without being defeated in front of their fans, one less than in the series achieved in the 1976/77 season.
This season, Unai Emery’s team beat Brighton, Manchester City and Arsenal, among others, taking 28 points out of a possible 30 at home.
Only Sheffield United interrupted that run, with a 1-1 draw in December.
Newcastle ended this unbeaten run with a double from Fabian Schär (32′ and 36′), a Swiss defender who hadn’t scored in the Premier League since August 2022. The ‘Magpies’ expanded with an own goal from Alex Moreno (52′).
Ollie Watkins scored (71′), two minutes before having a goal disallowed for offside.
In the standings, Aston Villa remains in fourth, while Newcastle benefits from Brighton’s defeat of Luton (4-0) to take seventh place, leaving behind a series of four consecutive defeats in the championship.
See too
African Cup of Nations
South Africa eliminates Morocco and reaches the quarterfinals of the African Cup of Nations
Soccer