PA Media/dpa
London
Gabriel Jesus’ first-half brace fired Arsenal to an emphatic 5-1 win against Crystal Palace to take them within three points of Liverpool at the top of the Premier League.
Just three days after his hat-trick propelled Arsenal through to the semi-finals of the League Cup, Jesus was back among the goals after he scored either side of Ismaila Sarr’s strike in a frenetic opening 15 minutes at Selhurst Park.
Kai Havertz netted Arsenal’s third, seven minutes before the interval, and Gabriel Martinelli added another for the visitors on the hour mark. Declan Rice then completed the rout six minutes from time.
Following consecutive draws in the league, Arsenal’s five-star triumph in south London keeps them hot on Liverpool’s heels with the Reds - who have two games in hand over the Gunners - in action at Tottenham on Sunday.
It was the sixth time in 2024 that Arsenal scored five goals or more away from home - the most by an English top-flight club in a calendar year.
The only sour note for manager Mikel Arteta arrived after 22 minutes when Bukayo Saka was forced off with a hamstring injury. Saka headed straight down the tunnel and looks set for a spell on the sidelines.
Meanwhile, Morgan Rogers scored against his former club as Aston Villa beat Manchester City 2-1 at Villa Park to heap more misery on Pep Guardiola’s floundering side.
Rogers, who never made a senior appearance for City, set up a first-half opener for Jhon Duran before doubling his side’s lead in the second period.
Phil Foden struck a stoppage-time consolation for the reigning champions, who slipped to sixth in the table after a ninth defeat in their last 12 matches in all competitions.
Unai Emery’s Villa secured their third win in nine league games to get back on track in their bid for a top-four finish.
Nottingham Forest climbed up to third place after goals from Ola Aina and Anthony Elanga sealed them a 2-0 win at Brentford.
Full-back Aina fired into the bottom corner late in the first half after being played in by Neco Williams and Elanga finished from inside the box in similar fashion to extend Forest’s lead early in the second period.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side secured their third straight league win and fourth in five matches to climb above Arsenal in the table.
Alexander Isak fired a hat-trick as Newcastle made it back-to-back 4-0 league wins with a comfortable victory at Ipswich, who have yet to win at Portman Road this season.
Isak put Newcastle ahead inside the opening minute after a VAR review and after Jacob Murphy had doubled their lead, the Sweden forward rifled home his second in first-half stoppage time and added his third early in the second period.
Mohammed Kudus headed a second-half equaliser to earn West Ham United a point in a 1-1 home draw against Brighton & Hove Albion.
Kudus headed home a rebound after Jarrod Bowen’s shot had been parried by Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen seven minutes after Mats Wieffer’s first goal for Brighton had given the visitors the lead.
Premier League
Saturday ResultscColor:>
Aston Villa 2 Manchester City 1
Brentford 0 Nottingham 2
Itswich 0 Newcastle United 4
West Ham United 1 Brighton 1
Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 5.Aston Villa pile more misery on Manchester City