Manchester City humbles Fulham to unsettle Arsenal in the title charge
From Tanko Bauka
The English Barclays Premier League is regarded as the best football league in the world, primarily due to its organisational structure and the entertaining aspect, as well as the twists and drama associated with the league.
The league is getting hotter as teams chasing the title are breathing down the neck of the league leader and it is with an acceleration that could only be seen in wild fire.
Manchester City and Aston Villa are the closest rival to Arsenal as far as the league is concerned but at a point their hope seems to have been dash as Arsenal open up a Nine points gap in the league table but Manchester City out of the blues have reduced the gap to just only three points though Arsenal are yet to take to the pitch and can go back to six points later in the Evening if they can overcome Brentford in a London derby.
Manchester City during the weekend put their title charge back on track with a rare win against Liverpool and since then Pep Guardiola is fully aware that Manchester City still have a chance to topple Arsenal on top of the league.
Manchester City put three goals past Fulham and hope Brentford hold or defeat Arsenal and the points gap would not be much before the two teams meet at Etihad Stadium for the return leg having played out a one-all draw in the first leg at Emirates Stadium.
This is where the mental strength of Arsenal would be put to the test as they take on their London neighbours across the road.
Mikel Arteta had been there before and ended up finishing second and he would not want to repeat the mistakes of the past.
In the other matches played yesterday, Aston Villa collected all three points as they beat Brighton 1-0 at Villa Park to ease the pressure on the head coach Unai Emery while Nottingham Forest could not break down a well-organised Wolverhampton Wanderers and the encounter ended goalless.
Burnley inflicted a painful 3-2 shocking defeat against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park stadium while Sunderland were beaten 1-0 by Liverpool and their unbeaten home record was gone as before now they remain the only team that have not lost at home.
Attention now shifts to the Arsenal and Brentford match later in the evening.
Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur have parted company with Thomas Frank the club’s head coach after enduring a painful experience since his appointment.
Results
Manchester City 3- Fulham 0
Nottingham Forest 0- Wolves 0
Crystal Palace 2- Burnley 3
Aston Villa 1- Brighton Albion 0
Sunderland 0- Liverpool 1
