Arsenal knocks off Everton and smashes gap with City
NOS Soccer–
Championship fever in the red part of North London is beginning to take serious shape. Thanks to a 4-0 home victory over Everton, the Premier League frontrunners have created a five-point gap to first pursuer Manchester City.
With thirteen games left to play, that margin is certainly not yet comfortable. But dreams of the first national title since 2004 (then under coach Arsène Wenger) are certainly allowed for the Gunners’ fans.
For nearly forty minutes Arsenal came off particularly weak in their own stadium, but then Bukayo Saka received a pass from Oleksandr Zintshenko, turned away from his opponent at lightning speed and popped a controlled hit.
Gabriel Martinelli also made it 2-0 just before halftime, although that goal was initially canceled for offside. However, VAR determined that the Brazilian was just behind the ball when Saka snatched it from the inattentive Idrissa Gueye.
In the remainder of the match, Arsenal remained the better team, without really pushing forward. Martin Ødegaard and Martinelli, who scored his fourth goal in the last three games, still made it 4-0.
Van Dijk helps Liverpool to a hard-fought victory
As bright as the future is for Arsenal, Liverpool’s is bleak. The club of Netherlands internationals Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo is suffering one blow after another this season.
After the humiliation at home Anfield by Real Madrid (2-5) and the scoreless draw at Crystal Palace (0-0), Liverpool also seemed unable to score at home against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Thanks to goals from Van Dijk and Mo Salah, things turned out all right in the closing stages: 2-0.
Saturday awaits Arsenal’s home game with Bournemouth. Sunday, a stiff challenge awaits Liverpool: then Manchester United – which reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup tonight – will visit.
