LONDON: The three-way race for the Premier League title looks likely to go down to the wire after wins for Arsenal and Manchester City made it even tighter at the top.

Arsenal returned to the summit with a comfortable 2-0 victory over relegation-threatened Luton Town, while City crushed Aston Villa 4-1 to keep their hopes of retaining the title very much alive by going level on points with second-placed Liverpool.

Just one point separates the top three teams in what is shaping up to be the most compelling title fight in recent history. But it is three-time defending champions City who have the pedigree.

“If we are in and around it with 10 games to go then we know we are capable,” said City forward Phil Foden, who scored a hat trick against Villa. “We are in and around it again now so it is still possible. We have to keep believing. That was what the manager was big on today, believe and fight until the end.”

Liverpool had taken advantage of their two rivals drawing 0-0 on Sunday and moved two points clear at the top.

By the end of Wednesday’s games, Jurgen Klopp’s team were playing catch-up to Arsenal again and were ahead of City only on goal difference — even if they have a game in hand on both.

The question for Arsenal is whether they can go the distance after falling away so badly at the end of last season.

The Londoners led the table for 248 days before eventually being overtaken by a City team that won their third title in a row and completed a treble of trophies which also included the Champions League and FA Cup.

Mikel Arteta’s players have already improved head-to-head against City — winning and drawing against the defending champions. But it remains to be seen how they handle the pressure with just eight league games to go.

While Arsenal were expected to beat relegation-threatened Luton at home, there was always the potential for a slip.

That never looked likely after Martin Odegaard’s sweet left-footed strike opened the scoring in the 24th minute and an own goal from Daiki Hashioka in the 44th after good work by Emile Smith Rowe made it 2-0 by halftime.

Arteta opted to shuffle his pack with Declan Rice on the bench and Bukayo Saka not involved while Smith Rowe, Reiss Nelson and Thomas Partey were all given starts. But his side showed their strength in depth to cruise to victory.

“We want to be at the top — winning our games is the only thing we can do,” Arsenal manager Arteta told the BBC. “We managed to rotate and freshen the team up a bit. Those who came in did really,

really well.”

Defeat for depleted Luton leaves Rob Edwards’ side third from bottom of the English top flight, three points from safety, and facing an immediate return to the Championship.

Brentford drew 0-0 with Brighton & Hove Albion to edge further clear of the drop zone.

FODEN HITS HAT-TRICK

Foden shone in the absence of Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne as the England international’s hat-trick powered City to a thumping win against Villa as the champions responded emphatically to questions over their ability to win the biggest games.

City’s victory was their first over a top-five team in the league this season.

“Something we’ve been struggling with this season to face the teams at the top — beating Aston Villa 4-1 is not easy but we did it,” Rodri told TNT Sports. “We’re there, we knew we had to do our homework. We did it and now we focus on the next game.”

Pep Guardiola showed faith in the depth of his squad by leaving Haaland and De Bruyne on the bench for the full 90 minutes ahead of a hectic schedule in their defence of three competitions.

“The schedule is terrible and we have to bring energy. Everybody has to be involved,” said Guardiola on his decision to leave out Haaland and De Bruyne.

Guardiola has hailed Foden as the best player in the English top-flight this season and the 23-year-old backed up his manager’s words by taking his goal tally for the season to 21 with three supremely taken strikes.

“Phil, when he plays in a central position, he has a sense of goal,” added Guardiola. “He’s a really top class player -- he has a natural talent, a gift.”

City monopolised possession from kickoff and took the lead in the 11th minute when Rodri poked in Jeremy Doku’s cross.

Villa silenced the home crowd, however, when 20-year-old Jhon Duran slotted into the far corner after a neat one-two with Morgan Rogers in the 20th minute.

City restored their lead just before half-time to calm the rising tension among the Etihad crowd thanks to Foden finding a gap in Villa’s wall with a superb free kick just before halftime.

Rodri dribbled through Villa’s defence before laying the ball off for Foden to claim his second in the 62nd minute and the 23-year-old completed his hat-trick with a rocket into the top corner from 25 yards.

Published in Dawn, April 5th, 2024