Arsenal provisionally back on top of the Premier League after beating Brighton. Villa wins again

Sun, Dec 17, 2023
Soccer News (AP)

LIVERPOOL, England (AP) - After leading the Premier League for 248 days last season without going on to win the title, Arsenal looks set to challenge again.

Mikel Arteta's team provisionally moved back to the top of the table on Sunday after a 2-0 win against Brighton.

While Liverpool has the chance to go back to first place when it plays Manchester United later Sunday, Arsenal made the most of defending champion Manchester City's surprise draw against Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz both scored in the second half at Emirates Stadium to extend Arsenal's advantage over fourth-place City to five points. The Londoners were two points above Liverpool.

Other news

Ollie Watkins scores winning goal and upsets home fans as high-flying Villa beats Brentford 2-1

Luton captain Tom Lockyer is undergoing tests and scans after cardiac arrest during EPL game

Kudus scores two as West Ham beats Wolves 3-0 in the Premier League

VILLA COMEBACK

Aston Villa may well be a surprise challenger if it can continue its outstanding early season form.

Trailing 1-0 at Brentford after Keane Lewis-Potter's first-half goal, Unai Emery's team came back to win 2-1, with Ben Mee's red card in the 71st a turning point.

Alex Moreno evened the score at GTech Community Stadium six minutes later and Ollie Watkins found the winner in the 85th.

Villa had Boubacar Kamara sent off in the seventh minute of stoppage time, but Villa held on to make it five wins out of its last six games in the league.

KUDUS DOUBLE

Mohammed Kudus is looking like one of the buys of the season after West Ham signed him from Ajax for around $48 million in August.

He struck twice as David Moyes' team beat Wolves 3-0 at London Stadium.

The attacker had also scored in Thursday's Europa League win against Freiburg and his double on Sunday made it four goals in his last five games. He has eight goals in all competitions for West Ham.

Jarrod Bowen was also on the scoresheet for his 10th of the season.

TOM LOCKYER

Luton captain Tom Lockyer was undergoing tests and scans following his cardiac arrest on Saturday, Luton said.

The defender collapsed on the field during his team's game against Bournemouth, which was abandoned.

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James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer