Arsenal beat Brighton to move seven points clear - Man City draw with Forest

LONDON, England:

Arsenal moved seven points ahead of Manchester City at the top of the English Premier League after scraping a 1-0 win at Brighton while their title rivals drew 2-2 at home to struggling Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.

City almost won it eight minutes into stoppage time when substitute Savinho had a shot cleared near the line.

Right winger Bukayo Saka's ninth-minute goal was enough for Arsenal, which have played one game more than City. Saka broke down the right and his scuffed strike from the edge of the penalty area took a deflection and went through the legs of goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen.

Manchester United's unbeaten run under new coach Michael Carrick ended at seven games following a 2-1 defeat at Newcastle, which had midfielder Jacob Ramsey sent off in first-half stoppage time and scored in the 90th minute through substitute William Osula.

HAALAND FLOPS

Erling Haaland returned for City after having sat out the 1-0 win at Leeds on Saturday with a minor injury but was ineffective.

City struggled to break Forest down until Rayan Cherki made a fine run down the right and floated over a cross which Antoine Semenyo expertly volleyed in at waist height with his left foot.

But Forest hit the home side in the 52nd with a classic counterattack which went almost the length of the field. It culminated in a brilliant back-heeled finish from midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White, after Brazil forward Igor Jesus had nodded down a right-wing cross.

Forest's joy was shortlived when former Ballon d'Or winner Rodri rose to head home from a corner six minutes later.

Forest stunned City again, however, when midfielder Elliot Anderson curled in a superb shot from just outside the penalty area into the bottom right corner with 13 minutes left.

UNITED LOSE

Newcastle fans had to endure 10 minutes of stoppage time before erupting with joy at St. James' Park.

Osula scored a brilliant breakaway goal, starting the move deep inside his own half and galloping down the right before curling a fine shot past goalkeeper Senne Lammens.

Ramsey was sent off after collecting a second yellow card for diving in the area. Newcastle took the lead moments later when Anthony Gordon was fouled by Bruno Fernandes and converted the resulting spot kick.

But nine minutes into first-half stoppage time, Fernandes set up Casemiro's equalising header from a free kick.

Striker Joao Pedro grabbed a hat-trick as Chelsea moved above Liverpool into fifth place with a 4-1 win at Aston Villa. Chelsea are only three points behind fourth-place Villa in the race for Champions League places next season.

Villa scored after two minutes when Ollie Watkins let Leon Bailey's cross from right go through his legs and midfielder Douglas Luiz deftly flicked the ball in from close range.

Midfielder Cole Palmer drove in the third goal in the 55th and Pedro tapped in Alejandro Garnacho's cross to complete his hat-trick in the 64th.

Forward Crysencio Summerville's strike was enough to give West Ham a vital 1-0 win at Fulham in their relegation fight.

Forest are 17th and West Ham are 18th, with only goal difference separating the sides.

-AP