Arsenal Extend Premier League Lead as Manchester City Lose at Aston Villa

Arsenal extended their Premier League lead to four points with a 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace, courtesy of Eberechi Eze's volley, while Manchester City suffered a 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa, ending their nine-game unbeaten run. Arsenal's strong defense, highlighted by their tenth clean sheet in 13 games, allowed them to maintain momentum despite not performing at their best offensively. Manchester City's defeat was marked by over-reliance on Erling Haaland, whose 11-game scoring streak ended, and the absence of key midfielders impacted their performance, with Tijjani Reijnders struggling in the defensive midfield role. Aston Villa's Matty Cash scored a stunning goal from outside the box, and Villa maintained pressure to secure their fourth consecutive league win, moving them into seventh place and close to a Champions League spot. Arsenal now leads fourth-placed City by six points, with Liverpool seven points behind, while Bournemouth has risen to second place after beating Nottingham Forest. The results solidify Arsenal's position at the top as their title rivals falter, setting a competitive race for the Premier League crown.