Manchester City has closed in on retaining the Premier League title as Arsenal’s title hopes suffered another huge blow with a 3-0 defeat at home to Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday.
A few hours after Manchester City had beaten Everton 3-0, The Gunners’ defeat means they end the weekend four points behind Pep Guardiola’s side having played a game more.
The home side were second best throughout and they lost Gabriel Martinelli early on to injury after a nasty challenge from Moses Caicedo, and his replacement Leandro Trossard hit the woodwork against his former club.
City’s superior goal difference means two points from their remaining matches will likely be enough for a fifth title in six seasons.
Everton remain just one point outside the relegation zone and could slip into the bottom three if Leicester beat Liverpool on Monday.
By contrast to the Toffees’ troubles, City are still well on course for a treble and could afford the luxury of an afternoon off for some of their stars ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League semifinal, second leg against Real Madrid.
Guardiola made four changes from the side that drew 1-1 in the first leg in the Spanish capital on Tuesday with John Stones, Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne and Jack Grealish left on the bench.
It took the visitors 35 minutes to find their rhythm, by which point they should have been behind as Mason Holgate somehow spooned over a glorious chance to open the scoring after James Tarkowski headed down a corner.
Within three minutes of Holgate’s sitter, the game was over as a contest.
Guardiola had stern words for Gundogan despite the German scoring twice in last weekend’s 2-1 win over Leeds after the midfielder missed a late penalty having been given the chance to complete his hat-trick by Erling Haaland.
Gundogan made amends with a stunning touch to control and then flick home Riyad Mahrez’s cross in one movement to break the deadlock.
Moments later, he created the second with a floated cross that invited Haaland to power home his 52nd goal of the season with just his third touch in 39 minutes.
