Arsenal go six points clear as Gyokeres double sinks Fulham

Arsenal opened up a six-point lead at the top of the Premier League on Saturday with a comfortable 3-0 win at home to Fulham, thanks to a first-half double from Viktor Gyokeres either side of a goal from Bukayo Saka.

Moving a step closer to their first title in 22 years, Mikel Arteta’s side demolished woeful Fulham with a three-goal first half blitz at the Emirates Stadium.

Gyokeres put Arsenal ahead and the Sweden striker netted again on the stroke of half-time after Saka had doubled their lead.

Pep Guardiola’s men have two games in hand, with the first of those at Everton on Monday, but Arsenal’s dominant display has left City with no margin for error in a gripping title race.

City can draw level on points with Arsenal if they win their games in hand, but goal difference will be the deciding factor if both teams keep taking maximum points.

Arsenal, with three matches left, have a +41 goal difference, while City are on +37 with five to play.

So often criticised for winning ugly this season, the Gunners finally produced the kind of flowing football that is the hallmark of potential champions.

Crucially, Saka was back in the starting line-up for the first time since March 22 after returning from an achilles injury.

The England winger, who made two substitute appearance over the last week, is back just in the nick of time and his sublime display showed what Arsenal missed after losing three times in his five-game absence.

West Ham defeat gives Spurs hope: West Ham’s 3-0 defeat at Brentford offered Tottenham a lifeline in the battle for Premier League survival.

Spurs remain in the relegation zone, two points from safety, but can move out of the bottom three with victory at Aston Villa on Sunday after the Hammers succumbed to just their third defeat in 11 league games.

Brentford boosted their chances of European qualification for the first time with a first win in eight matches.

Konstantinos Mavropanos was left to rue his luck in two key first-half incidents.

The Greek defender was unfortunate not to be awarded a free-kick as he turned the ball into his own net to open the scoring.

Mavropanos thought he had made amends moments later with a bullet header, but was ruled marginally offside by a VAR review.

Brentford had another call go in their favour early in the second half when Dango Ouattara won a penalty and Igor Thiago coolly converted his 22nd Premier League goal of the season.

Mikkel Damsgaard’s strike rounded off a damaging day for West Ham, who face title-chasing Arsenal next weekend.

Brentford move up to sixth, which could be enough to secure Champions League qualification.

Newcastle eased any lingering fears of being drawn into the relegation battle with a 3-1 win over Brighton to end a five-game losing streak.

William Osula and Dan Burn scored in the opening 24 minutes as Newcastle edged up to 13th.

Jack Hinshelwood pulled a goal back, but defeat could prove costly to Brighton’s European ambitions as having started the weekend in sixth, they could end it outside the top half.

Harvey Barnes rounded off the scoring in stoppage time to bring some relief to the under-fire Eddie Howe.

Sunderland’s bid for Europe was also dented by a 1-1 draw at bottom-of-the-table Wolves.

Nordi Mukiele put the Black Cats in front early on, but Sunderland played for over an hour a man down after a red card for Dan Ballard.

Santiago Bueno levelled but Wolves could not muster just a fourth league win of the season.

Ipswich promoted to EPL: Ipswich secured an immediate return to the Premier League as they beat QPR 3-0 on Saturday to hold off the challenge of Millwall as Hollywood-backed Wrexham missed out on the play-offs.

The Tractor Boys had the destiny of second place in the Championship in their own hands and two goals in the opening 10 minutes from George Hirst and Jaden Philogene allowed the party to start early at Portman Road.

Kasey McAteer rounded off victory five minutes from time as Ipswich join Coventry in the top flight next season.

Ipswich struggled last season on their return to the Premier League for the first time in 22 years, but will hope that experience serves them better for the challenge ahead.

Despite winning just four of their 38 league games last season, the club have been rewarded for keeping faith with Kieran McKenna.

Agencies