Premier League: Arsenal crush Newcastle to keep pace with title rivals

LONDON — Arsenal claimed sixth straight win with impressive 4-1 victory over Newcastle United to keep pace with Liverpool and Manchester City at the top of the Premier League.

Their margin of victory also means they have the best goal difference in the league and have only scored one fewer goal than Liverpool.

Arsenal produced a blistering start, scoring twice inside the opening 24 minutes. On 18 minutes Gabriel’s header from a corner was saved well by Karius, but Livramento kicked the loose ball against Sven Botman and it crossed the line before Karius was able to palm it away.

Six minutes later Kai Havertz scored for a second successive league match when he swept in Gabriel Martinelli’s low cross.

Arsenal were outstanding in the first half, suffocating Newcastle, who had only one touch in the Arsenal box and failed to register a shot in the opening 45 minutes for the first time since March 2014 against Southampton.

Havertz had a glorious opportunity to grab his second inside the opening 90 seconds of the second half when a flowing move put him through on goal but he somehow screwed his shot wide.

Newcastle were showing more threat and Isak had their best chance so far when put in on goal at an angle but David Raya did well to slow him down and Arsenal cleared. Anthony Gordon registered their first shot in the 49th minute, but it was straight at Raya.

But shortly after Eddie Howe had made two substitutions in an effort to find a goal back, Newcastle conceded a third. Bukayo Saka received the ball on the right edge of the area, cut in and then stepped back before curling the ball into the far corner.

Four minutes later it was 4-0 as Declan Rice’s inswinging corner was flicked in by Jakub Kiwior with a deflection off Lewis Miley.

Newcastle claimed a consolation goal as substitute Dan Burn marauded down the left and crossed for fellow sub Joe Willock to score a superb header against his former club.

After the loss Newcastle remain eighth with 37 points but have won only 11 points from their last 12 matches.

Foden strikes as Man City see off Bournemouth to close gap on leaders Liverpool

BOURNEMOUTH — Phil Foden’s first-half strike proved enough to give City a hard-fought 1-0 win against Bournemouth to close the gap on leaders Liverpool to one point.

City struck on 24 minutes after fine work by Erling Haaland, who saw his shot parried into Foden‘s path and the England star swept the ball home late on Saturday night.

Though City dominated most of the first half, Bournemouth came on strongly after the break and had two chances cleared off the line.

City dominated the early exchanges and should have led after nine minutes when Erling Haaland was played through on goal by Foden but the Norwegian shot wide of a post. Moments later Kerkez produced a strike from 25 yards that Ederson had to tip over, Premier League reports.

City’s superiority eventually told in the 24th minute as Haaland turned Marcos Senesi and fired a bouncing shot that Neto could only parry into the path of Foden, who converted from close range for his ninth goal of the season.

Just before half-time Ederson was called into action again to save a long-range strike from Ryan Christie.

Bournemouth showed greater threat in the second half, having nine shots to City’s six. Marcus Tavernier scuffed an effort from a good position inside the box before then dragging his shot wide of the right post.

Dominic Solanke was inches away from bringing Bournemouth level as his back-post header from a corner was beaten away by Ederson from the goalline.

Neto then superbly blocked Haaland’s effort before the Man City forward was replaced by Alvarez. As the match entered stoppage time, Bournemouth substitute Enes Unal headed narrowly wide against his former team.

Then another Bournemouth cross just missed its target as the Cherries were unable to find the goal that would have stopped City from an eighth successive away victory in all competitions.

A seventh match without victory drops Bournemouth a place to 14th on 28 points, eight clear of the bottom three.