Match reports
Time for me to sign off, on a big night for teams at both ends of the table. I’ll leave you with all our match reports. Until next time.
Can 10-man Newcastle hold on for a point? Join Scott Murray for the closing stages …
Full time: Aberdeen 1-2 Celtic
A big three points for Martin O’Neill’s side, who climb above Rangers and into second place – five points off leaders Hearts.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hearts | 29 | 28 | 63 |
| 2 | Celtic | 29 | 22 | 58 |
| 3 | Rangers | 29 | 26 | 57 |
| 4 | Motherwell | 28 | 29 | 53 |
| 5 | Hibernian | 29 | 13 | 46 |
| 6 | Falkirk | 29 | 0 | 42 |
| 7 | Dundee Utd | 29 | -10 | 33 |
| 8 | Aberdeen | 29 | -12 | 29 |
| 9 | Dundee | 28 | -18 | 28 |
| 10 | St Mirren | 29 | -22 | 24 |
| 11 | Kilmarnock | 29 | -28 | 21 |
| 12 | Livingston | 29 | -28 | 14 |
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And now Bukayo Saka, the match winner. “We know we’re in a race, and it’s very tight – it’s been like that for the last few years. It feels like a massive result, we’re going to enjoy it. Sometimes it’s just about getting results, and we’ve shown we can do it.”
Here’s Fabian Hurzeler: “Disappointed with the result, happy with the fans, they backed us all the way.” He’s got plenty to say about Arsenal’s tactics. “The Premier League needs to find their rules … more game time, yellow cards for time wasting. How many times do you see a goalkeeper going down three times in one game?”
Bernardo Silva talks after City’s draw with Forest, where the hosts had a couple of penalty appeals turned down: “I just watched [the Haaland incident], for me it’s a penalty. We’re used to it this season … our job is just to be better. All we can control is our performances.”
Liam Rosenior: “Our response [to going behind] was everything I want to see, on a very tough ground to get a result. Building from the back, being incisive, playing between the lines.”
“Garnacho was outstanding … I knew he would play well tonight because of how he’s trained. Joao [Pedro] is scary, he’s a warrior – we’ve worked on his positioning in the six-yard box, so I’m very happy with tonight.”
Updated
It’s a good night to be an Arsenal fan. They are seven points clear at the top … and Spurs are one point off the bottom three.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 30 | 37 | 67 |
| 2 | Man City | 29 | 32 | 60 |
| 3 | Man Utd | 29 | 12 | 52 |
| 4 | Aston Villa | 29 | 5 | 51 |
| 5 | Chelsea | 29 | 19 | 48 |
| 6 | Liverpool | 29 | 9 | 48 |
| 7 | Brentford | 29 | 4 | 44 |
| 8 | Everton | 29 | 1 | 43 |
| 9 | AFC Bournemouth | 29 | -2 | 40 |
| 10 | Fulham | 29 | -3 | 40 |
| 11 | Sunderland | 29 | -4 | 40 |
| 12 | Brighton | 29 | 2 | 37 |
| 13 | Newcastle | 29 | -2 | 37 |
| 14 | Crystal Palace | 28 | -4 | 35 |
| 15 | Leeds | 29 | -11 | 31 |
| 16 | Tottenham Hotspur | 28 | -5 | 29 |
| 17 | Nottm Forest | 29 | -15 | 28 |
| 18 | West Ham | 29 | -19 | 28 |
| 19 | Burnley | 29 | -26 | 19 |
| 20 | Wolverhampton | 30 | -30 | 16 |
Some post-game thoughts from Gabriel: “Here is a very tough place to come, most important was to compete, get a clean sheet and the three points. We need to rest now!”
Luton are off to Wembley! They’ve fought back to beat Northampton 2-1 in the EFL Trophy semi-finals, and have booked a Hatters v Hatters showdown with Stockport at Wembley.
Updated
Full time: Aston Villa 1-4 Chelsea
Villa took an early lead but Chelsea turned it round in spectacular fashion, Joao Pedro netting a hat-trick to boost their Champions League hopes.
Some post-game thoughts from Elliot Anderson: “I couldn’t fault the effort from the lads – the spirit’s been great but we just haven’t had the results. [For his goal] I thought I’d just let it go, I’ve been trying to shoot more often. We’ve got a few days off, and we’ll be back working, trying to pick up more points.”
Celtic retake the lead at Pittodrie! It’s Benjamin Nygren with the goal; the visitors lead Aberdeen 2-1.
Updated
Villa and Chelsea play on, in a game that had the most exciting first half, but which I haven’t looked at for a good 15 minutes. It’s still Aston Villa 1-4 Chelsea.
Full time: Man City 2-2 Nottingham Forest
City have a final flurry at goal – and in a mad final scramble, Murillo clears Savinho’s shot off the line! But that’s it. A huge result for Forest – and for Arsenal.
Updated
Full time: Brighton 0-1 Arsenal
Arsenal get the job done after a brutal struggle, Bukayo Saka’s deflected early goal proving to be enough. Over to the Etihad …
Full time: Fulham 0-1 West Ham
A huge three points for the Hammers, sealed by Crysencio Summerville’s second-half winner. They’re still in the bottom three, but only on goal difference.
Eek! Semenyo’s free kick swerves and dips, but flies just over the bar. It looked like Sels got a touch, which was missed by the officials, who award a goal kick.
Updated
Trossard mishits his shot, but the key detail for Arsenal is that the ball is at the right end of the field.
Yates bundles Rodri over, and City have a decent opportunity from a free kick, 25 yards out.
Back at the Amex, Kadioglu sends in a swirling cross that Raya punches clear, before Havertz is brought down to ease the pressure.
City corner, and a goalmouth scramble which ends with Rodri firing a shot wide, and then going down. Anderson made contact, but it looked like a clash of boots.
Oooof! Forest have a corner and it’s met by Ryan Yates at the near post … but his header flies wide!
Martinez saves from Garnacho after Chelsea break through the Villa defence again. There are seven added minutes at the Etihad, and the Amex …
Kai Havertz has a go from a tight angle, but his shot is shoveled wide by Verbruggen. At the Etihad, Haaland goes over cheaply after failing to trap Rodri’s mishit shot.
West Ham holding on at Fulham, with Mads Hermansen keeping out Timothy Castagne’s volley.
An hour gone at Pittodrie, and it remains Aberdeen 1-1 Celtic.
Minute by minute, Arsenal are getting the job done at the Amex, where there are now just five minutes to play.
At Villa Park, home fans are heading for the exit while Ollie Watkins looks rueful on the bench. He’s been replaced by Tammy Abraham after a tough night in front of goal.
Big goal for Luton, who lead Northampton 2-1 at Kenilworth Road, and look to be heading to a Wembley showdown with Stockport.
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Forest pounce on another loose City pass, and while the moment passes, the visitors currently look the more likely to score at the minute. At the other end, substitute Jeremy Doku sends a wild shot high and wide.
“The constant booing that Trossard gets from Brighton fans is baffling to me. Yeah, he fell out with De Zerbi before leaving, but falling out is what people do with De Zerbi,” writes Kari Tulinius. “From the booing, you’d think he’d burned every Brightonian’s childhood teddy bear.”
Half time: Newcastle 1-1 Man Utd
Casemiro has quickly levelled against 10-man Newcastle, and now the half-time whistle blows.
GOAL! Man City 2-2 Nottm Forest (Anderson 77')
Forest just won’t lie down, and they’re level again! It’s Elliot Anderson this time, sweeping the ball into the far corner from the edge of the box. Finish!
Updated
Late drama to end the first half at St James’ Park, with Jacob Ramsey shown a second yellow card for diving, then Newcastle being awarded a penalty moments later. Anthony Gordon converts, and Newcastle lead 1-0!
GOAL! Aston Villa 1-4 Chelsea (Pedro 65')
Villa’s high line is torn apart once again, with Garnacho sliding the ball across for Pedro to complete his hat-trick. A big win for Chelsea, and Villa’s Champions League bid is in danger of unravelling.
Updated
Cherki’s through ball finds Haaland, who is able to take a touch and go around Sels, before going down after contact. It looks like a penalty, but the referee waves play on, and there’s no VAR intervention.
Baleba’s shot is closed down as Brighton keep hunting that equaliser. Time for former Gunner Danny Welbeck to join the fray.
It’s still incredibly end-to-end at Aston Villa, with Watkins failing to take a chance, allowing Chelsea to break. James has Garnacho in the middle, but his cross-shot is too close to Martinez.
GOAL! Fulham 0-1 West Ham (Summerville 65')
And a significant goal at Craven Cottage, where Jarrod Bowen tees up Crysencio Summerville to open the scoring! West Ham are out of the bottom three as it stands.
Updated
GOAL! Aston Villa 1-3 Chelsea (Palmer 56')
It’s turning into a very good night for Liam Rosenior’s Chelsea, who again break to devastating effect. Palmer finds James down the left and while his cross is palmed out by Martinez, Palmer is there to thread the rebound into the net.
Updated
GOAL! Man City 2-1 Nottm Forest (Rodri 63')
And from that corner, City retake the lead! Rodri powers home a header, with Sels complaining he was impeded by Haaland. I’m not sure there was enough in it, and Milenkovic is booked for his complaints.
Updated
Brighton are threatening again, with Minteh’s shot bundled behind off Mosquera. At the Etihad, Haaland’s shot rebounds behind for a corner …
Forest get forward again, but City counter and Murillo is booked for bringing down Haaland. City are looking a little fragile defensively again, though.
David Raya preserves Arsenal’s lead, springing to his right to save Rutter’s well-struck shot. He needs treatment afterwards, and is barracked by the Brighton fans. Mikel Arteta sends on Trossard and Havertz.
GOAL! Man City 1-1 Nottm Forest (Gibbs-White 56')
Well, then. Forest escape the pressure and break away, with Morgan Gibbs-White applying the finishing touch thanks to a lovely backheel. That could be a huge moment at both ends of the table!
Updated
Yankuba Minteh has come on for Brighton at the break, while at Villa Park, Lamare Bogarde has replaced Matty Cash.
Arsenal see off a couple of goalmouth scrambles, Declan Rice thudding the ball away. The thing with Brighton is they don’t really look like scoring, until they do – so it’s hard to tell how comfortable this lead is.
Lovely skill from Cherki, skipping into space but sending his shot high over the bar. Still, City have started this half firmly on the front foot.
We’re back under way at Villa Park, where Chelsea lead 2-1. That game is a fair bit behind the other 7.30pm kick-offs. Luton, meanwhile, have levelled against Northampton in the EFL Trophy semi-finals.
Updated
Save! Bernardo Silva fizzes a shot across goal, which Sels gets down to tip beyond the far post.
“Nisbet’s goal celebrated not just in the jam tart buying parts of Edinburgh, but also in Motherwell – have a look at that table,” writes James Humphries.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hearts | 29 | 28 | 63 |
| 2 | Rangers | 29 | 26 | 57 |
| 3 | Celtic | 29 | 21 | 56 |
| 4 | Motherwell | 28 | 29 | 53 |
| 5 | Hibernian | 29 | 13 | 46 |
| 6 | Falkirk | 29 | 0 | 42 |
| 7 | Dundee Utd | 29 | -10 | 33 |
| 8 | Aberdeen | 29 | -11 | 30 |
| 9 | Dundee | 28 | -18 | 28 |
| 10 | St Mirren | 29 | -22 | 24 |
| 11 | Kilmarnock | 29 | -28 | 21 |
| 12 | Livingston | 29 | -28 | 14 |
Fulham were awarded a penalty, Castellanos bringing down Cairney in the area … but after review, the decision is overturned, as Cairney made the first contact.
Second half
Back under way at the Amex, Etihad and Craven Cottage …
This is the first time Arsenal and Manchester City have played simultaneously since matchweek nine, back in October. Arsenal beat Palace 1-0, while City lost by the same score at Villa. That left City fifth, below Bournemouth, Sunderland … and Tottenham.
“Has somebody in the Arsenal stats department worked out the probability of any benefit to Raya hoofing the ball up for Gyökeres to fail to control, and for Brighton to launch yet another attack?” fumes Charles Antaki. “From where I’m sitting, it just looks lumpish and wasteful, but what do I know?”
Aberdeen level against Celtic! It’s Kevin Nisbet with a goal that will be cheered heartily in (parts of) Edinburgh.
Updated
Half time: Aston Villa 1-2 Chelsea
João Pedro’s double has helped Chelsea turn things around after an early Douglas Luíz opener. He’s up to 13 league goals for the season – a very underrated finisher.
GOAL! Aston Villa 1-2 Chelsea (João Pedro 50')
You can’t take your eyes off this one. Garnacho and Fernandez combine smartly on the break, the latter prodding into João Pedro’s path – and he lifts the ball first-time over Emi Martínez! There’s another wafer-thin VAR offside check, but this time the goal stands.
Updated
Half time: Man City 1-0 Nottingham Forest
Forest have had a couple of chances, but City lead at the break through Antoine Semenyo’s fine finish.
Half time: Brighton 0-1 Arsenal
Despite a first-half xG of 0.01, Arsenal lead at the Amex thanks to Bukayo Saka’s early deflected shot. Since then, it’s been fouls, tussles and time-wasting allegations galore. Just before the whistle, Martinelli drags down Wieffer in the area – but the referee waves play on.
Updated
Proper panto scenes down on the south coast, with every Arsenal delay whistled and jeered by the home fans. Fabian Hurzeler is also making sure the fourth official is taking notes; three added minutes to end this half.
A big early goal up at Pittodrie, where Celtic lead Aberdeen 1-0 – none other than Kieran Tierney breaking the deadlock.
Updated
Half time: Fulham 0-0 West Ham
Has much happened at Craven Cottage? The short answer is no; the long answer is not really.
Updated
Newcastle v Manchester United is liiiive – follow that one with Scott Murray:
No goal! Reece James dallies on the ball and then gives it away, allowing Villa to sweep downfield. Morgan Rogers plays in Watkins, who fires into the net. But wait … VAR intervenes, and the goal is ruled out. Watkins was offside, by a couple of inches.
Updated
Garnacho’s cross is deflected behind, and Chelsea play a short corner …
GOAL! Aston Villa 1-1 Chelsea (Pedro 36')
Moments after Villa tested Jorgensen again, Chelsea break back and equalise. Fernandez’s lovely floated pass finds Gusto – who looks offside – and he rolls the ball across goal for João Pedro to slot home. There’s the customary VAR check, but the goal stands!
Updated
Semenyo takes his league goal tally to 15 for the season, but Forest are fighting back. Igor Jesus’ shot is saved by Donnarumma, and as Ruben Dias sweeps a leg in to clear, he brings down Neco Williams. No penalty; I think Williams was offside when the shot came in.
Updated
GOAL! Manchester City 1-0 Nottingham Forest (Semenyo 30')
It’s that man again, Erling Antoine Semenyo! He’s on hand to acrobatically finish from Rayan Cherki’s cross, and City have the lead.
Updated
Declan Rice overhits his delivery from a free kick. All a bit scrappy at the Amex, including a bit of needle between Arteta and Hurzeler.
A very open game at Villa Park. Fernandez tests compatriot Martinez with a shot, before Watkins gets in behind the Chelsea defence – but can’t get the power on his shot to beat Jorgensen.
Forest chance! Having soaked up plenty of pressure, the visitors break and Gibbs-White has time and space to shoot … but his effort is undercooked and easy for Donnarumma. Gibbs-White looks annoyed with himself, and rightly so.
Updated
Semenyo looks to play in Haaland, who is held up by Milenkovic. The ball rebounds back to Semenyo, whose shot wafts over the bar; I think Haaland was penalised for pulling back the Forest defender anyway.
City are grinding through the gears, with Bernardo Silva and then Phil Foden testing Matz Sels with shots from the edge of the box.
In the EFL Trophy, Northampton lead Luton in their semi-final, Nottingham Forest loanee Kyle McAdam with the goal. The winner of that one will face Stockport in the final at Wembley.
Updated
Fulham escape a VAR check after a West Ham corner deflects off Iwobi’s shoulder. There’s been a stoppage in play at Villa Park – not sure why – and cameras pick out Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson in the stands. His team welcome Chelsea in the FA Cup this weekend.
Kadioglu slips as he cuts into the area, and the full-back ultimately gets in the way of Rutter’s follow-up shot. Gabriel goes down with a knock, and gets the expected sympathy from Brighton’s home faithful.
Cole Palmer sees his shot from distance punched away by Martinez. It’ll be interesting to see any official word on the Chelsea penalty that wasn’t: it looked like there was some contact, even if James went over eagerly.
Forest clear away a cross at the far post, with Erling Haaland lurking. Back at Villa Park, Liam Rosenior has been booked for protesting that non-penalty.
GOAL! Brighton 0-1 Arsenal (Saka 9')
A welcome lucky break for the league leaders, as Bukayo Saka’s shot deflects off Baleba and catches out Verbruggen, who lets the ball slip right through him.
Updated
Chelsea almost hit straight back, Martinez keeping out João Pedro’s header – and the visitors have a penalty shout turned down as James goes over with Maatsen in close proximity.
Updated
A much livelier start than last night, across the board. At the Etihad, Forest are pressing and pushing numbers forward, which risks leaving space for the likes of Antoine Semenyo, whose snap shot is rifled into the side netting.
Saka breaks in behind the Brighton defence, but his cross evades both Gyokeres and Martinelli in the middle. At Craven Cottage, Samuel Chukwueze’s optimistic shot is held by Hermansen.
GOAL! Aston Villa 1-0 Chelsea (Douglas Luíz 3')
What a start for Villa! Chelsea fail to clear the ball away and Leon Bailey skips beyond his man and cuts back for Douglas Luíz to tuck the ball home.
Updated
Goalline clearance! A big mistake from Raya, whose pass out from the back is played straight to Baleba. He lifts the ball over the stranded keeper, but Gabriel gets back to head it away!
Mitoma’s early cross is cleared away by Hincapié, while at the Etihad, Forest have a couple of shots blocked before Gibbs-White header fails to test Donnarumma.
Kick off
We are under way at the Amex, the Etihad, Craven Cottage and Villa Park. Buckle up!
Updated
Fabian Hürzeler on Brighton’s return to form: “We have shown similar performances in the weeks before, but we have controlled the key moments better. We are more ruthless in front of goal and defended as a team together.
“We have played more simple football. The key message today is to show simplicity in all our actions and do the basics right.”
And here’s Nuno Espírito Santo: “We played a good game against Liverpool. We lost the game but we competed well. Tonight is going to be tough, Fulham are a difficult opponent. I want to see a lot of work [from Castellanos and Wilson], a lot of combinations and goals.”
Some pre-game chat from Pep Guardiola, who confirms Nico O’Reilly is out of the squad after “feeling uncomfortable” in training with a knock.
“We can only focus on ourselves for the rest of the games … I don’t know what is going to happen. Today is how we behave against Forest. Haaland has made an incredible impact since he arrived years ago. In the first quarter of this season he was outstanding. We need everyone. Everyone has to be ready.”
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On the ball! Guess the footballer
The Guardian has kicked off a new chapter in puzzles with the launch of its first daily football game, On the ball. It’s available on our app for both iOS and Android … so why not give it a go while we wait for kick-off?
You can follow Newcastle v Manchester United in depth with the esteemed Scott Murray, over here …
Some key takeaways from all that piping hot team news:
Baleba back in Brighton’s starting line-up
Mosquera in for injured Saliba at centre-back
Haaland and Foden return to City’s starting XI
Domínguez in, Hudson-Odoi dropped by Forest
Jorgensen replaces Sánchez as Chelsea keeper
Emery brings in Maatsen, Mings and Bailey
Wilson latest: Harry out, Callum starts
Fulham v West Ham: team news
Fulham (4-2-3-1): Leno; Tete, Diop, Bassey, Robinson; Berge, Iwobi, Chukwueze, Cairney (c), King; Jiménez.
Subs: Lecomte, Andersen, Reed, Rodrigo Muniz, Bobb, Lukic, Castagne, Sessegnon, Smith Rowe.
West Ham (4-4-2): Hermansen; Wan-Bissaka, Disasi, Todibo, Diouf; Bowen (c), Fernandes, Soucek, Summerville; Wilson, Castellanos.
Subs: Areola, Walker-Peters, Kilman, Mavropanos, Traoré, Lamadrid, Magassa, Scarles, Kanté.
Referee: Matthew Donohue. VAR: John Brooks.
Aston Villa v Chelsea: team news
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Martínez; Cash, Konsa (c), Mings, Maatsen; Douglas Luíz, Onana, Bailey, Rogers, Buendía, Watkins.
Subs: Edward, Bogarde, Sancho, Abraham, Torres, Digne, Bizot, Lindelof, Barkley.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Jorgensen; Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, Hato; James (c), Caicedo; Palmer, Fernández, Garnacho; João Pedro.
Subs: Sánchez, Cucurella, Adarabioyo, Badiashile, Delap, Santos, Sarr, Guiu, Lavia.
Referee: Jarred Gillett. VAR: James Bell.
Brighton v Arsenal: team news
Brighton (4-2-3-1): Verbruggen; Wieffer, van Hecke, Boscagli, Kadioglu; Baleba, Gross (c); Gómez, Hinshelwood, Mitoma; Rutter.
Subs: Steele, Minteh, Welbeck, Milner, Ayari, De Cuyper, O’Riley, Veltman, Howell.
Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Raya; Timber, Mosquera, Gabriel Magalhães, Hincapié; Zubimendi, Rice; Saka (c), Eze, Gabriel Martinelli; Gyökeres.
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Gabriel Jesus, Norgaard, Trossard, Madueke, Havertz, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly, Dowman.
Referee: Christopher Kavanagh. VAR: Michael Salisbury.
Manchester City v Nottingham Forest: team news
Manchester City (4-1-3-2): Donnarumma; Matheus Nunes, Días, Guéhi, Aït Nouri; Rodri; Cherki, Bernardo Silva (c), Foden; Semenyo, Haaland.
Subs: Trafford, Reijnders, Stones, Aké, Marmoush, Doku, González, Savinho, Khusanov.
Nottingham Forest (3-4-2-1): Sels; Milenkovic, Jair Cunha, Murillo; Aina, Sangaré, Anderson, Williams; Dominguez, Gibbs-White (c); Igor Jesus.
Subs: Gunn, Morato, Hudson-Odoi, Awoniyi, Ndoye, Hutchinson, Yates, McAtee, Netz.
Referee: Darren England. VAR: Tony Harrington.
Updated
Wednesday's fixtures
Kick-off 7.30pm unless stated; all times GMT.
Premier League
Aston Villa v Chelsea
Brighton v Arsenal
Fulham v West Ham
Manchester City v Nottingham Forest
Newcastle v Manchester United (8.15pm)
Scottish Premiership
Aberdeen v Celtic (8pm)
Preamble
This season’s title battle reminds me of the famous fight scene from dystopian 80s classic “They Live”. It’s been long, attritional and hard to watch at times, with neither party looking truly convincing. Arsenal and Manchester City were both fortunate to collect three points from bruising encounters with Chelsea and Leeds; now they have to get back in the ring tonight.
Arsenal go to Brighton, where they haven’t lost in their previous five trips. City host Nottingham Forest, who are battling relegation and have lost on their last three visits to the Etihad by an aggregate score of 11-0. Later, Manchester United visit Newcastle, hoping to make a dramatic late entry into a two-horse title race.
Aston Villa and Chelsea have both been overtaken by a surging United side, but earned a reprieve in the top-five chase with Liverpool’s shock defeat at Wolves. They meet at Villa Park tonight with both teams in stuttering form, and both eager to get back on track before European campaigns resume next week.
Finally, West Ham head to Fulham looking to revive their survival push and turn up the heat on Forest, Spurs and Leeds above them. The bad news for Nuno and co: Fulham have won seven out of their last 10 night matches at home, while West Ham have won one of their eight London derbies this season.
