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Goalscorer Martin Ødegaard (l.) celebrates with assist provider Kai Havertz
Photo: Adrian Dennis / AFP
Arsenal FC is top of the English Premier League again, at least for one day. The team led by German national soccer player Kai Havertz easily won 2-0 (2-0) against relegation-threatened Luton Town and initially pushed Jürgen Klopp and Liverpool FC out of first place. The Reds can still follow suit against bottom-placed Sheffield United on Thursday (8.30 p.m./TV: Sky).
Manchester City also increased the pressure on Klopp's team. The defending champion defeated Champions League contenders Aston Villa 4-1 (2-1) thanks to a hat-trick from Phil Foden. English football is currently experiencing what is probably the most exciting championship fight in ten years: City and Liverpool now both have 67 points, with Arsenal in first place with a one-point lead. However, Liverpool have played one game less.
Arsenal dominated the game in front of their own crowd from the start, but initially hardly threatened to score. Martin Ødegaard (24th minute) finally shot the Gunners into the lead with a precise left-footed shot. Havertz provided the assist for his goal. Shortly before half-time, Luton's Daiki Hashioka (44th) scored an own goal when he tried to fend off a ball from Emile Smith Rowe, who had returned from injury for around a month.
Havertz received a yellow card for a swallow in the second half and was substituted after a good hour. Arsenal managed the result and allowed Luton more possession. The table 18th. played cheerfully, but hardly had any real chances to score over the entire 90 minutes and are currently three points behind a non-relegation zone.
At Man City, coach Pep Guardiola could even afford to leave top stars John Stones, Kevin de Bruyne and Erling Haaland on the bench. The defending champion won comfortably thanks to a goal from Rodri (11th) and a hat-trick from 23-year-old Phil Foden (45th + 1/60th/69th). The Englishman has been in outstanding form this season and has already scored 21 times in all competitions. Jhon Durán scored the interim equalizer for Villa, the surprise team of the season so far (20th).
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