Daijiworld Media Network - London
London, Feb 23: Eberechi Eze struck twice as Arsenal restored their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League with a 4-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, while Liverpool needed a dramatic late goal from Alexis Mac Allister to beat Nottingham Forest 1-0.
Eze, who nearly joined Spurs before moving from Crystal Palace to Arsenal in August, scored his first goals since netting a hat-trick in the first north London derby of the season in November.
The pressure was on Arsenal after back-to-back draws at Brentford and Wolves had allowed Manchester City to close in at the summit. However, Mikel Arteta’s men rose to the occasion to inflict further misery on their local rivals in Igor Tudor’s first match as interim Tottenham boss.
Eze opened the scoring just after the half-hour mark, hooking home from close range. Tottenham responded almost immediately through Randal Kolo Muani to level the score.
Viktor Gyokeres restored Arsenal’s lead early in the second half with a clinical finish. Eze then grabbed his second of the night, rolling the ball into the net after Guglielmo Vicario denied Bukayo Saka. Gyokeres rounded off the scoring in stoppage time to seal a comprehensive victory.
The win gives Arsenal breathing space in their quest for a first league title in 22 years, though City have a game in hand and home advantage when the top two meet in April. Tottenham, meanwhile, remain just four points above the relegation zone.
In another crucial clash, Liverpool snatched victory in dramatic fashion against Nottingham Forest. Forest’s fourth manager of the season, Vitor Pereira, appeared set to mark his league debut with a point until a late twist.
Mac Allister had earlier seen a goal ruled out after the ball was adjudged to have struck his arm when he charged down Ola Aina’s clearance. However, deep into stoppage time, he swept home a rebound after Virgil van Dijk’s header was saved, securing all three points for Liverpool.
The Merseyside club remain sixth but move level on points with Chelsea and Manchester United, staying within touching distance of Aston Villa in the race for Champions League qualification.
Elsewhere, Fulham climbed into the top half after a 3-1 win over Sunderland, courtesy of a Raul Jimenez double. Crystal Palace eased pressure at Selhurst Park with a 1-0 win over 10-man Wolves, sealed by Evann Guessand’s 90th-minute strike.