Arsenal pulled ahead in the Premier League title race this weekend, as Manchester City missed their chance to catch up, drawing 1-1 against a Chelsea team without a manager.
Declan Rice was the standout for the Gunners, finding the net twice in Arsenal’s exciting 3-2 win over Bournemouth and helping the team build a six-point lead at the top of the standings.
But at the other end of the table, things are looking rough for West Ham. They suffered a 3-0 defeat against Wolves, who hadn’t won in any of their first 19 matches this season, putting West Ham’s hopes of survival in danger.
Here are three key talking points from all the Premier League weekend drama:
Declan Rice Brings Arsenal Closer To Glory
Rice’s status before the game was up in the air due to a swollen knee, causing him to miss Arsenal’s midweek demolition of Aston Villa. But he powered through and made it into the starting eleven, marking a major Premier League milestone by scoring twice in the same game for the first time.
Manager Mikel Arteta was quick to praise Rice’s impact, calling the 26-year-old “one of the world’s best midfielders” and lauding his ongoing improvements.
“He’s constantly adding things to his role in the team,” Arteta said. “I don’t see where he can stop because he can still improve in a lot of areas and he wants to improve. He’s such a pivotal player for us.”
After three straight seasons finishing second, Arsenal looks closer than ever to ending their 22-year wait for a Premier League title.
Manchester City Lose Momentum
Manchester City looked unstoppable after winning eight games in a row, but their chase for Arsenal faltered with a damaging 0-0 draw at Sunderland on January 1.
Things went from bad to worse in the next few days, with City dropping points and facing defensive problems as Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias suffered injuries against Chelsea, leaving Pep Guardiola with few options at the back.
“Of course I have concerns. Have you seen the bench today? It’s three academy players and now we will have more,” Guardiola admitted. “We don’t have players. That is the truth.”
Guardiola is known for his rotating squads, keeping everyone fresh and hungry, but this season has been different. His consistent selection gave City a shot at the title after a tough start, but now
