Arsenal hold off surging City, Villa

Wirtz ends drought as Reds edge Wolves

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Arsenal's Martin Odegaard, right, celebrates with Declan Rice after scoring their first goal against Brighton at the Emirates Stadium.REUTERS

(REUTERS)

Arsenal responded to the pressure applied by Manchester City by beating Brighton 2-1 to retake top spot in the Premier League after Rayan Cherki inspired Pep Guardiola’s side to victory at Nottingham Forest.

Aston Villa remain just three points behind the leaders ahead of their trip to Arsenal on Tuesday after substitute Ollie Watkins struck twice in a 2-1 win at Chelsea.

Florian Wirtz scored his first Liverpool goal as the Reds beat Wolves 2-1 on an emotional occasion at Anfield, where Diogo Jota’s former clubs met for the first time since his death.

City’s 2-1 win in the lunchtime kickoff at the City Ground took them top for a couple of hours.

However, Arsenal hit straight back despite making life difficult for themselves against inferior opposition once more.