EPL race tightens after latest Arsenal stumble

NOTTINGHAM, England (AP):

Another week, another Arsenal stumble.

Mikel Arteta has a job on his hands to make sure his team’s title challenge does not go the same way.

It was a case of history repeating itself as the Premier League leaders let another two-goal lead slip and dropped valuable points for the second week in a row. A 2-2 draw with West Ham yesterday followed the same score line against Liverpool seven days earlier.

It’s a costly habit to pick up, especially at a time when the wins are rolling in for second-place Manchester City.

As if back-to-back draws weren’t bad enough for Arteta, it is the nature of his team’s mini-meltdowns against Liverpool and West Ham that will be of most concern.

On both occasions, Arsenal were cruising. But at the London Stadium, just like at Anfield, the Londoners unravelled when under pressure.

“My worry is after 2-0 that we made that huge mistake and did not understand what the game required in that moment,” Arteta said. “We need that ruthless mindset to go kill a team and today we haven’t done it.”

Gabriel Jesus and captain Martin Odegaard appeared to put Arsenal on course to move six points ahead of City when both scored inside the first 10 minutes.

That was until Said Benrahma’s penalty in the 33rd set up a fightback and Jarrod Bowen equalised in the 54th.

In between, Bukayo Saka missed a penalty, which would have put Arsenal 3-1 ahead.

Even after dropping four points in two games, Arsenal (74) remain four points clear of City, having played a game more. But their lead over City was eight points less than a month ago.

City also have a better goal difference.

Arsenal play City at Etihad Stadium in a pivotal game on April 26, and Arteta must hope the recent results will not be too damaging to his players’ confidence.

“We have to remember we are still top of the league with everything in our own hands,” Odegaard said.

UNITED GO THIRD

Manchester United (59 points) had a collapse of their own against Sevilla in the Europa League when throwing away a two-goal lead to draw 2-2, but there was no repeat of that at Nottingham Forest yesterday.

Leading 1-0 through Antony’s goal in the 32nd, Erik ten Hag’s team piled the pressure on relegation-fighting Forest and sealed the 2-0 win through Diogo Dalot in the 76th.

Victory saw United take advantage in the race for Champions League qualification after defeats for rivals Newcastle and Tottenham on Saturday.

United moved up to third, three points ahead of Newcastle.