LONDON: Arsenal seized control of the Premier League title race as Bukayo Saka’s goal secured a priceless 1-0 win at Brighton while pursuers Manchester City could only draw ​2-2 at home to relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest.

Mikel Arteta’s side went into their ‌south coast assignment leading the table but looking over their shoulders at City, but ended the night with a first title since 2004 glinting on the horizon after a big swing in their favour.

Saka’s deflected effort in the ninth ​minute proved sufficient as Arsenal kept a 14th Premier League clean sheet of the season ​with a gritty display.

Wasteful City twice led with goals by Antoine Semenyo and ⁠Rodri but both times Forest hit back, first through Morgan Gibbs-White’s crafty backheel and then in the ​76th minute through Elliot Anderson.

Arsenal have 67 points from 30 games to City’s 60 from 29 and ​are now firmly in the driving seat again, although they do still have to go to City on April 19.

“Yeah it’s a huge win. We come from a very big game (against Chelsea), with players on the line in different ​ways, who couldn’t train,” Arteta said.

The battle for a top-five finish and qualification for the Champions ​League took another twist as Manchester United suffered their first defeat under interim manager Michael Carrick, losing 2-1 to ‌10-man Newcastle ⁠United.

Substitute William Osula came off the bench to score a superb late solo winner for Eddie Howe’s side.

Newcastle had Jacob Ramsey sent off for a second yellow card in first-half stoppage time but they then took the lead with an Anthony Gordon penalty only for Casemiro to head an equaliser in ​a chaotic spell before ​the halftime whistle.

United remained ⁠in third place with 51 points while Aston Villa also have 51 in fourth place after being thrashed 4-1 at home by Chelsea, for whom ​Joao Pedro scored a hat-trick. Chelsea moved above Liverpool into fifth place with ​48 points.

“There ⁠is still three points difference between them and us but now we are in a bad moment,” Villa boss Unai Emery said.

Forest’s surprise draw at City kept them out of the relegation zone on goal difference ⁠from ​West Ham United who won 1-0 at Fulham thanks to ​a goal by Crysencio Summerville.

Both sides have 28 points and are breathing down the necks of Tottenham Hotspur who have 29 ahead ​of their now crucial home clash with Crystal Palace on Thursday.

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