ARSENAL extended their lead over Manchester City in the English Premier League title race with a 3-0 home win over Bournemouth today.
Meanwhile, Ipswich Town have joined Leicester City in gaining promotion to the top flight after finishing second in the Championship following a 2-0 win over Huddersfield Town, who have been demoted.
Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard and Declan Rice scored for the Gunners, who honoured slain Nigerian teenager Daniel Anjorin in the 14th minute of the match.
The 14-year-old Anjorin, who was an Arsenal fan, was recently slain by a sword-wielding assailant in London.
Mikel Arteta’s side took the lead under controversial circumstances when they were awarded a penalty for a foul by Bournemouth goalkeeper Mark Travers on Kai Havertz.
Replays showed Havertz initiated the contact by dragging his foot after losing the ball, but the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) backed the decision and Saka coolly converted the spot kick just before half-time.
Arsenal doubled their lead 25 minutes into the second half when Trossard fired home from Rice’s pass, but another controversial decision kept their two-goal margin intact.
Bournemouth thought they had halved the deficit in the 75th minute but Dominic Solanke was adjudged to have fouled Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya in the build-up to the ‘goal’.
The Gunners put icing on the cake when Rice scored from close range in stoppage time as they went four points clear of second-placed Manchester City, who have two games in hand, including a home clash against Wolves this evening.
In the Championship, Ipswich sealed a fairytale second promotion in two seasons with the home win over Huddersfield as they finished just one point behind champions Leicester City, who lost 2-0 at home to Blackburn Rovers.
Leeds United, Southampton, West Brom and Norwich City will vie for the third promotion spot via the play-offs.
