Scuffed strike's enormous consequence in Premier League race as Arsenal pull seven points clear of frustrated Manchester City

Arsenal moved seven points ahead of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League after scraping a 1-0 win at Brighton while its title rival drew 2-2 at home to struggling Nottingham Forest on Thursday (AEDT).

City almost won it eight minutes into stoppage time when substitute Savinho had a shot cleared near the line.

Right winger Bukayo Saka's ninth-minute goal was enough for Arsenal, who have played one game more than City. Saka broke down the right and his scuffed strike from the edge of the penalty area went through the legs of goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen.

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Forest hold City to costly draw

Erling Haaland returned for City after having sat out the 1-0 win at Leeds with a minor injury but was ineffective.

City struggled to break Forest down until Rayan Cherki made a fine run down the right and floated over a cross which Antoine Semenyo expertly volleyed in at waist height with his left foot.

But Forest hit the home side in the 52nd minute with a classic counterattack which went almost the length of the field.

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It culminated in a brilliant back-heeled finish from midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White after Brazil forward Igor Jesus had nodded down a right-wing cross.

Forest's joy was short-lived when former Ballon d'Or winner Rodri rose to head home from a corner six minutes later.

Forest stunned City again, however, when midfielder Elliot Anderson curled in a superb shot from just outside the penalty area into the bottom right corner with 13 minutes left.

Carrick's unbeaten streak ends

Later, resurgent Manchester United suffered their first loss in eight games under new coach Michael Carrick.

Ten-man Newcastle United won 2-1 thanks to goals from Anthony Gordon and William Osula.

Harry Maguire was in the United defence on the day he was given a 15-month suspended sentence over a nightclub scuffle involving police officers on the Greek island of Mykonos in 2020.

Chelsea crushes Villa

Striker Joao Pedro grabbed a hat trick as Chelsea moved above Liverpool into fifth place with a 4-1 win at Aston Villa. Chelsea is only three points behind fourth-place Villa in the race for Champions League places next season.

Villa scored after two minutes when Ollie Watkins let Leon Bailey's cross from right go through his legs and midfielder Douglas Luiz deftly flicked the ball in from close range.

Chelsea equalised in the 35th minute when Pedro turned in Malo Gusto's right-wing cross. After Watkins had a goal ruled out for a narrow offside, Pedro clipped the ball in from close range during first-half stoppage time from Enzo Fernandez's pass. Midfielder Cole Palmer drove in the third goal in the 55th and Pedro tapped in Alejandro Garnacho's cross to complete his hat trick in the 64th.

West Ham edges London derby

Forward Crysencio Summerville's strike was enough to give West Ham a vital 1-0 win at Fulham in its relegation fight.

After Fulham had a penalty decision overturned by VAR early in the second half, West Ham scored midway through the second half when Summerville curled in from just inside the area.

Forest are 17th and West Ham are 18th with only goal difference separating the sides.