Arsenal vs Leeds LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction today after Nketiah double

Arsenal 2-1 Leeds: The Gunners moved four points clear of rivals Spurs in the race to finish in the Premier League’s top four

(Getty Images)

Arsenal’s five-season exile from the Champions League is closer to ending after Eddie Nketiah’s double secured a 2-1 win over Leeds to strengthen the team’s hold on fourth place in the Premier League on Sunday.

If it wins at Tottenham on Thursday, Arsenal will qualify for the Champions League with two games to spare after its fifth-place north London rival dropped points in a 1-1 draw at Liverpool on Saturday.

Arsenal moved four points ahead of Tottenham thanks to Nketiah’s two goals in the opening 10 minutes as Leeds dropped into the relegation zone.

The former Leeds loanee capitalized on a poor touch from Illan Meslier and tapped home. Nketiah’s second was a well-taken finish from 12 yards (meters), turning in Gabriel Martinelli’s low cross.

Leeds was reduced to 10 men in the 27th when captain Luke Ayling was sent off for a two-footed challenge on Martinelli. Referee Chris Kavanagh initially booked the defender before upgrading the card after being advised to watch a replay on the VAR pitch-side monitor.

Leeds gave itself a chance of a surprise comeback in the 66th when Diego Llorente turned in a shot at the back post but there was no equalizer from Jesse Marsch’s side.

There is a tight scrap to avoid joining Watford and Norwich in being relegated. Burnley is only above Leeds, and out of the drop zone, due to its superior goal difference with three games remaining, while Everton is a point from danger.

Arsenal vs Leeds

• 5’ GOAL! Nketiah capitalises on Meslier howler, 1-0
• 10’ GOAL! Nketiah converts Martinelli’s superb assist, 2-0
• 27’ RED! Ayling sent off for a two-footed lunge on Martinelli following VAR review
• 66’ GOAL! Llorente hammers home to give Leeds hope, 2-1

[8 May 2022 19:06 · Jamie Braidwood]

Manchester City bounce back in style to thrash Newcastle and open up title lead over Liverpool

Advantage Manchester City. It always has been, of course - this Premier League title defence has remained within their own hands throughout this run-in - but there have been times over the past few days when you would not have known it. And if Pep Guardiola’s side needed a reminder that their destiny is in their own control, this emphatic 5-0 win over Newcastle United was it.

[8 May 2022 18:27 · Dan Austin]

Full-time! Manchester City secure huge win over Newcastle United

And that’s it! The glut of goals may have come late on but five is nothing fewer than Manchester City deserved for a terrific performance.

Raheem Sterling score dthe opener as he nodded home after a superb pass from Ilkay Gundogan found Joao Cancelo, before Aymeric Laporte scrambled home a second after Martin Dubravka spilled the ball into his path.

In the second-half, Rodri headed home Kevin de Bruyne’s corner for three before a couple of scintillating moves ended with fine finishes from Pfil Foden and Sterling again for five.

City now lead Liverpool by three points, and have goal difference advantage of four.

[8 May 2022 18:23 · Dan Austin]

GOAL! Sterling scores again for City

93’ Manchester City 5-0 Newcastle United

This a rout now and it’s everythign Manchester City deserve for a marvellous performance.

It’s Jack Grealish with superb work on the left again as he beats Trippier and finds Foden in the penalty area. Foden replies with a sumptuous backheel before the unmarked Sterling arrives in the middle of the box and slams home a great finish past Martin Dubaravka.

What a performance, what a result, and what a response to the heartbreak in Madrid in midweek.

[8 May 2022 18:19 · Dan Austin]

GOAL! Foden scores fourth for Man City

91’ Manchester City 4-0 Newcastle United

Phil Foden scores a fourth for Manchester City!

Jack Grealish beats Keiran Trippier with a burst of pace down the left-hand side and cuts the ball back towards Kevin de Bruyne just inside the box.

The Belgian drags the ball towards goal and his cross/shot is swept home by susbtitute Foden on the turn.

That takes City three ahead of Liverpool on goal difference now.

[8 May 2022 18:17 · Dan Austin]

Manchester City make final change as Laporte goes off

88’ Manchester City 3-0 Newcastle United

Aymeric Laporte has been withdrawn by Pep Guardiola in the final stages of this game as 19-year-old Conrad Egan-Riley comes on to partner Fernandinho in the final moments.

Still no words on whether Ruben Dias was taken off at half-time because of injury, but Nathan Aké must be sat on the ebnch wondering what has to happen for him to get on the pitch...

[8 May 2022 18:13 · Dan Austin]

Wilson misses big Newcastle chance

84’ Manchester City 3-0 Newcastle United

Newcastle United have their first real opprtunity since the opening minutes of the game but Callum Wilson has spurned it.

The returning striker did well to win a header thirty yards from goal and nodded the ball down to Jacob Murphy, who then released Wilson with a through ball which took the flat-footed Fernandinho out of the equation.

Wilson carries the ball into the penalty area but is Ederson is quick off his line and the forward hits the ball directly at him.

[8 May 2022 18:10 · Dan Austin]

Jacob Murphy on for Newcastle

80’ Manchester City 3-0 Newcastle United

Jacob Murphy is Ncewastle’s final change as he comes on to replace Miguel Almiron.

In the past ten minutes or so the game has petered out a little as both sides seem quite content to shake hands on 3-0. One or two more for City though could potentially prove pivotal if they lost a game beofre the end of the campaign and ended up on the same points total as Liverpool.

[8 May 2022 18:05 · Dan Austin]

Booking for De Bruyne

75’ Manchester City 3-0 Newcastle United

Kevin de Bruyne’s name has gone into the referee’s book for a cynical foul on Allan Saint-Maximin as the Frenchman dribbled towards goal inside the City half.

It’s clever play from De Bruyne, in truth. The counter-attack is prevented and City’s goal difference advantage over LIverpool is maintained.

[8 May 2022 17:58 · Dan Austin]

Zinchenko hits crossbar for City

69’ Manchester City 3-0 Newcastle United Manchester City almost have a fourth as Oleksandr Zinechko meets Jack Grealish’s cut-back to the egde of the box with his in-step and hits a wicked shot which Martin Dubravka tips onto the top of the crossbar.

The Ukranian has never scored in the Premier League but camer might close, there. That was an excellent stop from Dubravka.

Now the returnign Callum Wilson and Kieran Trippier are on for Newcastle, in place of Chris Wood and Emil Krafth.

[8 May 2022 17:54 · Dan Austin]

Foden replaces Jesus for City

65’ Manchester City 3-0 Newcastle United

Manchester City are making their second subsitution of the afternoon as Gabriel Jesus is replaced by Phil Foden.

Jesus came close to getting on the end of a couple of cutbacks in the first-half but was probably the quietest of all six of City’s midfield and forward players this afternoon.

Pep Guardiola’s men have now scored as many goals as Liverpool this season, and are three points ahead with a goal difference advantage of two.