WITH THE PRESSURE off, Arsenal and Manchester City each breezed to one-sided 4-0 victories on Saturday as they kept their Premier League titles hopes flickering.
Nigerian teenager Alex Iwobi scored for the second game running as Arsenal crushed their FA Cup conquerors Watford, while Kevin De Bruyne netted on his return from injury as City eased to victory at Bournemouth.
Both teams remain some distance below leaders Leicester City, whose lead could be trimmed to two points if Tottenham Hotspur win at Liverpool later on Saturday. Leicester host Southampton on Sunday.
Watford’s 2-1 win at the Emirates Stadium last month ended Arsenal’s two-year reign as FA Cup holders and Arsene Wenger’s side claimed a measure of revenge as the teams resumed hostilities in north London.
Alexis Sanchez broke the deadlock in the fourth minute, scoring at the second attempt after Heurelho Gomes had parried his header from Iwobi’s cross.
Sanchez returned the favour to Iwobi by teeing up the 19-year-old for a cool finish seven minutes before half-time and second-half goals from Hector Bellerin and Theo Walcott completed victory.
City had a similarly straightforward afternoon at Dean Court as Manuel Pellegrini’s men tuned up for their mid-week trip to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-finals by steamrollering Bournemouth.
Fernando opened the scoring in the seventh minute with a neat finish from a Jesus Navas corner before De Bruyne – back in the team after two months out with a knee problem — volleyed home sweetly from David Silva’s flick.
Sergio Aguero added a third goal in the 19th minute with a header from Navas’s cross before Aleksandar Kolarov slammed home a fine fourth in stoppage time.
City trail Leicester by 12 points, with Arsenal four points better off in third place.
© AFP 2016
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