EPL Weekly Wrap | All the Headlines - Gameweek 30

I genuinely thought Everton were leaving the Emirates with a point on Sunday morning NZT. Arsenal couldn’t break them down for 88 minutes, City dropped points at West Ham later that night, and every team near the bottom picked up a draw without actually winning. It was a weird weekend all round - and here’s your summary of all the top storylines, in case you missed it.

Arsenal had 25 shots and 65% possession against Everton and couldn’t score until the 89th minute. McNeil hit the post first half with a curler from range, Dewsbury-Hall forced a diving save from Raya, and Everton looked comfortable countering. I had them down for the upset.

Then Pickford made the kind of decision you can’t come back from. Dowman swung a cross in from the right, Pickford charged off his line and got nowhere near it, the ball hit Hincapie and sat up for Gyokeres to tap in. 1-0, 89th minute. And it got better - in the seventh minute of stoppage time, Pickford went up for a corner chasing the equaliser, Dowman collected on halfway, ran past two defenders and slotted into an empty net. He’s 16 years and 73 days old, making him the youngest Premier League scorer ever.

City drew 1-1 at West Ham having had 21 shots to West Ham’s one. Bernardo Silva’s chipped opener - which looked more like a mishit cross to me - lasted four minutes before Donnarumma flapped at a Bowen corner and Mavropanos headed in off the bar. Haaland had chances to win it but scuffed a sitter from 12 yards. There are nine points now between Arsenal and City even with a game in hand. Admittedly City still have Arsenal at home, but for anyone using football betting markets around the title, I’d be surprised if they close it.

Manchester United beat Aston Villa 3-1 at Old Trafford on Monday morning NZT. Fernandes set up two of the goals and broke Beckham’s club assist record with 16 for the season. Casemiro headed in a corner, Cunha finished a lovely through ball after Barkley had equalised, and Sesko came off the bench to score his ninth league goal. United are three clear of Villa in third and I reckon they’ll hold that.

Chelsea lost 1-0 at home to Newcastle, Gordon tapping in after a sharp Livramento-Willock break on 18 minutes. First Newcastle league win at Stamford Bridge since 2012. Liverpool drew 1-1 with Spurs after Richarlison equalised in the 90th - Szoboszlai’s free kick, his fourth of the season, had given them the lead. 

Liverpool are fifth now, five behind United in third.

Newcastle’s win at Chelsea was the mid-table headline. 

Compact, disciplined, one clinical chance taken. Thiaw and Botman were excellent and Gordon finished well. They’re ninth on 42 points, six behind Chelsea in fifth, with a Champions League second leg at Barcelona midweek. Of course that’s a different proposition but that defensive display is exactly what you’d want heading to the Camp Nou. 

If you’re checking best betting sites NZ for European qualification markets, Newcastle are interesting at the price.

Sunderland lost 1-0 to Brighton at home through a bizarre Yankuba Minteh goal - a mis-hit cross from the byline that somehow squeezed in at the near post.

Spurs are on 30 points after that late equaliser at Anfield. 

Forest and West Ham both have 29. Leeds are on 32 and Burnley have 20. Spurs haven’t won since 28 December - 11 league games without a victory. But they were missing 12 first-team players at Anfield with just two senior outfield subs available, so a point there is worth celebrating. First one under Tudor.

Forest drew 0-0 with Fulham and I thought they were hard done by. Ndoye had a goal chalked off for the thinnest offside I’ve seen all season, and a penalty was overturned too. Two goals at home in seven league games though, which is a survival-threatening number. Pereira hasn’t won since replacing Dyche and he’s got an Europa League second leg Thursday before the trip to Spurs. No idea how you pick between those.

West Ham’s draw against City was backs-to-the-wall stuff - one shot, 29% possession, Hermansen brilliant. Burnley drew 0-0 with Bournemouth and they’re running out of time. Four wins from 30 games, nine points from safety. 

For NZ fans using live betting sites ahead of Gameweek 31, Tottenham vs Forest on Monday 23 March at 3:15am NZT is the one. Newcastle host Sunderland at 1:00am that morning and Bournemouth head to Old Trafford at 9:00am NZT on Saturday.