Man City crisis deepens after another loss and Arsenal closes gap on Liverpool

Manchester City’s stunning slump deepened after losing to Aston Villa 2-1 in the Premier League on Saturday.Goals from Jhon Duran and Morgan Rogers at Villa Park consigned the four-time defending champion to a ninth defeat in 12 games in a season that is unravelling. They are not good,” Guardiola said.Third-placed Arsenal closed the gap on league leader Liverpool to three points with a 5-1 win at Crystal Palace, but has played two games more.City dropped to sixth in the standings, nine points below Liverpool, and has played two games more.“It’s about what I can do with my people to get the results back and continue,” Guardiola said. Guardiola also lost six times in his first season in English soccer in 2016-17 and City finished third.The latest defeat could have been even more emphatic from a dominant Villa, which moved up to fifth.Duran scored his sixth goal in as many starts in the 16th minute from Rogers’ assist. Duran had a goal disallowed for offside in the second half and Rogers hit the post before doubling Villa’s lead in the 65th.Phil Foden pulled a goal back for City in stoppage time, but it wasn’t enough to spark a late comeback.“We have to stay positive, even though it’s difficult, and we have to keep working hard,” City striker Erling Haaland said.Jesus streak It's five goals in a week for Gabriel Jesus against Crystal Palace.After scoring a hat trick in Arsenal's 3-2 comeback win against Palace in the English League Cup quarterfinals on Wednesday, the Brazil striker hit another two goals when the teams met again on Saturday.Going into Wednesday's game, Jesus had only scored once for Arsenal since the end of January.Jesus struck twice in a frantic start at Selhurst Park. He opened the scoring in the sixth, with Ismaila Sarr leveling five minutes later.Jesus restored Arsenal's lead in the 14th and was denied back-to-back hat tricks when hitting the post and then having another close range effort saved by Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson.Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli and Declan Rice also scored for Arsenal.Forest flying high If City’s demise is a surprise story of the season, so is Forest’s rise.After battling relegation for much of last term, Forest is in contention to qualify for the Champions League and possibly more.Facing a Brentford team that was unbeaten at home, goals from Ola Aina and Anthony Elanga secured another statement win on the road for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side, having already won at Anfield and Old Trafford this year.Isak treble Alexander Isak hit a hat trick in Newcastle’s 4-0 win at Ipswich.The Sweden international, who has 10 goals in his last 11 games, wrapped up his treble inside 54 minutes at Portman Road.