Premier League all square with 9 games to go and Black Lives Matter up front

All Premier League Clubs have now played the same number of games after the outstanding fixtures were concluded on Wednesday (June 17).

Play resumed with players across all teams with fixtures on Wednesday kneeling ahead of their games in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter protests that began in the United States and have spread across the world. Players names on shirts were replaced with Black Lives Matter and even match officials “took the knee,” in what Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling later called a “massive step”, according to the BBC.

Teams now have the same number of games left after the enforced break in March, occasioned by the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

Manchester City faced Arsenal in the day’s showpiece game at the Etihad Stadium with the hosts easily outclassing the visitors 3-0 behind closed doors. David Luiz endured a horror show for Arsenal, culminating with the Brazilian receiving a straight red card for a clumsy foul on Riyad Mahrez in the 49th minute.

Earlier, a Luiz error allowed Raheem Sterling to creep in behind the Arsenal defence and give the visitors the lead on the stroke of half time. Kevin de Bruyne converted a 50th-minute penalty following Luiz’s moment of indiscretion, just four minutes after the interval.

Phil Foden then tapped home a late third to complete a comprehensive win for Pep Guardiola’s men. The result means that runaway leaders, Liverpool cannot clinch the title even if they win at Everton on Sunday as the inevitable coronation seems destined to be postponed for at least another week.

For Arsenal, who had won their past three and not lost the previous six in the top-flight prior to football’s suspension, the damage to their already slim Champions League qualification hopes may now be irrevocable.  The Gunners are eight points adrift of fourth-placed Chelsea with nine games to go.

In the day’s other game, Aston Villa and Sheffield United played out a goalless draw at Villa Park.