Manchester City trio torment Arsenal: Premier League team of midweek

City's 4-1 win over the Gunners on Wednesday puts the defending champions in control of the title race

PREMIER LEAGUE TEAM OF MIDWEEK (3-5-2): GK: Jose Sa (Wolves). Pulled off two stunning saves to preserve Wolves’ one-goal lead before Ruben Neves made sure of the win against Crystal Palace with an injury-time penalty. The Portuguese has been one of the stand-out goalkeepers of the season. Getty

CB: Joel Matip (Liverpool). Powered home a header to give Liverpool a 2-1 win at West Ham for a third straight victory as the Reds make a late dash for the top four. AP

CB: Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa). Scored the only goal of the game as Aston Villa beat Fulham to continue their push for European football. Like the rest of the team, Mings has been revitalised since the arrival of Unai Emery. AP

CB: John Stones (Manchester City). Behind Haaland and De Bruyne, Stones has a strong claim to be City’s third-best player this season. Continued his wonderful form with a towering header in City’s 4-1 thrashing of title rivals Arsenal. EPA

CM: Joelinton (Newcastle United). Created the chance for Wilson's opener at Everton before scoring Newcastle’s second, his eighth of the season, in the 4-1 win. Newcastle appear to be cruising to a top-four place and Joelinton has had a big role to play. PA

CM: Danilo (Nottingham Forest). Delivered at the most pivotal time in Forest’s season, scoring his first goal for the club – and in some style, too – to give Forest the lead against Brighton. The 3-1 win at the City Ground moves Forest out of the drop zone. AP

CM: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City). What is there left to say about the Belgian genius? City knew they needed to beat Arsenal to swing the title race in their favour, so up stepped De Bruyne to torment the Gunners. Scored a wonderful first to set the tone, swung in a perfect cross for Stones for the second, then scored the third in the 4-1 win. Still, as he has been throughout his time at City, the best player in the Premier League. PA

RW: Marcus Tavernier (Bournemouth). Produced an excellent finish for the only goal of the game as Bournemouth beat bottom side Southampton to continue their superb late- season run of form. Up to 14th, the once seemingly buried Cherries look comfortably safe from relegation. Getty

LW: Cody Gakpo (Liverpool). Classy goal from the Dutch forward to pull Liverpool level at West Ham. After a slow start, Gakpo has emerged as a key player for Jurgen Klopp and is sure to only get better. Getty

CF: Callum Wilson (Newcastle United). Helped himself two goals in Newcastle’s rampant win at Everton. The first was a typical poacher’s finish, but the second was a thing of beauty, Wilson bending the ball from the edge of the area into the top corner. Now has 13 league goals for the campaign. Getty

CF: Erling Haaland (Manchester City). The Norwegian combined with De Bruyne to devastating affect against Arsenal, assisting both of the Belgian’s goals before scoring his side’s fourth and his 33rd of the season – a new Premier League record. It’s all getting a bit boring now… AP

There was a full set of Premier League fixtures in midweek but only one game the football world was focusing on. Manchester City hosted Arsenal on Wednesday night in what was billed as a potentially pivotal moment in the title race.

Arsenal, with a five-point lead over City but having played two games more, needed to at least avoid defeat to keep the pressure on the defending champions to win their matches in hand. A win would have put the trophy's destiny in Arsenal's hands.

Instead, a City masterclass at the Etihad saw Arsenal blown away in a dominant 4-1 victory for the hosts, with Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland tormenting the Gunners to reduce the gap at the top to just two points.

The round started on Tuesday night and saw Wolves, in fine form since the arrival of manager Julen Lopetegui, defeat Crystal Palace 2-0 at Molineux, Aston Villa continue their similar revival under Unai Emery with a 1-0 home win over Fulham, and Leicester claim a late 1-1 draw at fellow strugglers Leeds.

On Wednesday, Chelsea's miserable season continued with a 2-0 loss at home to Brentford, Liverpool fought back to beat West Ham 2-1 at the London Stadium, and Nottingham Forest climbed out of the relegation zone with a 3-1 win at home against Brighton and Hove Albion.

The round concluded on Thursday with three matches: Newcastle moved to within "touching distance" of securing a place in the top four while adding to Everton's relegation fears with a 4-1 win at Goodison Park, Bournemouth defeated bottom side Southampton 1-0 at St Mary's Stadium, and Tottenham clawed back from two goals down to claim a 2-2 draw with Manchester United.

Ahead of the next round of Premier League games this weekend, check out the photo gallery above for the team of midweek. To move on to the next photo, click on the arrows or swipe if using a mobile device.