Arsenal take 7-point lead in Premier League, Lens shock PSG, Barcelona return to top of La Liga

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) – Arsenal beat Brighton and Hove Albion 4-2 to take a seven-point lead in the English Premier League, Lens shocked Paris Saint-Germain 3-1 in the French Ligue 1, and Barcelona drew with Espanyol 1-1 in a Spanish La Liga derby to top the league on goal difference last weekend.

The football leagues in England, France and Spain resumed after the 2022 FIFA World Cup break.

English leaders Arsenal are spending a dream season in the Premier League.

The Gunners beat Brighton 4-2 in a Saturday Premier League match to go on taking firm steps.

Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Eddie Nketiah, and Gabriel Martinelli were the scorers for Arsenal at Amex Stadium in Falmer.

Kaoru Mitoma and Evan Ferguson scored for Brighton.

Second-place Manchester City had a 1-1 draw with Everton at home on Saturday, which meant leaders Arsenal extended the gap on top of the league.

Erling Haaland scored the opener for Man City but Everton leveled after Demarai Gray scored the equalizer in the second half at Etihad Stadium in Manchester.

Arsenal have 43 points in 16 matches. Man City have 36 points to be after them.

Newcastle United are third with 34 points.

On Sunday, Chelsea were hold to a 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest, and Aston Villa stunned Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 in London.

- Leaders PSG take 1st defeat of season

French Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) were handed their first loss of the 2022-23 season on Sunday.

Second-place Lens beat PSG 3-1 to begin the new year with a victory.

Lens' Przemyslaw Frankowski drew first blood in the fifth minute at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens. Just three minutes later, PSG responded in kind with a goal by young forward Hugo Ekitike.

Belgian attacker Lois Openda brought the lead to the hosts once more in the 28th minute and the first half ended 2-1.

Alexis Claude Maurice scored another goal for Lens in the 47th minute to name the result 3-1 for his team.

Paris superstars Lionel Messi and Neymar did not play in the match.

PSG have 44 points. Lens closed the gap after the win, as they have 40 points to chase the Paris club.

Another Ligue 1 club Olympique Lyon lost to Clermont 1-0 at home on Sunday.

- Barcelona draw with Espanyol 1-1 in derby

Barcelona on Saturday returned to the top of the Spanish La Liga after a 1-1 draw in a derby with rivals Espanyol.

With 38 points, Barcelona topped La Liga, just ahead of Real Madrid on goal difference.

Barcelona defender Marcos Alonso scored the opener in the seventh minute and the first half ended 1-0 at Camp Nou. Visitors Espanyol's forward Joselu leveled the game in the 73rd minute.

Real Madrid beat Valladolid 2-0 on Friday, as French star Karim Benzema scored two goals.

Both Barcelona and Real Madrid have 38 points in 15 matches. Third-place Real Sociedad have 29 points.