John Terry makes huge Arsenal title claim after Brighton win

John Terry says Manchester City’s shock 2-2 draw at home to Nottingham Forest ‘surely’ marks ‘the end’ of their battle with Arsenal for the Premier League title.

City had looked on course to secure a seventh straight win in all competitions after Antoine Semenyo volleyed beyond Matz Sels to put Pep Guardiola’s side in front on the half-hour mark at the Etihad.

Rodri restored the hosts’ lead after Morgan Gibbs-White’s exquisite backheeled finish in an entertaining start to the second half, with relegation-threatened Forest refusing to lie down.

And Vitor Pereira’s men were rewarded for their spirited efforts as Elliot Anderson beat Gianluigi Donnarumma with a stunning 25-yard strike to make it all square again in the 76th minute.

The visitors even had a golden opportunity to win it at the death as Anderson swung in a pinpoint corner for an unmarked Ryan Yates, only for the midfielder to head wide from six yards out.

Elsewhere on Wednesday night, Arsenal edged past Brighton to ensure they finished the evening with an imperious seven-point advantage over City at the top of the table.

City now have ten days until their next Premier League match away to West Ham, with Newcastle and Real Madrid up next in the FA Cup and Champions League respectively before their trip to the London Stadium.

‘I’m disappointed for the result, we did everything again, we did not concede much and we had chances at the end especially and during the game as well,’ the City head coach told TNT Sports shortly after the final whistle.

‘We keep going. [The players] tried to do their best, when you see how they run.

‘But of course, in a game at home and at this stage of the season, it’s important, but keep going.’

The Spaniard added: ‘We don’t have time to look back, so look forward.

‘Now it’s onto Newcastle in the FA Cup, then Real Madrid in the Champions League. Game by game.

‘We are used to playing in a lot of competitions and we will go for that game, there are a lot of game to play so we have to continue.’

Reflecting on the night’s drama on his TikTok page, ex-Chelsea and England captain Terry admitted he had not foreseen City dropping points at home to Forest.

‘There were some big performances and some upsets in the Premier League last night,’ he told his followers.

‘Manchester City dropping points again, surely that’s the end of it for them after Arsenal beat Brighton as well.

‘I didn’t see that one coming if I’m honest.’

Switching his focus to the other end of the Premier League table, Terry applauded West Ham on their much-needed 1-0 victory away to Fulham.

The morale-boosting result ramps up the pressure on a desperate Spurs side, who welcome Crystal Palace to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this evening for what could be a pivotal contest in the battle for survival.

‘Big result for West Ham, much-needed win for them,’ Terry explained.

‘That puts a lot of pressure on the Spurs team tonight, they face Crystal Palace at home.

‘I expect Spurs to win that one but it still piles a little bit of pressure on and they’re certainly amongst those teams down the bottom.’

Turning his attentions to his beloved Chelsea, Terry hailed what he described as ‘one of the most enjoyable’ displays he had seen from the side in recent memory at Aston Villa.

The five-time Premier League winner was especially pleased for hat-trick hero Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer, who combined to torment Unai Emery’s side at Villa Park.

‘What a win, what a performance from the boys last night,’ Terry said of Chelsea’s emphatic 4-1 victory.

‘It’s a tough place to go, Villa Park. I know Villa have not been playing well of late and not getting the results they would have liked and they’re certainly dropping off but that was a big win for us.

‘We needed to win that last night and we turned up.

‘We got a wake-up call after them scoring very early, but to respond the way we did, I thought to a man, we were absolutely excellent all over the pitch.

‘I have to say, that was one of the most enjoyable performances I’ve seen from us all season, so long may that continue.’

On Chelsea’s two goalscorers, Terry gushed: ‘Joao Pedro, the hat-trick hero man, I think he’s been excellent these last few weeks.

‘I think his all-round play as a centre-forward has been excellent, his link-up play has been superb, he’s protecting the ball really well.

‘He looks like he’s growing in confidence week after week and that will only help, getting goals like he did last night as well in different varieties as well.

‘I’m also delighted for Cole Palmer to get on the scoresheet as well.’

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