Summary

  • FT: Man City 4-1 Aston Villa - Foden scores brilliant hat-trick to help City to victory

  • FT: Arsenal 2-0 Luton - Gunners return to top of Premier League table with routine win

  • FT: Brentford 0-0 Brighton - Bees now six points clear of bottom three

  1. Team News - Brentford unchanged; Pedro returns for Brightonpublished at 18:31 British Summer Time 3 April

    Brentford v Brighton (19:30 BST)

    Brentford are unchanged from the side which started the 1-1 draw with Manchester United on Saturday.

    It means Bryan Mbeumo is still waiting for his first start since sustaining an ankle injury during the reverse against Brighton fixture in December.

    Sergio Reguilon is also on the bench after serving a ban.

    Brentford XI: Flekken; Zanka, Ajer, Collins; Roerslev, Jensen, Janelt, Yarmoliuk, Lewis-Potter; Toney, Wissa

    Subs: Strakosha, Maupay, Reguilon, Ghoddos, Onyeka, Mbeumo, Damsgaard, Baptiste, Ji-Soo

    Brentford XIImage source, Opta

    There are four changes to the Brighton XI which started their 2-1 defeat at Liverpool on Easter Sunday.

    Brighton top scorer Joao Pedro returns after injury, while Igor Julio, Facundo Buonanotte and Adam Lallana also come in.

    Julio Enciso is also back from an injury and makes the bench.

    Brighton XI: Verbruggen; Veltman, van Hecke, Dunk, Igor; Gross, Baleba; Lallana, Buonanotte, Adingra; Joao Pedro

    Subs: Steele, Lamptey, Enciso, Moder, Welbeck, Estupinan, Offiah, Peupion, O'Mahony

    Brighton XIImage source, Opta
  2. Team news: No Saka for Arsenal; Three changes for Lutonpublished at 18:30 British Summer Time 3 April

    Arsenal v Luton (19:30 BST)

    The big news from the Arsenal dressing room is the absence of Bukayo Saka who is not even on the bench after being subbed at Manchester City last Sunday.

    There are FIVE changes in total. Thomas Partey makes his first Premier League start since 26 August while Emile Smith Rowe, Leandro Trossard, Reiss Nelson and Oleksandr Zinchenko come into the starting XI.

    Jakub Kiwior, Jorginho, Declan Rice and Gabriel Jesus drop to the bench for this one.

    Arsenal XI: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Odegaard, Partey, Smith Rowe, Nelson, Havertz, Trossard.

    Substitutes: Ramsdale, Gabriel Jesus, Martinelli, Nketiah, Kiwior, Tomiyasu, Jorginho, Vieira, Rice.

    .Image source, .

    This is Luton's second visit to north London in the space of a few days after losing 2-1 at Tottenham last Saturday.

    Hatters boss Rob Edwards' selection plans have been decimated by injuries.

    The good news is Alfie Doughty, who was a doubt, has recovered from a knock to start. But defender Reece Burke is not involved and Tahith Chong is only on the bench.

    Jordan Clark and Daiki Hashioka both return to the starting XI while midfielder Fred Onyedinma makes his first Premier League start.

    Luton's bench features 16-year-old schoolboy defender Christian Chigozie.

    Luton Town XI: Kaminski, Hashioka, Mengi, Kabore, Townsend, Mpanzu, Barkley, Doughty, Clark, Onyedinma, Morris.

    Substitutes: Shea, Berry, Woodrow, Chong, Krul, Johnson, Nelson, Piesold, Chigozie.

    .Image source, .
  3. 'Erling Haaland criticism is nonsense'published at 18:27 British Summer Time 3 April

    Man City v Aston Villa (20:15 BST)

    Chris Sutton
    Former Blackburn striker on BBC Radio 5 Live Monday Night Club podcast

    Haaland rubs his face in frustrationImage source, Getty Images

    I thought that the criticism of Erling Haaland, particularly the "League Two standard" stuff [from Roy Keane on Sky Sports] was total nonsense. It really was.

    Everybody has sung the praises of William Saliba and Gabriel all season, and quite rightly so. When Stefan Ortega was clipping the ball into Haaland, those two are the best defenders at working off a forward's touch, and being clever with their defending to win the ball back.

    Could he have been a bit stronger? Could he have been cuter? Could his brain have worked better to find a solution? Of course. But also at times you come up against brilliant defenders.

    To pan him and degrade him and suggest he is a lower league standard player is total, total nonsense, and very unfair.

  4. Haaland - 'best in the world' or 'League Two player'?published at 18:25 British Summer Time 3 April

    Man City v Aston Villa (20:15 BST)

    Erling HaalandImage source, Getty Images

    So, Erling Haaland..."The best striker in the world" or "like a League Two player"?

    Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola defended his Norwegian striker following former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane's criticism after Sunday's 0-0 draw with Arsenal.

    Keane said Haaland's "general play" is "so poor" and "almost like a League Two player".

    But Guardiola wasn't having any of it.

    "I don't agree with him, absolutely not," said the Spanish manager when asked about Keane's comments.

    Haaland scored 52 goals in all competitions last season and has 29 this term - 18 in the Premier League, meaning he leads the challenge for the league's Golden Boot.

    "He's the best striker in the world," added Guardiola of the 23-year-old Norwegian.

    What do you think? Thumbs up to agree with Guardiola, thumbs down if you're with Keane.

  5. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 18:24 British Summer Time 3 April

    #bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only - standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826

    Do get in touch to let us know your thoughts and opinions on tonight's Premier League action.

    Write in via #bbcfootball on 'X', text 81111 (UK only - standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826.

    Please make sure to leave your names on any messages sent in.

  6. Countdown to kick offpublished at 18:21 British Summer Time 3 April

    CLock at the EmiratesImage source, Getty Images
    Match programme stands on the side of the Emirates pitchImage source, Getty Images
    Scoreboard at GTech stadium shows the upcoming fixture v BrightonImage source, Getty Images
    GTech stadium stands ready for the matchImage source, Getty Images
    Stadium worker sorts out netting on one of the goalsImage source, EPA
    Fans stand outside the Etihad stadium waiting for the bus to arriveImage source, EPA
  7. Listen livepublished at 18:19 British Summer Time 3 April

    BBC Radio 5 Live

    BBC Radio 5 Live will be across all of tonight's Premier League football.

    Steve Crossman is joined by Izzy Christiansen, Steve Bruce and Theo Walcott from 19:00 BST for updates from around the grounds.

    You can find a link to listen to the programme at the top of this live page.

  8. Postpublished at 18:18 British Summer Time 3 April

    .Image source, Getty Images

    Hello!

    After a five-game extravaganza on Tuesday night, there's three Premier League fixtures tonight, and while I say focus is largely on the top of the table two of the games still can have an impact in the relegation battle.

    Should Luton pull off a surprise at Arsenal then they will close the gap on Nottingham Forest and Everton, who both picked up positive results last night.

    Meanwhile, a win for Brentford against Brighton will ease any relegation concerns their fans have.

    .Image source, .

    Here's the full line up of fixtures:

    19:30 BST

    Arsenal v Luton

    Brentford v Brighton

    20:15 BST:

    Man City v Aston Villa

  9. Tight at the toppublished at 18:15 British Summer Time 3 April

    .Image source, Getty Images

    After the relegation battle took centre stage yesterday the focus now returns to the title battle, with Arsenal and Manchester City in action tonight.

    Liverpool are top of the pile as things stand but the Gunners will dislodge them if they beat Luton, while a high-scoring win for City and a favourable result at the Emirates will send Pep Guardiola's side into first place.

    It is all very tight at the top.