LONDON — Arsenal responded to the pressure applied by Manchester City by beating Brighton 2-1 to retake top spot in the Premier League after Rayan Cherki inspired Pep Guardiola’s side to victory at Nottingham Forest.

Aston Villa remain just three points behind the leaders ahead of their trip to Arsenal on Tuesday after substitute Ollie Watkins struck twice in a 2-1 win at Chelsea.

Florian Wirtz scored his first Liverpool goal as the Reds beat Wolves 2-1 on an emotional occasion at Anfield, where Diogo Jota’s former clubs met for the first time since his death.

City’s 2-1 win in the lunchtime kick-off at the City Ground took them top for a couple of hours.

However, Arsenal hit straight back despite making life difficult for themselves against inferior opposition once more.

“The margins should have been much bigger,” said Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta. “With the amount of situations, chances, open chances that we generated through the game, it should never be 2-1.”

Martin Odegaard’s fine strike was all the home side had to show for their first-half domination at the Emirates.

Arteta’s men had some fortune for the vital second goal when Georginio Rutter turned Declan Rice’s corner into his own net.

But Arsenal nerves were frayed after Diego Gomez pulled a goal back.

David Raya produced a stunning save to deny Yankuba Minteh as Arsenal held on to win by a solitary goal for the seventh time in their 13 league victories this season.