Premier League: Foden inspires Man City to 4-1 win after Arsenal go top

And it's pretty much as you were down at the bottom as Luton lost to Arsenal and Brentford earned a point against Brighton.

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Here's how things are looking at the top of the Premier League after this evening's action with Liverpool set to face Sheffield United tomorrow.

BBC SportCopyright: BBC Sport

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery speaking to BBC Match of the Day:

"We competed until the third goal but it's difficult to beat them here. They showed their power they are in contention for title again. We competed, we tried to do what we can do good but they showed their power so congratulations to them.

"We tried to get tight but then they scored the third goal and it's more difficult so we tried to manage the 90 minutes and get something.

"Robin [Olsen] is always ready to play and he did good work, he saved some good actions but we conceded four goals and for a goalkeeper that's not good."

For England, you've got to have Declan Rice holding with Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden ahead of him.

The advanced eight/ten position is how all the top teams are playing now, so you put those two in there and they will work it out between them.

Phil Foden is a player who will find a way, his football intelligence levels are supremely high. Jude Bellingham is operating at a complete other level as well. You find a way to get those two players in because they are intelligent enough to find ways to compliment one another.

In the big games you need players that are going to manage and produce those big moments and Phil Foden is one of them.

SMS Message: They have an abundance of riches in midfield & attack - Foden has shown that. But England will never win anything with the defence Southgate currently plays. from Al

They have an abundance of riches in midfield & attack - Foden has shown that. But England will never win anything with the defence Southgate currently plays.

SMS Message: Foden. Bellingham. Rice. Please, Gareth from Earl, Coventry

Foden. Bellingham. Rice. Please, Gareth

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola speaking to TNT Sports:

"If we win I am happy. We lost some easy balls and they are really good in attack. But today we were better."

On Rodri: "Normally you score goals if you are close to the box and he has been arriving there. We had more presence in the final third, unlike the game against Arsenal."

On Phil Foden: "His work ethic is amazing. He plays in central positions and has an incredible sense of goal - he has goals in his veins and we have to use him.

"I think it was a mistake from Villa, not over the wall but it was important to score that before half time.

"After the third, they had one or two chances on transition, we had a lot of chances. Really pleased for performance, three days, three days we didn't have time to prepare the game."

On Arsenal and Liverpool being favourites for the title ahead of City: "They have more points than us so they are favourites but it's important to us to qualify for Champions League next season. We are close to that, qualification is important for many reasons. Beating Aston Villa is a big step."

One standout thing about Phil Foden is that he never seems too high or too low.

He is very balanced, whether in game or outside of games. I don't think he gets too overawed by situations. He doesn't see anything as too big for him.

The debate with the England team is that surely he has to play centrally, to get the best out of him he has to be in the middle. Get the clips of him in those central areas from tonight to Gareth Southgate and say, "Look, who else is doing this?"

Brentford defender Kristoffer Ajer, speaking to TNT Sport: "The clean sheet was the main focus for us today, we had urgency to keep them out. Normally we like to press high up but they are incredible playing out from the back, so this was a game where we had to defend. We had plenty of chances, but the clean sheet was important.

"Obviously we want to score in front of our fans, but on a day like this when things don't click so well, we are happy with a point."

We know Wayne Rooney and I always speak so highly of him and Phil Foden is similar to him in that he is obsessed with football, completely.

Rooney was the first player I met that wanted to win, had to win more than me - Phil has taken that to a whole new echelon. The desire to constantly have the ball at his feet, around hotels, the training ground etcetera.

I worked with him at England U21s and we had to ban him from doing extra sessions after training because you couldn't get him off the pitch. He always wants to work on his technique, put himself into game scenarios and develop.

He probably loves the game as much as I love my kids! He is just obsessed.

More from Man of the Match Phil Foden speaking to TNT Sports: "I'm just loving my football at the moment, playing with a smile on my face and trying to help the team. I know I am capable of scoring goals, and today I showed that so I am delighted.

On pre-season targets: "I always set myself [the aim] to do better than last season, get more goal contributions. I think I am up this year so I'm doing well.

On playing centrally: "I see myself as a really technical player in the pockets. Out wide I think I can do that job but I prefer to do it in the middle. This year I am growing into the game.

The manager spoke on showing rhythm and slowing the game down so I think I have added that to my game too. Before I was going so quickly, attacking every action. But now I am getting the balance just right.

"I always try to arrive in the box, that is where the goals are. You get at least five a season arriving in the box late. I've been working on all aspects of my game in midfield, but like I said still a lot to improve on and I'm still growing in that position. "

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery speaking to TNT Sports:

"Robin [Olsen] played well, we conceded four goals but he saved some so really good. Until the first goal we played well. We had a chance to draw the match but when they scored the third goal they showed their power. They are up there with Arsenal and Liverpool and today they confirmed it.

"We have some injuries, we played Saturday and again this week. We have to try and save some players. We decided to do a competitive team with some young players too to get some confidence. At the end of the match we know they deserved the match they were better than us and they showed it.

"Scoring goals is good. We try for the best performances and with Jhon [Duran] we keep going.

"Focus is now Brentford. Difficult match coming up on Saturday."

Man of the Match Phil Foden speaking to TNT Sports:

On free kicks: "I don't actually practice them. I'm not sure why I took that one [for the second goal], Julian was on them but I just felt confident at the time. I asked him if he minded me having that one and to be fair he gave it to me and it paid off in the end.

On the third goal: "As I was walking back with Jack he also mentioned the Wayne Rooney goal, and that is what it reminded me of too.

On Rodri: "Lost for words with this guy. He is our most important player. When he doesn't play there is a clear difference.

On the title race: "We don't really look too far ahead. If we are in and around it with ten games to go then we know we are capable. We are in and around it again now so it is still possible. We have to keep believing. That was what the manager was big on today, believe and fight until the end."

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola speaking to BBC Match of the Day:

"We played a really good game, a month ago at Villa Park they were better. Today we were better.

"We missed a lot of chances, but we created a lot. We played really good inside with Phil, Rico and Rodri. Wides were really good with Jack and Jeremy so we made a good game. We created a lot and could've scored more goals."

On resting Erling Haaland and Kevin de Bruyne: "They could play and rest other players. We put the players out to win it not just to rest players. We need fresh legs and we only played three days ago against Arsenal. We needed it because of the schedule so we needed the rest."

Brighton midfielder Adam Lallana speaking to Premier League Productions: "We were disappointed with a point, we saw how dominant Brentford were the other night with 30 shots on goal but we dominated this game, just lacked the killer instinct.

"It's been a tough season with a lot of games, which is new for Brighton, but we are not making excuses, we had bodies back tonight and could have nicked it.

"Clean sheet today, a point away in the league is never bad. It will be tough on Saturday, Arsenal are a good team. We were the only team looking to win this game tonight."

Arsenal's Emile Smith Rowe, speaking to BBC MOTD: "Amazing. It really felt good for me. It was really important for me to try and put in a good performance and nothing better than doing that at home in front of our fans.

"For the boys who haven't played as much it was important we put in a performance and I think we did.

"It shows the strength in depth of this team that players when they come in have to put in a performance.

"If we keep getting three points everyone is happy. I just have to make sure I am ready all the time."

SMS Message: As a Liverpool fan I have to say I am quite confident that no matter how many arsenal score or man City. It will not count for nothing as we will win are remaining games and come out on top. # King klopps last dance !!! from Jack, Liverpool fan

As a Liverpool fan I have to say I am quite confident that no matter how many arsenal score or man City. It will not count for nothing as we will win are remaining games and come out on top. # King klopps last dance !!!

SMS Message: Thanks Citeh and Arsenal from a Utd fan, either of you can stop Liverpool winning the league and I don't care which! from Craig, Salford

Thanks Citeh and Arsenal from a Utd fan, either of you can stop Liverpool winning the league and I don't care which!

SMS Message: I still think Arsenal/Arteta will crack like ‘love it’s Keegan, so cheering on Citeh as the lesser of two evils for the title. from Stu

I still think Arsenal/Arteta will crack like ‘love it’s Keegan, so cheering on Citeh as the lesser of two evils for the title.

Phil Foden has learned from Bernardo Silva, David Silva, Pep Guardiola, Kevin de Bruyne... He is, at this moment in time, one of the best players in the Premier League and at the tender age of 23.

He's playing like a 30-year-old, he's that knowledgeable.

He's an extraordinary talent and because he's grown up in the city, with the academy and how much it means to him it's even more special.

He's living his dream.

Manchester City midfielder Rodri speaking to TNT Sports:

"Frustration [about Arsenal draw] is what it is. We conceded a goal but we keep the faith and in terms of our general play it was one of our best of the season.

"We knew that we have to have players in the box, we have to arrive in the box to score goals and that was the message at the start of the game.

"I want to help the team, it's not my role to score goals but I want to score more and it's something I've been working on. Looking at myself after the games and if you want to improve you can do it."

On Phil Foden: "With this player he grows every single year. He can score whatever he wants, arriving in the box, he has a special quality, three today and so happy for him."

On first win over a top-five team: "Something we've been struggling with this season to face the teams at the top - beating Aston Villa 4-1 is not easy but we did it.

"We're there, we knew we had to do our homework. We did it and now we focus on the next game."

The gulf didn't look like third in the Premier League table was playing fourth in the table tonight.

All that was mentioned before the game was that Erling Haaland and Kevin de Buryne were on the bench, and if things didn't go right tonight that would have been the discussion again.

However with the pace and movement of Phil Foden, Rico Lewis, Jeremy Doku, Jack Grealish, City controlled the game. A performance we so often see from them at home, full control from start to finish, they were excellent.