Arsenal blew an opportunity to make up important floor on Premier League leaders Liverpool with a disappointing 1-1 draw at Brighton.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, Premier League runners-up over the previous two seasons, travelled to the south coast on Saturday searching a fourth straight league win.
Seventeen-year-old Ethan Nwaneri, in for the injured Bukayo Saka, put them on the right track for all three factors within the first half.
However Joao Pedro levelled from the penalty spot following a conflict of heads between the Brazilian and William Saliba simply after the hour mark, prompting a livid response from Arteta.
“We’re additionally very dissatisfied with the penalty and the best way it was given,” Arteta stated. “I’ve by no means seen that in my life, and Saliba touches the ball, so it’s by no means a penalty for me.”
The 1-1 draw means the second-placed Gunners are 5 factors behind Liverpool, having performed two video games extra, with Arne Slot’s in-form leaders internet hosting crisis-hit Manchester United on Sunday.
“We knew it was going to be aggressive and difficult,” added Arteta. “However we did compete, and it wasn’t our greatest day.
“We’re enjoying each three days as effectively, and at present we misplaced too many easy issues. Doing the straightforward issues, we’ve got to do them proper, and at present wasn’t to these requirements.”
Man Metropolis return to profitable methods in opposition to West Ham
Manchester Metropolis, who beat Leicester final week for simply their second win in 14 video games, have now received successive matches for the primary time since October after pummelling West Ham 4-1 earlier on Saturday.
The defending champions took an early lead in opposition to West Ham by way of a Vladimir Coufal personal purpose and Erling Haaland headed in Savinho’s deep cross shortly earlier than the break.
The Norwegian claimed his second 10 minutes after the interval, dinking the ball over Alphonse Areola after a wonderful cross from Savinho, to take his league haul to 16 targets, one behind Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah.
Phil Foden made it 4-0 earlier than Niclas Fullkrug grabbed a comfort for Julen Lopetegui’s males, who suffered a 5-0 mauling by Premier League leaders Liverpool final week.
Arsenal’s draw at Brighton means Liverpool can go eight factors clear, with a sport in hand…
They face Man Utd tomorrow at 16:30 GMT 🔜 pic.twitter.com/CTvSfzmHPZ
— Premier League (@premierleague) January 4, 2025
Regardless of their stunning run of outcomes, sixth-placed Metropolis are simply two factors behind fourth-placed Chelsea, however Guardiola stated his group have been nonetheless not again within the groove.
“I’m very happy for the outcome, however you can not ask me if the outdated Metropolis is again,” he stated. “In case you noticed the sport, we’re not.
“You noticed many occasions in the course of the years what we’ve got finished with the opponents.”
Newcastle, Chelsea and Aston Villa up their chase; Tottenham falter
Within the early kickoff, Newcastle United got here from behind to clinch a fifth straight Premier League win and heap extra distress on injury-hit Tottenham Hotspur. The house facet went forward within the fourth minute by way of Dominic Solanke.
Newcastle levelled two minutes later when Anthony Gordon arrowed an effort into the underside nook, however Postecoglou stood in disbelief on the touchline referee Andrew Madley after Joelinton intercepted Lucas Bergvall’s cross along with his hand within the build-up.
VAR deemed Joelinton’s arm to be in a pure place and the contact to be unintentional. In-form Alexander Isak scored what turned out to be the winner in direction of the tip of the primary interval.
The two-1 victory, watched by new England supervisor Thomas Tuchel, leaves Newcastle in fifth spot, which can but show sufficient to safe a spot within the Champions League subsequent season. However Spurs have slumped to twelfth within the desk after 5 defeats in seven matches.
Postecoglou stated he was pleased with his gamers however was the “angriest I feel I’ve ever been in my profession”.
“I feel it’s clear,” stated the Australian. “Now whether or not folks agree with me or not, whether or not it wasn’t handball or it was unintentional, I’m simply not occupied with any of that dialogue.
“I do know what everybody needs me to say, however all I’ll say is that on some other day, on a good and even enjoying floor, we might have received that sport. Easy as that.”
Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea have been respiration down Liverpool’s necks simply two weeks in the past however have taken solely two factors from 4 video games over the festive interval.
Cole Palmer gave the guests a first-half lead, however they may not capitalise on their possession and Jean-Philippe Mateta levelled within the 82nd minute.
“Two weeks in the past, three weeks in the past, we have been speaking in regards to the title race … however this second of the season, I knew that’s going to occur in any season for any group, that you’ve some second that you’re not in a position to win video games,” stated Maresca.
Aston Villa beat relegation-threatened Leicester 2-1 at house, with targets from Ross Barkley and Leon Bailey.
Brentford recorded their first league win on the highway this season, smashing hapless Southampton 5-0, and Bournemouth beat Everton 1-0.
