English Premier League
Arsenal 1 – 3 Manchester City
Arsenal 1- 3 Manchester City. The most damaging blow Manchester City inflicted on Arsenal with victory in the biggest Premier League game of the season may just have been a psychological one.
City’s 3-1 win at Emirates Stadium saw them swap places with the Gunners, returning to the top of the table for the first time since 5 November.
The gap may seem like the smallest of margins, City at the summit on goal difference having played a game more than Mikel Arteta’s side. But this win – plus the manner of it and where it was achieved – made it feel much more than that.
Scratch beneath the surface and it is hard to escape the sense that this highly-charged encounter in north London might just have been the night when the momentum in the title race shifted decisively.
Arsenal has been outstanding this season, showing steel and character to pass the sternest tests placed in front of them – Liverpool and Manchester United were beaten at home, and Chelsea and Tottenham were overcome on their travels.
When Arsenal won at Spurs on 18 January, they were eight points clear of City with both having played 18 games. They had momentum as well as a formidable advantage.
City, by contrast, has been short of their imperious best despite the avalanche of Erling Haaland goals – losing at home to Brentford, drawing with Everton and recently slipping up at Spurs.
For all that, for all the feeling that City was missing the old spark and fluency, an Arsenal stumble sees Pep Guardiola’s side back in that old familiar position.
Arteta’s side has claimed only one point out of the last nine, losing at Everton, drawing at home to Brentford then slipping against City. It has proved an expensive spell.
Arsenal is still right in this title race, make no mistake, but as they trooped off to sympathetic applause and City’s players fist-pumped in front of their joyous fans, there was a feeling of deflation around the stadium.
The Gunners have been full-on and thrilling to watch. City has often looked like a team in search of their usual “X Factor.”
And yet City is now back at the summit. It will be tough for Arsenal to take.
Arsenal nursed a justifiable grievance after the 1-1 draw with Brentford here on Saturday, Ivan Toney’s equaliser the result of incompetence by those running VAR.
Here, Arsenal could not blame anyone but themselves. They were guilty of the sort of individual errors that invited City to inflict heavy punishment. They duly did and Arsenal ended up well beaten.
Takehiro Tomiyasu did not see Kevin de Bruyne lurking when he found him with a misplaced back-pass in the first half, then Gabriel summed up a performance where Arsenal’s defence often lived dangerously with a cheap concession of possession that ended with Jack Grealish restoring City’s lead after Bukayo Saka had levelled from the spot.
Haaland, whose physical presence bullied Arsenal into mistakes in the second half, added a third for his 26th goal of the season, his 32nd in all competitions, as City demonstrated the ruthlessness that marks out champions.
The self-styled kings of possession under Guardiola only had 36%, their lowest in a league match in his time at the club, but still recorded their most important league win this season without even being at their best.
Indeed, City was poor in the first half, infuriating the home crowd with time-wasting that resulted in goalkeeper Ederson receiving a yellow card.
It was a different story after the break, especially when Guardiola gave Bernardo Silva a more accustomed attacking role.
City grew in threat, Grealish got himself on the scoresheet while Haaland’s goal – one touch with the left foot and another with the right to beat Aaron Ramsdale – ensured no late nerves for the reigning champions.
Arsenal looked callow in those closing stages, undoubtedly missing the midfield authority they lost with Thomas Partey’s injury.
City has a psychological edge over Arsenal on many levels. After the recent FA Cup win at Etihad Stadium, this result means Arsenal have now lost their last 11 league games against City, the longest losing run against any opponent in the competition.
Guardiola and City will feel order has been restored at the top of the table, particularly with a home game to come against Arsenal in April, while the Gunners must avoid the sinking feeling that their big chance in the title race has come and gone as they chase their first crown since 2004.
Arsenal has shown great resolve as they made their way to the top of the Premier League. They will need to show it again now, starting at Aston Villa on Saturday.
City, by contrast, will feel they are back in their rightful place.
Source – BBC
Crystal Palace 0-0 Manchester United. Manchester United were left frustrated as they squandered several clear-cut chances in a 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace in the Premier League at Selhurst Park. Despite dominating possession and creating a number of opportunities, Erik ten Hag’s side couldn’t find the breakthrough they needed.
Coming off an emphatic 7-0 EFL Cup win over Barnsley earlier in the week, United started positively. Alejandro Garnacho, who was given the nod ahead of Marcus Rashford, nearly opened the scoring early on, but Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson tipped his effort around the post.
United continued to apply pressure, with defenders Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez both denied by Henderson’s quick reflexes. Garnacho later hit the crossbar, with the rebound falling to Bruno Fernandes, who saw his follow-up effort clip the top of the bar.
Crystal Palace began to find their rhythm as the first half progressed, and Eberechi Eze tested United goalkeeper Andre Onana with a shot straight at him when left unmarked in the box.
The second half was a more even contest, though United continued to push for a winner. Fernandes curled a shot wide, while Garnacho forced another save from Henderson. At the other end, Eddie Nketiah had a chance, but Onana’s sharp save kept the game level.
Palace had the best opportunity of the second half when Eze, once again unmarked, missed the target from 12 yards out. United’s goalkeeper, Onana, also made a critical save from Nketiah’s close-range effort to preserve the clean sheet.
The draw leaves Manchester United in 11th place, while Crystal Palace remains winless in 16th. Erik ten Hag will likely view this result as two points dropped rather than one gained, especially given United’s dominance in possession, with 66.8% – their highest away possession since April 2023.
Despite controlling much of the game, Manchester United’s familiar weaknesses resurfaced. They generated several scoring chances but lacked the clinical edge to finish them. The Red Devils currently rank second in the Premier League for expected goals (xG) with 9.53 across their first five matches, but they’ve only managed to find the net five times. This underperformance in front of goal is only rivaled by Southampton, who sit in 18th place.
One bright spot for United was the return of Danish striker Rasmus Højlund. The 21-year-old came off the bench in the second half, making his first appearance of the season after recovering from injury. Højlund’s return gives Ten Hag more options up front alongside Joshua Zirkzee, who was well-contained by the Palace defense throughout the match.
Crystal Palace, under manager Oliver Glasner, had a difficult start to the match, with United dominating the opening 30 minutes. Palace struggled to get out of their half and were reliant on Henderson’s goalkeeping heroics to keep the score level.
As the game progressed, Palace grew in confidence and created some decent chances, particularly through Eze. However, the Eagles will likely be disappointed not to have capitalized on their best opportunities, especially Eze’s two unmarked chances in both halves.
The point continues a positive run for Palace, with three consecutive league draws and recent progress in the EFL Cup. They are still adapting to life without key players like Michael Olise, who joined Bayern Munich, and Joachim Andersen, who moved to Fulham. However, with a solid defensive foundation and improvement in the attack, Palace will be hopeful of securing their first league win soon.
source – BBC
Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Brentford. Dominic Solanke scored his first goal for Tottenham as they came from behind to secure a 3-1 victory over Brentford in an exciting clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The win was a much-needed boost for Spurs after back-to-back Premier League defeats.
Brentford made a lightning start, going ahead just 23 seconds into the match when Bryan Mbeumo volleyed home from Keane Lewis-Potter’s cross. However, Spurs quickly responded, leveling the score just eight minutes later when Ethan Pinnock’s poor pass was intercepted by James Maddison. Though Maddison’s initial shot was saved, Solanke calmly finished the rebound, marking his first goal for Spurs following his £65 million summer transfer from Bournemouth.
Tottenham’s pressure paid off again before the half-hour mark when another Brentford mistake led to Brennan Johnson scoring with a clinical finish past Bees goalkeeper Mark Flekken. By that point, Spurs were in control, and they extended their lead late on when Maddison chipped in a delicate goal after a pass from Son Heung-min.
Brentford had opportunities to fight back, with Mbeumo nearly scoring again late in the first half after robbing Spurs keeper Guglielmo Vicario of the ball inside the six-yard box. However, Vicario made up for his error with a save, and Brentford struggled to regain momentum.
The second half saw Brentford try to push for an equalizer, but Spurs remained composed and solid at the back, even as Brentford pressed for a way back into the game. A controversial moment occurred when Vicario appeared to handle the ball outside the penalty area, but the referee waved off Brentford’s protests, and VAR did not intervene, deeming the incident not to have denied a clear goal-scoring opportunity.
Despite Brentford’s efforts, it was Tottenham who sealed the win through Maddison’s late goal, relieving the pressure after losses to Newcastle and Arsenal in recent weeks. The victory gave Spurs their second league win of the season and helped ease the anxiety that had been building among the home supporters.
Brentford manager Thomas Frank acknowledged his side’s struggles, saying, “We made too many mistakes in possession, and Tottenham punished us. We had our chances, but we need to be more careful with the ball in key moments.”
For the second consecutive week, Brentford lost after scoring in the opening minute, with the defeat leaving them with three losses from their last four games. Spurs, on the other hand, will take confidence from their spirited performance as they look to build on this win.
Solanke, speaking after the game, expressed his delight: “It’s always special to get your first goal, especially in front of the home fans. Hopefully, it’s the first of many.”
Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou praised Solanke’s contribution, saying, “He’s been excellent for us in every game, and it’s great to see him get off the mark.”
With this win, Tottenham can now focus on climbing the Premier League table, while Brentford will need to address their defensive lapses if they hope to bounce back in their upcoming fixtures.
source – BBC
Southampton 1-1 Ipswich Town. Southampton manager Russell Martin expressed his frustration after Ipswich Town captain Sam Morsy scored a dramatic injury-time equalizer, leaving the Saints without a win in their return to the Premier League. The match ended 1-1 at St Mary’s Stadium, as both sides continue their search for a first league victory this season.
Southampton, having lost their opening four top-flight games of the 2024-25 campaign, struck early thanks to 18-year-old Tyler Dibling. The young midfielder netted his first goal for the club just five minutes into the match after capitalizing on a defensive error by Ipswich’s Axel Tuanzebe. The Saints kept the pressure on, with 36-year-old Adam Lallana setting up Dibling, who coolly slotted the ball past Ipswich goalkeeper Arijanet Muric.
Cameron Archer, who had missed a penalty in Southampton’s previous 3-0 loss to Manchester United, almost doubled the lead but was denied by the post. Archer, a £15 million summer signing from Aston Villa, had another chance to score, but his effort was well saved by Muric.
The missed opportunities would come back to haunt Southampton, as Ipswich’s Morsy equalized in the 95th minute. His long-range strike, deflected off Joe Aribo, left Saints goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale with no chance, securing a dramatic point for the visitors.
After the game, an irritated Russell Martin shared his disappointment: “I’m really angry and frustrated that we didn’t see the game out. We allowed them too much space in the final moments, and that cost us. We made fundamental errors that we don’t make in training, and that has to be down to the anxiety of the situation. It was our best performance, but it wasn’t enough to get the win.”
Both teams remain winless in the Premier League this season, but Ipswich will be the happier side, as they continue to defy expectations in their first top-flight campaign since 2001-02. The draw is Ipswich’s third in five matches, moving them up to 16th place in the table. Southampton, meanwhile, picked up their first point of the season, moving from 19th to 18th.
Ipswich’s last Premier League victory came in April 2002 when they beat Middlesbrough 1-0. Town boss Kieran McKenna had hoped to target this game as an opportunity for another win, especially against a side that, like Ipswich, earned promotion from the Championship in 2023-24.
The game started in Southampton’s favor when Lallana, showing his experience, assisted Dibling’s opener with a deft pass. Dibling controlled the ball well, creating space to fire past two Ipswich defenders and find the back of the net, marking his first senior goal.
Southampton almost doubled their lead midway through the first half, but Archer’s attempt hit the post after rounding Muric. Ipswich fought back, with Southampton’s Ramsdale forced into a series of saves to maintain the lead, denying efforts from Dara O’Shea, Leif Davis, and Omari Hutchinson.
As the game neared its conclusion, Southampton looked set for their first Premier League victory since March 2023, when they beat Leicester City 1-0. However, Ipswich’s late push resulted in Morsy’s equalizer, with the captain’s deflected strike salvaging a point for his side.
Reflecting on the match, Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna praised his team’s resilience: “It was a fantastic way to finish the game. For the captain to step up and strike it well, in front of the away supporters, to get a point is a great thing for the group. Scoring late goals and never giving up has been a massive part of our success, and it’s good for this new group to experience that.”
McKenna added that Ipswich is “edging in the right direction” and emphasized the importance of continued improvement as the team adapts to Premier League competition.
With both sides yet to find a victory, the pressure will continue to build, especially for Southampton as they aim to break their winless streak in their Premier League return.
source – BBC