Football
Manchester City 1 – 0 Arsenal
Manchester City 1 – 0 Arsenal. Manager Pep Guardiola called Nathan Ake an “exceptional guy” after he sent Manchester City into the FA Cup fifth round with the winning goal in a narrow victory over Premier League title rivals Arsenal.
The Gunners have established an impressive lead in the league but it was City who shaded a tight contest thanks to Ake’s precise 64th-minute finish after good work from Jack Grealish.
Arsenal had chances of their own, especially in the first half when City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega, deputising for Ederson, saved well from Takehiro Tomiyasu and new signing Leandro Trossard.
There was little to choose between the sides and their Premier League battle will come into focus once more when they meet at Emirates Stadium on 15 February.
“We were definitely better in the second half. Arsenal has taken a step forward. It was a tight game and you realise how good a side they are,” Guardiola said.
“What a season he [Ake] is playing. He controlled one of the toughest opponents in the Premier League because Bukayo Saka is in an incredible moment. He is really good in the duels in the box, defending the far post and set pieces is an extra bonus.
“He is an exceptional guy, there was a period where he didn’t play and he never complained once. As a manager, you want players like Nathan. He deserves all the good things in life.”
City will view this as a psychological blow aimed in the direction of Arsenal, who manager Pep Guardiola has publicly recognised as the biggest threat to their hopes of retaining their title.
City was again short of their fluid best but have a squad so rich in quality and versatility that there is invariably a match-winning moment, on this occasion provided by Grealish’s weaving run into the area and a clever finish from Ake.
Erling Haaland was quiet but the fact that City got over the line against opponents who have become so formidable, and who have lost only one league game this season, will delight Guardiola.
It was a victory that came at a cost, however, with defender John Stones – so outstanding for his club this season and for England at the World Cup – forced off on the stroke of half-time after pulling up clutching his hamstring.
Stones has been an influential presence in City and Guardiola will hope the medical bulletin does not present a long-term problem.
For Arsenal, this was a rare taste of defeat this season – but there was enough for manager Mikel Arteta to be encouraged by as they turn attention back to the league.
The Gunners put the shackles on goal machine Haaland, and in the first half – with the recent £21m arrival of Trossard prominent – they were a real threat going forward, with Ortega the busier goalkeeper.
It was all achieved with key men Martin Odegaard, Oleksandr Zinchenko, William Saliba, Gabriel Martinelli, and goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale held back from the starting line-up.
Arsenal pushed to the end and it required real bravery from Ortega to keep them at bay in tight goalmouth situations.
“I think we could have got much more out of the game,” Arteta told ITV.
“We had big situations in the game and we didn’t put them away. We can take a lot of positives, I think the way we approached the game and competed. It is really difficult to win against this team but we went head to head with them.
“In the big moments, in big matches, you have the make the difference. That is how you win these games.”
While Arteta will be hurt by the defeat there was plenty in Arsenal’s performance do not regard this as too much of a setback.
Guardiola and Arteta were not drawing too many conclusions from the first big battle between the clubs this season when they spoke to the media afterward.
Both will take away a measure of satisfaction, City with another FA Cup win to follow up their third-round victory against Chelsea, while Arteta’s understandable disappointment in defeat will be tempered somewhat by a good performance.
On the downside, both managers were left to rue injuries to key men.
Arsenal will hope Thomas Partey’s rib injury, which requires a scan, will not prove a major problem for the hugely influential midfield man – although it is likely to increase their urgency to conclude a deal for Brighton’s Moses Caicedo, having had a £60m bid turned down.
City’s worry will be around Stones, who came off late in the first half with a hamstring injury. Guardiola has strength in that central defensive department but Stones has been one of his outstanding and consistent performers this season.
source – BBC
Aston Villa 3-2 Everton. Substitute Jhon Duran’s spectacular long-range strike secured Aston Villa a dramatic Premier League comeback victory as Everton once again faltered from a 2-0 lead, marking their second consecutive collapse.
Everton had been left stunned by a late meltdown against Bournemouth in their previous match, and on Saturday, they repeated the pattern, allowing a two-goal advantage to slip away and continuing their winless streak this season.
The game started with Villa on the front foot. Ollie Watkins had a header cleared off the line early on, but the visitors soon took the lead. Dwight McNeil seized possession from former Everton player Amadou Onana and surged forward to score with a precise finish into the far corner.
Despite their struggles, Sean Dyche’s team managed to double their lead in the 27th minute with a powerful header from Dominic Calvert-Lewin. However, Villa responded before halftime, with former Everton full-back Lucas Digne delivering a cross for Watkins to head in his first goal of the season.
As Villa prepares for their Champions League debut on Tuesday, they showed resilience by leveling the score. Watkins scored again, converting from close range after Jack Harrison’s poor clearance.
The comeback was completed 14 minutes from time when Colombian striker Duran, picking up the ball from 25 yards out, unleashed a stunning shot that dipped and swerved into the top corner, leaving Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford helpless.
This fixture, the most played in English league history, provided a thrilling encounter, with Villa recovering impressively after initially struggling at home. Under Unai Emery, who took over in October 2022, Villa has transformed from a relegation-threatened side to a European contender, finishing fourth last season and set to compete in the Champions League.
Villa, who won the European Cup in 1982, are gearing up for their European campaign with a trip to Young Boys in three days. They struggled against Everton but managed to secure the win thanks to Watkins, who ended an eight-game goal drought with his two strikes. Although he missed a chance to complete his hat-trick, Duran’s goal was a fitting match-winner.
With this victory, Villa climbed to third in the table, their only defeat coming against title contenders Arsenal. In contrast, Everton remains at the bottom of the table after four losses, a feat not seen in 66 years.
Everton appeared poised to earn their first points of the season with McNeil and Calvert-Lewin scoring, but defensive vulnerabilities resurfaced. Dyche’s typically solid defenses have conceded 13 goals in four games this season, and the team faces a crucial clash against promoted Leicester next weekend.
Despite scoring twice away from home for the first time since December, Everton’s road woes continue, and they will need to address their issues quickly to avoid a prolonged struggle.
source – BBC
Crystal Palace 2-2 Leicester City. Jean-Philippe Mateta’s stoppage-time penalty salvaged a 2-2 draw for Crystal Palace as they battled back from two goals down against Leicester City at Selhurst Park.
In the second minute of added time, Mateta coolly converted a penalty after Conor Coady fouled Ismaila Sarr inside the area, rolling the ball past Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansen.
Leicester took the lead midway through the first half when Jamie Vardy, receiving a pass from Wilfred Ndidi, rounded Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson and slid the ball into the empty net. The Foxes doubled their advantage just 23 seconds into the second half. Ndidi capitalized on a poor clearance from Palace debutant Maxence Lacroix, setting up Stephy Mavididi, who finished confidently from close range.
Palace managed to pull one back when Mateta scored from Tyrick Mitchell’s low cross, a goal that survived a VAR review. Despite the late drama, it seemed Palace might fall short until Coady’s foul on Sarr gifted Mateta the chance to equalize.
Both teams remain winless this season, but Palace will feel more relieved, having narrowly avoided a third Premier League defeat.
Oliver Glasner’s side had hoped this match would kick-start their season after a draw at Chelsea and a strong finish to the transfer window. For much of the game, it appeared another frustrating day was on the horizon, though Palace’s second-half performance offered some solace.
Vardy’s 21st-minute goal means Palace have conceded first in all four of their league games this season. Under Glasner, they have yet to win a Premier League match after falling behind.
Palace debutant Eddie Nketiah, while not on the score sheet, showed promise with his movement. He was unlucky not to score after Mateta’s goal, with his powerful drive narrowly missing the far post.
Lacroix, in contrast, had a tough debut, his misjudged clearance leading to Leicester’s second goal. Palace captain Marc Guehi also had moments of defensive frailty in the first half, but Leicester could not capitalize fully.
Leicester, like Palace, entered the game without a league win. Jordan Ayew, back at Selhurst Park after his move from Palace to Leicester, missed a golden opportunity before Vardy’s opener. Unmarked at the far post, Ayew failed to connect properly with Mavididi’s cross after Mavididi had stolen the ball from Guehi.
Vardy, who had struggled in recent games, made no mistake here, showing great composure to score. He nearly set up another goal before halftime, but Mavididi’s effort was off target after Vardy’s assist.
Mavididi redeemed himself with a goal just after the break, but it wasn’t enough to secure Leicester’s first league win of the season. Despite a strong defensive effort in the second half, Coady’s costly tackle on Sarr allowed Palace to salvage a draw.
source – BBC
Liverpool 0-1 Nottingham Forest. Callum Hudson-Odoi and the unbeaten Nottingham Forest delivered a shock to Liverpool at Anfield, ending Arne Slot’s perfect start as Reds boss.
Hudson-Odoi, who came on as a substitute, made a decisive impact by cutting in from the left and curling a stunning shot into the bottom corner—an effort that left goalkeeper Alisson helpless.
This victory marked Forest’s first win at Anfield in any competition since 1969.
Liverpool entered the match with high confidence, having won their previous three games without conceding a goal. They created the better chances, especially in the first half. Luis Diaz came close to scoring just before the break, chasing a ball and firing a shot against the near post from a tight angle.
Forest’s goalkeeper, Matz Sels, made a crucial save to deny an Alexis Mac Allister header and was fortunate not to concede moments later when Diaz’s effort nearly slipped into his own net.
After the break, Forest began to create more opportunities. Morgan Gibbs-White and Anthony Elanga both missed chances before Hudson-Odoi’s brilliant strike.
Forest fans erupted in celebration, while Liverpool supporters tried to rally their team. Despite their efforts, Liverpool struggled to create clear-cut chances to equalize.
With this win, Forest moves up to fourth in the Premier League standings with two wins and two draws, while Liverpool sits two places and one point ahead of them. Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo deserves significant credit for their strong start to the season.
Slot, who previously managed Feyenoord, understood that the Premier League would pose challenges. His impressive early results, including a notable win against Manchester United before the international break, had drawn comparisons to Jurgen Klopp’s style.
Liverpool’s play focused on patience and build-up, but their efforts were thwarted. Diaz hit the post, several headers went off target, and Mohamed Salah had a shot well-saved by Sels.
Slot made tactical changes, bringing on Bradley, moving Trent Alexander-Arnold into midfield, and introducing Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez in search of a winning goal. However, it was Bradley who was ultimately beaten by Hudson-Odoi’s goal.
Liverpool had a late opportunity to level the score when Virgil van Dijk headed over the bar, but many fans had already begun leaving Anfield before the final whistle confirmed the end of their unbeaten run.
While much of the focus had been on Liverpool’s unbeaten start under Slot, Forest also boasted an undefeated record in the Premier League—and they have now emerged as the ones maintaining that streak.
Forest’s first-half performance was solid but unspectacular, as they frustrated Liverpool without managing a shot on target. Nuno’s decision to introduce Hudson-Odoi and Elanga in the second half proved decisive. Elanga’s assist allowed Hudson-Odoi to cut inside and score the decisive goal with a perfectly placed shot into the bottom corner.
Elanga nearly doubled Forest’s lead with a late shot that went straight at Alisson, but one goal proved sufficient. Forest’s victory at Anfield was their first since the Moon landing in 1969.
source – BBC
