EPL Roundup: Arsenal extends lead; Man City held by Everton, United win late
BRIGHTON, England (AP) — Arsenal stretched its Premier League result in seven factors with a 4-2 win at Brighton on Saturday capped by a well-worked breakaway purpose from Gabriel Martinelli.
Goals from Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Eddie Nketiah had Arsenal 3-0 up by the forty seventh minute and seemingly cruising to a simple win, however Kaoru Mitoma saved Brighton within the sport with a purpose 25 minutes from time.
Odegaard then offered a elegant throughball for Martinelli to race half the size of the sector and poke in a fourth to revive the three-goal benefit.
Brighton substitute Evan Ferguson claimed his first Premier League purpose within the 77th and Mitoma thought he had arrange a tense end with an 89th-minute strike, but it surely was disallowed for offside.
Despite an unnecessarily nervy finish, the win meant Arsenal took full benefit of City’s slip-up earlier because the defending champion was held to a 1-1 draw at house in opposition to Everton. Third-place Newcastle, in the meantime, noticed its six-game profitable streak finish with a 0-0 draw in opposition to Leeds.
Brighton had received three of its final 4 however Saka put the guests forward after just a bit greater than a minute when he reacted rapidly to manage a deflected shot from Martinelli earlier than sidefooting into the web.
Odegaard was as soon as once more Arsenal’s primary orchestrator in midfield and almost arrange Martinelli for a second with some exceptional footwork within the space however ended up doubling the lead himself within the thirty ninth. The ball fell to the Norway worldwide within the space after a nook and, whereas he scuffed his shot into the bottom, it bounced completely to sail into the web.
Nketiah then seemingly put the outcome past doubt simply after the restart when he was readily available to ship in a rebound after one other shot from Martinelli, making it two targets in two begins for the Arsenal academy product within the absence of injured striker Gabriel Jesus.
Brighton refused to give up, although, and Mitoma stayed simply onside to gather a go within the space and slot a shot previous Aaron Ramsdale to present the hosts some life.
Suddenly Brighton was pouring ahead, however Odegaard made them pay with a wonderfully weighted first-touch go that set Martinelli clear on the counter. The Brazilian outpaced Tariq Lamptey from midway earlier than ending low below Robert Sanchez for the fourth.
Arsenal supervisor Mikel Arteta exuberantly celebrated the purpose on the touchline, however there was nonetheless loads of drama for him to endure.
Poor defending from William Saliba allowed 18-year-old striker Ferguson to sneak in and poke a milestone purpose via the legs of Ramsdale.
The Gunners then appeared to be in actual hazard of throwing away two factors when Mitoma diverted his second of the sport into the underside proper nook.
But the jubilant ambiance was swiftly quelled by VAR intervention earlier than the guests navigated six minutes of added time to tighten their stranglehold on first place.
Manchester United 1, Wolverhampton 0
In London, after sleeping in late, Marcus Rashford helped Manchester United come awake within the Premier League.
Rashford was dropped to the bench for disciplinary causes after being late for a crew assembly however responded by coming off the bench to present a sluggish United aspect the spark it wanted, scoring the one purpose in United’s 1-0 win at Wolverhampton on Saturday.
It was sufficient to elevate United into the highest 4 for the primary time this season, with Erik ten Hag’s aspect ending the yr on a excessive after three straight wins.
Ten Hag’s choice to drop Rashford regarded to have backfired as United struggled in assault, however the England ahead got here on after halftime and scored a well-taken purpose within the 76th minute. And, in contrast to Cristiano Ronaldo earlier within the season, he had no issues with the supervisor’s choice.
“I was a little bit late for a meeting. I slept in, overslept, but it can happen,” Rashford mentioned. “I’m obviously disappointed not to play but I understand the decision and I’m happy we managed to win the game anyway. I think we can draw a line under it and move on.”
Ten Hag additionally appeared prepared to maneuver on, having seen as soon as once more how essential Rashford is to his crew’s assault.
“Everyone has to match the standards and rules. We have to have consequences and it is what I expect on the pitch. He gave the right answer,” Ten Hag mentioned of Rashford. “I was not satisfied with the performance in the first half. We have to be more clinical and we know Rashy can score the goals and that’s what he did.”
Rashford netted his eleventh purpose of the season after he collected the ball on the left earlier than chopping inside and swapping passes with Bruno Fernandes, then dribbled his well beyond two defenders to brush it previous goalkeeper Jose Sa.
It was a uncommon little bit of high quality for United, with striker Anthony Martial and winger Antony each struggling to make an influence. But after a horrible begin to the season, United has now misplaced simply considered one of its final 15 video games since a humiliating 6-3 derby loss to Manchester City in October. And with the Ronaldo saga lastly concluded — the Portugal star joined Saudi Arabian aspect Al Nassr on Friday after being launched by United in November — Ten Hag’s crew seems to be able to problem for a Champions League place once more.
“It’s the first time we are in the top four,” Ten Hag mentioned. “But it means nothing because it’s a long way to go.”
Manchester City 1, Everton 1
In Manchester, Demarai Gray scored a spectacular equalizer as struggling Everton had an unexpectedly blissful finish to the yr with a 1-1 draw in opposition to Manchester City.
Erling Haaland regarded to have put the defending champions on target for victory in a scrappy Premier League contest on the Etihad Stadium along with his Twenty first league purpose.
The prolific Norwegian struck in scientific style after 24 minutes however Gray responded with a elegant curling effort from the sting of the realm simply after the hour.
John Stones had earlier hit the put up in opposition to his former membership however Everton confirmed nice resilience to hold on and restrict City’s formidable Haaland-led assault.
It ended a run of three straight league losses for Everton and eased a number of the strain on supervisor Frank Lampard.
Haaland, as ever, had regarded like he would make the distinction early on. He threatened for the primary time when he latched on to a fantastic throughball from Kevin De Bruyne and rounded Jordan Pickford however fired into the side-netting.
City claimed the lead when Riyad Mahrez slalomed his means via the realm and pulled again for Haaland, who completed clinically on the flip.
Everton had welcomed Dominic Calvert-Lewin again into their aspect after plenty of accidents however struggled to supply him a lot service.
Idrissa Gueye did curl in a single harmful cross however Calvert-Lewin was unable to make clear contact along with his header.
The second half received off to a gradual begin, not helped by a prolonged holdup for one of many assistant referees to have his communication tools repaired.
When play restarted it was Everton which surprisingly clicked into gear first, bringing the guests an unlikely equalizer simply after the hour.
City backed off as Gray charged into the realm, and though he slipped as he tried to chop again inside Manuel Akanji, he rapidly regained his composure to curve a shot into the highest nook.
Everton’s makes an attempt to disrupt the move of the sport then started to frustrate City. De Bruyne shrugged off some crude challenges however Jack Grealish and Haaland received some tough therapy.
City piled on the strain within the latter phases however Pickford saved nicely from Mahrez in a goalmouth scramble and quite a few different makes an attempt on purpose had been blocked.
With 11 minutes of stoppage time performed, it was a nervy end for the guests however they held on with some dogged defending.
Fulham climbed to seventh place with a 2-1 win over Southampton, whereas Crystal Palace earned a 2-0 victory at Bournemouth.
Newcastle 0, Leeds United 0
In Newcastle, Fabian Schar wasted three good probabilities as Newcastle’s six-game profitable streak within the Premier League was halted by a 0-0 draw in opposition to Leeds.
Schar and fellow defender Dan Burn had the very best probabilities for Newcastle, however neither was in a position to break the impasse regardless of Eddie Howe’s crew dominating a lot of the sport with out discovering a well beyond goalkeeper Illan Meslier.
As a outcome, Newcastle had a disappointing end to 2022 however nonetheless sit in third place within the standings forward of Tuesday’s journey to chief Arsenal. Meanwhile, the outcome might ease a little bit of the strain on Leeds’ American supervisor Jesse Marsch after two straight losses.
After a shiny begin from Leeds, Newcastle finally took management within the sport with the link-up between Kieran Trippier and Miguel Almiron down the best beginning to pay dividends, and it was the fullback who handed Schar the prospect to open the scoring from a Twenty first-minute nook, though the Switzerland worldwide’s downward header flew simply huge.
Brenden Aaronson noticed a harmful shot blocked seconds later, however the Magpies might need gone forward when Joelinton headed Trippier’s Twenty fourth-minute nook again throughout purpose just for Burn to overlook his kick.
The house aspect’s frustration continued instantly after the break when Schar recycled one other nook from Trippier past the far put up, solely to blast his shot over, earlier than Chris Wood was denied by Meslier after operating on to Burn’s knockdown.
Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope was compelled into his first real save 12 minutes after the restart, diving to his proper to show away Rodrigo’s well-struck effort and Newcastle stepped up a gear to pin Leeds again deep inside their very own half.
Meslier repelled Schar’s 62nd-minute header and Sean Longstaff fired over after Joelinton’s enterprising run seconds later, prompting Howe to introduce Callum Wilson and Allan Saint-Maximin.
Longstaff cleared the crossbar as soon as once more after good work by Almiron as an more and more fractious contest entered its ultimate quarter, however the guests held agency.
Fulham 2, Southampton 1
In London, Joao Palhinha’s late purpose gave Fulham a 2-1 win over Southampton, leaving the guests stranded on the backside of the Premier League.
James Ward-Prowse thought he had secured a primary level below new Southampton supervisor Nathan Jones after making up for an own-goal within the first half by equalizing from a free kick within the 56th minute.
But Palhinha struck a minute from time with a far-post header to go away Southampton in final place, regardless of Fulham’s high scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic then lacking a stoppage-time penalty.
The win meant Fulham climbed above west London rivals Chelsea and Brentford into seventh place.
It was Fulham’s first house match because the dying of 1966 World Cup-winning fullback George Cohen, and a tribute was paid earlier than the sport with former supervisor Roy Hodgson and Cohen’s son Anthony laying down wreaths.
Pele was additionally remembered earlier than kickoff, and Saints striker Che Adams instantly tried to emulate the Brazil nice with a shot from close to the midway line as Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno was out of his purpose. Just like Pele’s well-known effort in opposition to Czechoslovakia, the ball drifted huge.
Fulham’s Brazilian, Willian, was then teed up by Andreas Pereira and fizzed a first-time shot into the side-netting.
Fulham took the lead within the thirty third minute.
Willian lifted a nook to the sting of the penalty space from the place the lurking Pereira hit a volley which deflected off Ward-Prowse’s shin and looped into the web.
Pereira nearly doubled the lead after the break when he met Bobby Decordova-Reid’s cross on the close to put up, however he couldn’t steer it on course.
Instead Southampton equalized after Decordova-Reid fouled Adams within the excellent vary for Ward-Prowse.
The England worldwide curled an outstanding effort from 22 yards over the wall and previous the diving Leno.
Kenny Tete might have put Fulham again in entrance after a spill by Saints keeper Gavin Bazunu, however the full again shanked his shot huge.
Both groups pressed for a winner, and it was Fulham that scored it when Tete headed on Pereira’s nook and Palhinha nodded it house.
Dan James was then fouled within the space in stoppage time however Bazunu saved out Mitrovic’s spot kick.
Crystal Palace 2, Bournemouth 0
In Bournemouth, Crystal Palace picked up three factors in its ultimate sport of 2022 with a 2-0 win at Bournemouth.
Jordan Ayew opened the scoring when he rose highest to fulfill Michael Olise’s nook and cushioned a header into the underside proper nook from the sting of the six-yard field within the nineteenth minute.
The midtable Eagles prolonged their lead within the thirty sixth after Olise as soon as once more arrange a teammate from a wonderfully positioned nook. This time it was Eberechi Eze, who wasted no time in curling a right-footed effort into the underside left nook from near the penalty spot.
Both groups paid tribute to soccer nice Pelé with a minute’s applause earlier than the egame began below heavy rain.
New Bournemouth homeowners Bill Foley and actor Michael B. Jordan had been launched on the sector earlier than kickoff.
Bournemouth is fifteenth, three factors above the relegation zone.
