Arsenal blew an opportunity to make up vital 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 upset with the penalty and the best way it was given,” Arteta mentioned. “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 the moment we misplaced too many easy issues. Doing the straightforward issues, we’ve got to do them proper, and at the moment wasn’t to these requirements.”
Man Metropolis return to successful methods towards West Ham
Manchester Metropolis, who beat Leicester final week for simply their second win in 14 video games, have now gained successive matches for the primary time since October after pummelling West Ham 4-1 earlier on Saturday.
The defending champions took an early lead towards West Ham via a Vladimir Coufal personal aim 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 advantageous move 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 surprising run of outcomes, sixth-placed Metropolis are simply two factors behind fourth-placed Chelsea, however Guardiola mentioned his group had been nonetheless not again within the groove.
“I’m very happy for the consequence, however you can’t ask me if the previous Metropolis is again,” he mentioned. “In case you noticed the sport, we aren’t.
“You noticed many occasions through the years what we’ve got performed 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 via 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 move together with his hand within the build-up.
VAR deemed Joelinton’s arm to be in a pure place and the contact to be unintended. In-form Alexander Isak scored what turned out to be the winner in the direction of the top 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 mentioned he was pleased with his gamers however was the “angriest I feel I’ve ever been in my profession”.
“I feel it’s clear,” mentioned the Australian. “Now whether or not folks agree with me or not, whether or not it wasn’t handball or it was unintended, I’m simply not concerned about any of that dialogue.
“I do know what everybody desires me to say, however all I’ll say is that on some other day, on a good and even enjoying floor, we might have gained that sport. Easy as that.”
Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea had been respiratory 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 had been speaking concerning 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 got some second that you’re not capable of win video games,” mentioned Maresca.
Aston Villa beat relegation-threatened Leicester 2-1 at dwelling, with targets from Ross Barkley and Leon Bailey.
Brentford recorded their first league win on the street this season, smashing hapless Southampton 5-0, and Bournemouth beat Everton 1-0.