Arsenal 1-2 Manchester City
Arsenal so nearly opened up the 2022 Premier League action on New Years Day with a hard fought draw against runaway leaders Manchester City, but a 93rd minute goal from midfield ace Rodri made it 11 wins on the trot for the Sky Blues.
Mikel Arteta gave his former boss Pep Guardiola a real run for his money as his side dominated the first half, and Bukayo Saka opened the scoring before the break. But in a mad five minutes the Sky Blues were level through Riyad Mahrez and Arsenal went down to ten men as Gabriel saw red.
The Gunners almost held on, but when Rodri fired home he took the leaders 11 points clear at the top. And now Manchester City fans will have a close eye on the epic Sunday encounter between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge.
Highlights of the game
Manchester City have become runaway leaders in recent weeks, moving eight points clear at the top of the table, and they started with serious intent in this game. Kevin De Bruyne almost put Raheem Sterling in and then the Belgian ace crossed for Gabriel Jesus who headed just wide. But the Gunners gradually worked their way into the game and there was a VAR review when Martin Odegaard went down as he skipped past Ederson. The question was; did the City keeper get a touch on the ball? And the VAR verdict was ‘Yes’ but it was a tight call and a let off for the Sky Blues.
City responded and Dias headed a Sterling cross inches wide and then Ederson was called on to make a save from Gabriel Martinelli. The Gunners grew further into the contest, and began to dominate play which very few sides have managed against Pep Guardiola’s stars, even for a few minutes. And Arsenal’s ambition paid off, just on the half hour, when Kieran Tierney slid the ball through for Saka and he did the rest, firing past Ederson for his seventh goal of the campaign.
The Emirates was bouncing and the Gunners were firing, and Martinelli came close again with a curling effort after another fluent move from the hosts who went in deservedly ahead at the break. The latest Premier League 2022 betting odds have the Sky Blues as hot favourites to retain their title, but Arsenal’s first half showing gave hope to the champions’ rivals.
But then a dramatic 5 minutes early in the second half turned the match on its head. First Granit Xhaka clumsily fouled Bernardo Silva and, after a VAR review, this one went in the Sky Blues’ favour too. Riyad Mahrez stepped up and sent Aaron Ramsdale the wrong way and City were level. On the hour Arsenal had a golden chance to nudge ahead again when a clearance fell to Martinelli and he had an open goal, but sliced wide. And from the resulting goal kick Gabriel pulled Jesus back, on the half line, to earn a second yellow card, minutes after he had been booked in the aftermath of the Manchester City penalty award.
Arsenal had 30 minutes to survive with ten men against, arguably, the best side on the planet. Xhaka made a desperate block to deny Ilkay Gundogan and Ramsdale made a save to deny Sterling in the 87th minute; but that was only City’s second shot on target in the game. It looked like the Gunners had pulled it off, until an Aymeric Laporte shot was blocked and fell to Rodri who poked home to spark wild celebrations in the away end.
Key statistics
The ten men of Arsenal so nearly ended Manchester City’s ten match winning run in the league with a brave performance as Saka’s goal was only the second conceded by City in the first half this season.
Mahrez penalty meant he has scored in five consecutive matches and City have now won ten on the run against Arsenal in the Premier League.
What’s next?
There will be plenty of Premier League 2022 news to come over the next few weeks, not least with the transfer activity expected and we’ll be keeping up with all the very latest news and gossip right here at SBOTOP. Manchester City have already been active in the market with an outgoing already agreed. The move of attacking midfielder Ferran Torres to Barcelona has shown just how big an array of riches the Sky Blues have to let such a talent go. Guardiola will shuffle his pack next weekend when his side meets League Two outfit Swindon in an FA Cup tie; before bringing back the big guns for an epic Premier League clash with title rivals Chelsea on January 15th. Next up the Gunners have an EFL date with Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool on Thursday night, before travelling away to Championship club Notts Forest for a third round FA Cup tie.
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