Wednesday November 27, 2024

Late Rodri goal helps Man City win against Arsenal

Published : 02 Jan 2022, 13:29

  DF News Desk
File Photo Xinhua.

An injury time winner from Manchester City midfielder Rodrigo Hernandez put his side 11 points clear at the top of the Premier League on Saturday as they won 2-1 away to Arsenal, reported Xinhua.

Rodri forced home in the 93rd minute to provide a closing chapter to a game that had already had more than its share of drama and controversy and it piles the pressure on second placed Chelsea and third placed Liverpool, who meet at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Arsenal took an early lead through Bukayo Saka in the 31st minute, but Manchester City were level from the penalty spot in the 57th minute after the VAR decided that Granit Xhaka had made contact with Bernardo Silva and Riyad Mahrez made no mistake from the spot.

Nathan Ake cleared off the line for City a minute later and in the 59th minute Arsenal were reduced to 10 men after Gabriel was sent off for a second yellow card, giving the league leaders over half an hour to play against 10 men in search of the winning goal.

Rodri's celebrations provoked an angry reaction from Arsenal fans, but his goal means City have won their last 11 matches in the league.

West Ham closed the gap on Arsenal to just a point after surviving a late fightback to take a 3-2 win away to Crystal Palace.

An opening goal from Michail Antonio and two strikes from Manuel Lanzini, the second of which came on the stroke of half time from the penalty spot, looked to have put West Ham on track for an easy win. However, Odsonne Edouard gave Palace a lifeline in the 83rd minute from Michael Olise's cross.

Olise then made it 3-2 with a 90th minute free kick and Palace were inches away from a dramatic equalizer when Philippe Mateta's overhead kick fell just wide with seconds left to play.

Watford's resistance was broken at home to Tottenham in the 96th minute of the game when Davinson Sanchez flicked home a header following a free kick to lift Spurs to within two points of Arsenal, while leaving Watford in danger of dropping into the bottom three.