Brilliant Aaron Ramsdale saves Arsenal

Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale was the star of the show as Arsenal made it nine games unbeaten in all competitions with a 2-0 victory at Leicester City in the Premier League on Saturday.

Arsenal made a flying start at the King Power Stadium, taking a two-goal lead inside 18 minutes through defender Gabriel and Emile Smith Rowe.

Gabriel flicked a header home from Bukayo Saka’s corner in five minutes. Arsenal continued to completely dominate the hosts, who beat Manchester United in their last home league match, and soon enough Smith Rowe latched onto the loose ball to make it two.

Leicester grew into the match and had several chances to get themselves back into the contest before halftime, only to find Ramsdale in inspired form.

Ramsdale’s leap to keep James Maddison’s free-kick out just before halftime was a contender for save of the season, clawing the ball away as it seemed destined for the top corner in spectacular fashion.

After the break, Leicester continued to create chances which on another day they would have converted, but Ramsdale refused to be beaten, bailing his side out time and again to ensure a vital victory on Arsenal’s road to recovery.

Leicester full-back Luke Thomas drilled wide early in the second half as Leicester continued to press before another brilliant Ramsdale save denied Ademola Lookman.

Ramsdale was then at it again to smother at the feet of Harvey Barnes.

Of the goalkeepers to have faced more than two shots on target this season, only Edouard Mendy (89.7%) is enjoying a higher save percentage than Ramsdale (85.7%), who has saved 24 of the 28 shots on target he has faced.

Arsenal have been steadily improving under coach Mikel Arteta after a difficult start to the season, following on from last term’s eighth-placed finish.

“It is a superb result away from home against a top team,” Ramsdale told BT Sport.

“We started really well and got two good goals.”

“Thankfully it was one of those afternoons that I contributed. We should have had a few more clean sheets [this season] but I’m happy with this one.”

A seventh win in that unbeaten run of nine means Arsenal climb to fifth in the standings, above Leicester who drop to 10th, with the rest of the Premier League teams still to play this weekend.

Chelsea gun down Newcastle United

Premier League leaders Chelsea beat Newcastle 3-0 on Saturday after a pair of stunning goals from Reece James.

The Blues, who had only won two of their last eight games at St. James’ Park, fielded a much-changed team as Romelu Lukaku, Mason Mount, Timo Werner and Mateo Kovacic were unavailable.

That meant starts for Callum Hudson-Odoi and Hakim Ziyech, and it was the Morocco international who was the biggest threat.

But, despite having 75% possession in the first half, Chelsea struggled to break through as Ziyech’s effort was ruled out for offside after he curled the ball into the top corner following a Jorginho pass, then James’ cross was missed by Ziyech and Kai Havertz when both could have scored.

Ziyech struck a free-kick over from 30 yards and Andreas Christensen did well to put off Jamaal Lascelles at the other end, but neither team managed a shot on target in the half.

Just after the break, Ziyech’s shot was deflected off Lascelles and bounced against the post.

Ross Barkley and Ruben Loftus-Cheek came on for Ziyech and N’Golo Kante and shortly after James picked up the ball on right, cut inside and drilled a powerful shot into the top corner.

The right-back then smashed another 12 minutes later to make himself the club’s joint-top scorer this season with four goals, and Jorginho made it 3-0 from the penalty spot after Karl Darlow brought down Havertz.

The result saw Chelsea go three points clear of Liverpool and Manchester City.

Crystal Palace shock Manchester City

Manchester City suffered a shock 2-0 defeat at the hands of Crystal Palace at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

Wilfried Zaha scored early on while Conor Gallagher grabbed a late second as City finished the game with 10 men after Aymeric Laporte was sent off in the first half.

Pep Guardiola’s side slipped to only their second Premier League defeat of the season on the Spaniard’s 200th game in charge at the club.

City remain third in the league table while Palace move up to 13th position.

The visitors took a shock lead after early on when Gallagher dispossessed Laporte to play in Zaha to score his 50th Premier League goal for Palace.

Following the opener, Palace defended well and City failed to create many clear-cut chances throughout the first half.

Just before the break, the hosts were reduced to 10 men after Laporte brought down Zaha and was shown a straight red card for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.

Palace should have doubled their lead five minutes into the second half but Marc Guehi failed to hit the target with a close-range header.

Within the space of two minutes, both sides had goals ruled out for offside. Zaha thought he scored his second of the day but his strike was disallowed.

Moments later, Gabriel Jesus put the ball in the back of the net but after a lengthy VAR check, the goal was ruled out as Phil Foden was offside in the build-up.

With two minutes remaining, Gallagher sealed an impressive win for Palace with a curling finish past City goalkeeper Ederson.

Brighton halt Liverpool

Brighton fought back from two goals down to earn a 2-2 Premier League draw at Liverpool on Saturday, as Enock Mwepu and Leandro Trossard spoiled what would have been a perfect week for the Merseyside club.

Following a 5-0 victory over Manchester United on Sunday and Wednesday’s 2-0 Carabao Cup win at Preston North End, Liverpool looked set to march on after goals from Jordan Henderson and Sadio Mane put them in control.

Henderson fired the home side into a fourth-minute lead with a first-time shot from the edge of the penalty area after he was teed up by Mohamed Salah, and Mane made it 2-0 with a diving header in the 24th from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s cross.

Brighton pulled one back in the 41st minute out of the blue as Zambian midfielder Mwepu scored his first Premier League goal with a delightful long-range effort that sailed over Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson.

Brighton gained the upper hand after the break and drew level in the 65th minute when Trossard side-stepped his marker and drove a low shot past Alisson.

The end-to-end action at Anfield saw three goals ruled out after VAR checks, as Mane had one chalked off for handball and Salah another for offside while Trossard also saw his effort scrapped for offside at the other end.

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Courtesy: ESPN

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