A thrilling victory for Manchester City in a chaotic match

Manchester City made it 11 Premier League wins in a row as Rodri scored a 93rd-minute winner to see off 10-man Arsenal 2-1 in a chaotic start to 2022.

Bukayo Saka gave Arsenal the lead in the first half before Riyad Mahrez converted a second-half penalty. Gabriel was sent off moments later for a second yellow card.

Rodri secured a late winner deep into added time to secure the win for Pep Guardiola’s side.

“You always have two or three games like this in a season. They showed why they are in their position. The way they have grown with Mikel [Arteta] is huge,” he said after the match.

“We know they have more rest than us. They have six days to prepare, we have three games in one week and travel. It is tough sometimes when you don’t have the physicality. We have to maybe play a bit more easy.”

“We struggled in the first-half but took control in the second a bit more and do more our game. They played a great game but we showed our champions personality.”

Arsenal started the game the brighter of the two sides and deserved the lead when it came on 31 minutes.

Ben White dispossessed Kevin De Bruyne and found Kieran Tierney in space. He passed the ball to Saka who hit it first time past Ederson and into the net.

City started the second half stronger and had a penalty claim given by VAR on 53 minutes when Granit Xhaka brought Bernardo Silva down in the box and Mahrez converted the spot-kick expertly.

Things became worse for Arsenal six minutes later when Gabriel was sent off for fouling Gabriel Jesus.

Arsenal were holding on despite their numerical disadvantage but were caught by City three minutes into added time. Aymeric Laporte took a shot that was saved by Aaron Ramsdale but only rebounded as far as Rodri who tapped it into the net.

A vital win for Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur’s top-four bid was boosted by a 1-0 win at relegation-threatened Watford as Davinson Sanchez scored a 96th-minute winner.

Spurs enjoyed the majority of the possession throughout the match but poor finishing meant Antonio Conte’s side had to wait until six minutes into added time for their winner.

Sergio Reguilon had a powerful shot turned away by Daniel Bachmann on 25 minutes while Harry Kane also hit the ball just inches wide of the net in the first half.

Bachmann was called into action several times in the second half. He tipped a shot from Lucas Moura over the bar on 52 minutes and saved a close-range strike from Son Heung-Min on 71 minutes.

Joao Pedro had an 81st-minute penalty appeal turned down by VAR after he lost his marker and Hugo Lloris was forced to come out. The goalkeeper took him down but it was deemed a fair challenge.

Spurs got their winner six minutes into added time when Son floated a ball into the box and Sanchez headed it in from close range.

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Courtesy: ESPN

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