Nervy Arsenal extend Premier League lead, Burnley score five

04.12.2023 - 14:09 guardian.ng

Wolverhampton Wanderers’ English goalkeeper #25 Dan Bentley punches the ball to save from the head of Arsenal’s English striker #14 Eddie Nketiah during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Emirates Stadium in London on December 2, 2023. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)Arsenal survived a late scare against Wolves on Saturday to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League as Burnley lifted themselves off the bottom with a 5-0 trouncing of 10-man Sheffield United.Mikel Arteta’s Gunners, brimming with confidence after their 6-0 hammering of Lens in the Champions League in midweek, raced into a 2-0 lead at the Emirates within 13 minutes.Bukayo Saka opened the scoring and Arsenal doubled their lead when Oleksandr Zinchenko cut the ball back for Martin Odegaard, who picked out the bottom corner.The home side came agonisingly close to a third goal when Gabriel Martinelli cannoned a shot off the post towards the end of the first half.But they failed to put the game to bed and were made to sweat when Wolves forward Matheus Cunha found the top corner in the 86th minute to set up a tense finale.Despite the scare, Arsenal, last year’s runners-up, held on for their 10th win in 14 league games, which moves them four points clear of champions Manchester City, who host Tottenham on Sunday. Five-star Burnley Vincent Kompany’s Burnley hammered fellow strugglers Sheffield United 5-0 at Turf Moor.Jay Rodriguez fired the home side ahead with just 15 seconds on the clock — the fastest goal of the season so far.Jacob Bruun Larsen extended their lead shortly afterwards, racing onto Dara O’Shea’s long ball down the right and keeping his composure to slot past goalkeeper Wes Foderingham.S

Arsenal FIVE score Matheus Cunha Mikel Arteta Martin Odegaard Eddie Nketiah Gabriel Martinelli Oleksandr Zinchenko Jay Rodriguez Wes Foderingham Dan Bentley Glyn Kirk Britain

[FILE] Liverpool’s Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah (L) runs with the ball as Arsenal’s Brazilian defender Gabriel closes in during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium in London. (Photo by Catherine Ivill / POOL / AFP)

Arsenal take pole position but Arteta wants more clinical finishing

Arsenal’s German midfielder #29 Kai Havertz (C) is mobbed by teammates Arsenal’s Belgian midfielder #19 Leandro Trossard (L), Arsenal’s English midfielder #41 Declan Rice (2L) and Arsenal’s English striker #14 Eddie Nketiah after scoring the team’s second goal during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Brighton and Hove Albion at the Emirates Stadium in London on December 17, 2023. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. NO USE WITH UNAUTHORIZED AUDIO, VIDEO, DATA, FIXTURE LISTS, CLUB/LEAGUE LOGOS OR ‘LIVE’ SERVICES. ONLINE IN-MATCH USE LIMITED TO 120 IMAGES. AN ADDITIONAL 40 IMAGES MAY BE USED IN EXTRA TIME. NO VIDEO EMULATION. SOCIAL MEDIA IN-MATCH USE LIMITED TO 120 IMAGES. AN ADDITIONAL 40 IMAGES MAY BE USED IN EXTRA TIME. NO USE IN BETTING PUBLICATIONS, GAMES OR SINGLE CLUB/LEAGUE/PLAYER PUBLICATIONS. – RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /

Battling Man Utd hold Liverpool, Arsenal top Premier League as Villa snatch late win

LONDON: Manchester United ended Liverpool’s perfect record at Anfield on Sunday, holding the Premier League title chasers to a 0-0 draw after wins for Arsenal and Aston Villa. Jurgen Klopp’s men came into the match widely expected to inflict yet more agony on their bitter rivals and boasting 11 wins from 11 games in all competitions at home this season. Liverpool dominated, hogging nearly 70 percent of possession and had 34 shots to United’s six but they could not break down their stubborn opponents. Klopp’s men finish the day second in the table, a point behind Arsenal’s tally of 39 after the Gunners earlier beat Brighton 2-0. The result was a moral victory for beleaguered United manager Erik ten Hag, whose team last season suffered a 7-0 drubbing at Anfield and came into the match with 12 defeats in 24 games in the current campaign. United were missing suspended captain Bruno Fernandes while out-of-form Marcus Rashford was once again on the bench. But they dug deep and stopped their slide after a heavy home defeat against Bournemouth last week and a tame Champions League exit in midweek. United goalkeeper Andre Onana reacted sharply to keep out a close-range Virgil van Dijk header in the first half and the visitors could even have won the game, but Rasmus Hojlund’s shot was blocked at the near post by Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker. Van Dijk said Liverpool were frustrated by the result, believing they were “superior in all aspects.” “If you see how we played the game, we had most of the ball and created some opportunities,” he told Sky Sports. “There was only one team trying to win the game. “We want to win every game of course and that is why it is frustrating.

Battling Man United hold Liverpool as Arsenal top Premier League

Arsenal boss Arteta escapes ban after referee rant

Arsenal’s Spanish manager Mikel Arteta (Photo by Daniel LEAL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE.

Manchester United Face Daunting Test At Premier League Leaders Liverpool

Manchester United travel to the home of bitter rivals Liverpool this weekend desperate to avoid another humiliation but with all the signs pointing to a tough afternoon at Anfield. Tottenham kick off the action at struggling Nottingham Forest on Friday, while in-form Aston Villa, fresh from impressive wins against Manchester City and Arsenal, travel to Brentford.