Manchester City Held Without Rodri As Cole Palmer's Four Goals Fire Chelsea

Manchester City felt the absence of star midfielder Rodri as the Premier League champions were held to a damaging 1-1 draw at Newcastle, while Cole Palmer scored four times in Chelsea's 4-2 win against Brighton on Saturday. City's second successive draw in the league was especially frustrating as Arsenal moved level on points with them with a last-gasp 4-2 win against Leicester a few hours later. Rodri has been ruled out for the rest of the season after surgery on a knee injury suffered in last weekend's bruising 2-2 draw with title rivals Arsenal.

Josko Gvardiol put City in front at St James' Park, but Newcastle were well worthy of the point given to them by Anthony Gordon's second-half penalty.

Guardiola described Rodri, who is unbeaten in his past 52 Premier League appearances stretching back to February 2023, as "irreplaceable".

To fill the void left by the Spaniard, Rico Lewis was thrust into a central midfield role alongside Mateo Kovacic.

But City lacked the control and poise so often provided by Rodri on and off the ball.

"It is always difficult here with their physicality and they defend so deep. We had chances but (Nick) Pope (the goalkeeper) was brilliant so we take the point," said Guardiola.

"We made bad decisions (with the chances) to make it 2-0."

At the Emirates Stadium, Gabriel Martinelli put Arsenal ahead in the 20th minute with his first goal this season, the Brazilian winger drilled a low finish inside the far post from Jurrien Timber's cross.

Martinelli turned provider on the stroke of half-time, setting up Leandro Trossard to stroke in Arsenal's second goal.

James Justin reduced the deficit with a deflected 47th-minute effort and stunned the Emirates Stadium into silence in the 63rd minute when his