Hary Kane warms up before kick-off
(Reuters)
Watford face Tottenham on New Year’s Day with both sides needing victories to boost their hopes of achieving their season objectives and starting 2022 on a positive note. The Hornets are on a dismal run of five straight defeats, leaving them two points above the relegation zone and with Claudio Ranieri seemingly coming under pressure despite only having been appointed in October.
Spurs, on the other hand, have been on a slow but steady upward journey since Antonio Conte’s appointment one month later, with a seven-match unbeaten run in the league stretching back to the Italian’s first game in charge.
They sit seventh in the Premier League table, but with just a point separating Spurs, West Ham and Man United at the turn of the year, consistency in finding a winning formula is everything in the race for Champions League and Europa League places. Tottenham have kept clean sheets in each of their last three wins, while Watford have scored precisely once in each of their last four defeats. Follow all the action from Vicarage Road below.
FULL-TIME: Arsenal 1-2 Manchester City
“Arsenal had opportunities to win this game,” says Rio Ferdinand. They did – especially Martinelli’s miss that came seconds before Gabriel’s red card. Arsenal are furious that they were not awarded a first-half penalty for Ederson’s tackle on Odegaard, while Bernardo was given one following Xhaka’s tackle.
“This deflates Chelsea and Liverpool,” says Joleon Lescott. That might have been City’s worst performance in weeks but it’s their biggest win of their recent run.
Jamie Braidwood1 January 2022 14:33
FULL-TIME: Arsenal 1-2 Manchester City
Madness. The scenes at the final whistle reflect the battle that we have just witnessed. Manchester City and Arsenal players have fallen to the turf, the referee is surrounded. Arsenal players look dejected while City’s are celebrating as if they know they’ve just gotten away with one. It’s a huge win, too, one that extends their Premier League winning run to 11 matches and puts them 11 points clear of Chelsea, and 12 of Liverpool.
Jamie Braidwood1 January 2022 14:27
Arsenal 1-2 Manchester City
90+7 mins: Chance! City have a three-on-one but White gets his positing right to tackle Mahrez.
Jamie Braidwood1 January 2022 14:27
Arsenal 1-2 Manchester City
90+6 mins: Last chance for Arsenal as Ramsdale plays it long – it falls to Tierney but Gundogan thrashes his cross away. City are almost there.
Jamie Braidwood1 January 2022 14:27
GOAL! Arsenal 1-2 Manchester City (RODRI 90+3 mins)
WOW – Arsenal failed to clear the free kick and De Bruyne swings the ball in towards Laporte. It breaks to Rodri – who turns it home for a dramatic late winner. He rushes to the corner where the Arsenal fans were, removing his shirt, and is pelted with objects.
This second half has been absolutely wild, and that could be a huge late winner for City.
Jamie Braidwood1 January 2022 14:23
Arsenal 1-1 Manchester City
90+2 mins: Cancelo wins a free-kick from Tierney on the right edge of the box after the left-back clumsily outstretched his leg.
Jamie Braidwood1 January 2022 14:22
Arsenal 1-1 Manchester City
90 mins: But nothing comes of it. De Bruyne heads clear.
There will be SIX minutes of added time.
Jamie Braidwood1 January 2022 14:21
Arsenal 1-1 Manchester City
89 mins: Arsenal win a late corner after Partey flips the ball over Ake’s head – who puts it behind under pressure from Smith Rowe.
Jamie Braidwood1 January 2022 14:20
Arsenal 1-1 Manchester City
87 mins: That’s better from City. They get the ball out to Mahrez who drives at Tierney. He beats him around the outside before Xhaka gets across to block the shot out for a corner.
Arsenal are able to clear – but only after there’s a coming together between Ramsdale and Dias as he tried to collect the ball over his head. Ramsdale rather dragged Dias down, who then appeared to kick out at the goalkeeper. Dias was also offside anyway.
Jamie Braidwood1 January 2022 14:18
Arsenal 1-1 Manchester City
86 mins: City have not played well since Gabriel’s red card – but Arsenal are still having to do plenty of defending. Tomiyasu wins an important header at the back post before Ramsdale collects Sterling’s cross, which had taken a touch of the defender.
Jamie Braidwood1 January 2022 14:16
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