CHELSEA remain top of the Premier League after a hard-fought 2-1 win over Watford at Vicarage Road on Wednesday.
But there were worrying scenes from the terraces early in the contest with the match suspended for 35 minutes while a supporter was given CPR.
In the Merseyside derby, Jurgen Klopp’s side showed no mercy on out-of-form Everton as Liverpool romped to a 4-1 victory over their big rivals.
And the agent of Flamengo striker Gabriel Barbosa has shot down rumours linking the Brazilian to the Premier League.
Arsenal have been linked with the 25-year-old, but the star striker is said to ‘very happy’ in Brazil.
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PITCH INVADER SLAM SUNK
A pitch invader was slammed to the ground by security during Manchester United’s 3-2 win over Arsenal.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Co watched on in astonishment as the supporter charged the field late on in the Old Trafford clash.
The person managed to make it all the way up to Ronaldo as United attempted to keep the Gunners at bay from a corner.
However, the pitch invader couldn’t make it all the way to Ronnie and his team-mates.
As the person approached the players, security finally caught up with them.
And they were hurled to the ground with a move more akin to a rugby field.
The crowd cheered as security then dragged the pitch invader off with just minutes left in the game.
And there was very soon a louder roar as United secured a pivotal win over Mikel Arteta’s men.
IT’S SAUL GONE WRONG
Saul Niguez fears he is caught in a trap at Chelsea as his dream loan move turns into a nightmare.
The midfielder’s latest blow came at half-time of Wednesday’s 2-1 win at Watford when he was substituted for what Thomas Tuchel claims were ‘tactical reasons’.
The Chelsea boss later admitted: “I don’t know where he goes from this performance.”
The one-time Spain international is struggling to adapt to the Premier League but believes he can’t do that without more game time and that his career is stalling at Stamford Bridge.
Saul, 27, is happy with life in London but is growing increasingly fed up with lack of action.
But he looks doomed to remain at Chelsea for the entire season regardless of his growing frustrations.
There is no way back to Atletico Madrid because of Spanish football’s salary cap system. Saul was moved on in August so that his parent club could pay the wages of incoming star Antoine Griezmann.
He has already played for two teams this season and the only way to play for a third is if he moved out of the UEFA area completely to play in the Middle East, USA or China – which might be on the table in January if things do not improve.
CARRICK: BEST YEARS OF MY CAREER AT UTD
Michael Carrick quit United after 15 years with an emotional message.
The outgoing stand-in boss said after the 3-2 win over Arsenal: “My time at this great club will always rank as the best years of my career.
“When I first signed over 15 years ago, I never in my wildest dreams could have imagined winning so many trophies and I will certainly never forget the fantastic memories both as a player and as a member of the coaching team.
“However, after a lot of thought and deliberation, I have decided that now is the right time for me to leave the club.
“I want to place on record my thanks to all of the players and a special mention goes to the backroom staff, working long hours with such a great group of people has been a real pleasure and I have made some long-lasting friendships.”
CARRICK QUITS UTD
BREAKING: Michael Carrick has sensationally quit Manchester United – just minutes after guiding them to victory over Arsenal, writes SUNNI UPAL.
The former midfielder turned interim boss has left Old Trafford altogether rather than take a backseat to new manager Ralf Rangnick.
Man Utd had just beaten Arsenal 3-2 at Old Trafford when the club announced the shock decision.
RON UP TO 801 GOALS AS UTD WIN
Michael Carrick’s unbeaten three-game United reign ended on a high as Cristiano Ronaldo’s double made him the first modern player past 800 goals as the Red Devils went seventh with a 3-2 comeback defeat of Arsenal.
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Credit: Getty Credit: Getty Credit: Getty RESULT: MAN UTD 3 ARSENAL 2
Cristiano Ronaldo’s two goals sealed United’s thrilling comeback win.
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UNITED SO DANGEROUS ON THE BREAK
Arsenal’s bid for a leveller is being thwarted by United’s thrilling counter-attacks.
And the Red Devils’ two-goal hero Ronaldo got a standing ovation when he went off in the dying minutes.
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GOAL! MAN UTD 3 ARSENAL 2
Cristiano Ronaldo smashed his penalty home down the middle.
Arsenal responded by replacing Emile Smith Rowe with Bukayo Saka.
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F
PENALTY! RON TO TAKE
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FRED PENALTY APPEALS REJECTED – BUT GOES TO VAR
Ref Martin Atkinson rejected strong appeals… but VAR is likely to give it.
LATEST: MAN UTD 2 ARSENAL 2
Both sides are going for it now, Ronaldo almost restoring United’s lead.
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CECH BEATS INEQUALITY
Petr Cech has picked up his drumsticks once again for a Christmas single to highlight inequalities in society.
The Chelsea legend is a keen drummer and has long posted videos of himself playing along to his favourite tracks.
Chelsea legend Petr Cech turns drummer for Christmas single to highlight racial, religious and social injusticeLast Christmas he teamed up with Wycombe Wanderers boss Gareth Ainsworth to release a track to raise money for dementia charities.
And this year the pair have repeated the trick – recording a version of a song that originally featured Blues heroes Didier Drogba and Michael Essien.
Cech told ITV News: “The idea was to make this song alive today with some adjustments to the modern days. In the end I think this song became a completely different thing.”
The original track was entitled ‘Skin’ and released to challenge racism in the wake of the killings of young black men such as Anthony Walker and Stephen Lawrence.
Artist Ian Wills – lead singer of group Wills & The Willing – recorded a version of the original with Chelsea stars Drogba and Essian.
Thirteen years later, Wills has updated the song to raise awareness over racial, religious and wider social issues.
GOAL! MAN UTD 2 ARSENAL 2
Martin Odegaard squeezes an instant leveller via Gabriel Martinelli’s fine play.
GOAL! MAN UTD 2 ARSENAL 1
Cristiano Ronaldo became the first modern-era player to pass 800 goals for club and country with a superb right-footer.
Marcus Rashford teed up Ronaldo for a bottom-corner finish after the England attacker’s superb right-wing work as United came from behind to lead after 52 minutes.
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F/T: SPURS 2 BRENTFORD 0
Sergi Canos’ early own goal and Son Heung-min’s superb counter-attacking strike on 65 minutes put back-in-form Tottenham sixth with an impressive win.
Brentford improved after the break but had only two efforts on target all night.
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S/H UNDERWAY: MAN UTD 1 ARSENAL 1
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H/T: MAN UTD 1 ARSENAL 1
Emile Smith Rowe’s opener – cancelling out by Bruno Fernandes’ fine leveller on 44 minutes – was the overwhelming talking point of the first half.
Former England striker Alan Shearer told Prime Video: “My immediate thought was goal. I didn’t hear the referee blow and I didn’t see a foul on the keeper.
“I think that happens in every game. The keeper goes down without a care to where the ball is and I don’t think he should be going down like that.
“If it had been a serious injury then there’s an argument that maybe Arsenal should have let Man Utd score but a minute later he’s walking around and not limping.”
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LATEST: SPURS 2 BRENTFORD 0
Brentford are pressing late on – with Ivan Toney prominent.
But Tottenham are surely heading to a victory under Antonio Conte that they richly deserve after a vastly-improved performance.
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TWO REASONS SMITH ROWE’S GOAL STOOD
Arsenal scored a controversial goal to open the scoring against Man Utd – and here’s why it stood.
Emile Smith Rowe volleyed home from a half-cleared corner to give the Gunners the lead in the 17th minute.
Man Utd were left furious because goalkeeper David de Gea was laying on the ground between his sticks injured.
The Spanish stopper would’ve probably denied Smith Rowe’s effort – but for his injury.
Football chiefs released a statement explaining the ball had crossed the line before the whistle blew – meaning the goal had to be given.
And former referee Mark Clattenburg came on Amazon Prime to clear up any confusion about the incident itself.
He said on the live broadcast: “Martin Atkinson has to give the goal because Fred accidentally stamps on David de Gea’s foot, so therefore it’s not a foul by an Arsenal player.
“He doesn’t blow his whistle and therefore he has to give the goal.”
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta celebrated on the touchline while Man Utd players surrounded the referee.
UTD FANS IN OLE TRIBUTE
Manchester United fans unveiled a huge Ole Gunnar Solskjaer banner ahead of their game against Arsenal.
Supporters in the Stretford End of Old Trafford raised the gigantic sign in the air before kick-off as they sang songs in praise of their former manager and player.
Solskjaer was sacked last month following a dismal run of form that saw United lose five of their first 12 league games this term.
And tonight was the Red Devils’ first game at home since Solskjaer’s exit.
The red banner featured a picture of the Norwegian tactician in black print.
And across it were the words ‘2O LEGEND’, with ‘OLE’ highlighted in white.
SunSport reported this week how United had given fans permission to hold up the banner against Arsenal.
Supporters approached the club about the touching gesture and Old Trafford chiefs approved.
Following speculation over the United hot seat, Ralf Rangnick was eventually confirmed as the new interim boss.
However, the German is yet to take charge of a game after struggling with work permit issues.
And caretaker Michael Carrick was in control against Arsenal following games against Villarreal and Chelsea.
GOAL! MAN UTD 1 ARSENAL 1
Fred’s brilliant work teed up Bruno Fernandes for a cool, calm United equaliser just before the break.
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GOAL! MAN UTD 1 ARSENAL 1
Fred’s brilliant work teed up Bruno Fernandes for a cool, calm United equaliser just before the break.
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GOAL! SPURS 2 BRENTFORD 0
Son Heung-Min deservedly doubled Tottenham’s lead on 65 minutes.
Harry Kane and Sergio Reguilon masterminded another excellent Spurs counter-attack, leaving Son to nudge the ball home.
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DON’T LOOK BECK IN ANGER
Sir Alex Ferguson’s former No 2 Carlos Queiroz has revealed the ‘truth’ behind the infamous ‘flying boot’ clash with David Beckham.
The legendary Manchester United manager clashed with Golden Balls on several occasions but the best remembered is undoubtedly the battle of February 2003.
United lost 2-0 to bitter rivals Arsenal in the FA Cup fifth round and Fergie was not happy after the game.
Ryan Giggs missed a sitter when it was still 0-0 but Becks was the one who was the main subject of Fergie’s ire.
The Scot let rip at the England legend before kicking a stray boot in his direction which struck him in the face.
Becks needed stitches and was seen sporting butterfly strips over the eyebrow wound in the days after – but Portuguese coach Queiroz says all was not quite as it seemed.
He told Four-Four-Two: “It’s time to establish the truth behind that story.
“Someone once told me that if he had intended to hit Beckham with that boot, Sir Alex’s left foot must be real quality.
“I was there in the dressing room that day and, let’s put things right, it was not a good shot because the boot first hit a table and only after went in Beckham’s direction.
“Sir Alex, I’m sorry but your left foot was not as good as you think!”
SPURS 1 BRENTFORD 0: KANE CLOSE
Tottenham are pressing for a second goal, only Brentford keeper Álvaro Fernández foiling Harry Kane.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
