RODRI has scored a last-gasp winner for Manchester City in a bonkers match against Arsenal.
Riyad Mahrez fired home a penalty to give City a controversial equaliser.
In a crazy two minutes of football, Granit Xhaka had a penalty awarded against him after a soft challenge on Bernaro Silva but the Swiss midfielder had hold of his opponent’s shirt.
In the seconds following Mahrez’s equaliser, Arsenal had a header cleared off the line, only for Gabriel to get sent off for a second yellow card after dragging down Gabriel Jesus.
Bukayo Saka had given Arsenal a well-deserved lead in a pulsating clash with Manchester City.
Martin Odegaard was denied an early penalty as City missed two great chances before Kieran Tierney’s ball put Saka through for the goal.
Fourth official Kevin Friend had to be brought in as assistant referee after Constantine Hatzidakis had to drop out at the last minute.
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Goodbye from the Emirates Stadium
The new year has begun with a bang! However, this thrilling, frenetic afternoon has ended in an all too familiar style – with Manchester City winning.
Pep Guardiola’s team weren’t at their best, but found a way with the help of Granit Xhaka, Gabriel and VAR to move 11 points clear at the top of the Premier League.
A Riyad Mahrez penalty and a stoppage time sickener from Rodri broke Arsenal hearts, all after Bukayo Saka’s opener had them deservedly in front at half-time.
City will end the season as champions, but Arsenal will have given their fans hope of finishing in the top four with this performance despite the result.
It’s now over to Chelsea and Liverpool tomorrow, and we’ll be back with more live coverage. Until then, thank you for joining us and happy new year.
Extra! Read all about it!
It’s been an exhilarating afternoon in North London with many moments requiring further analysis. Why not start with Dan King’s match from the Emirates Stadium?
This will feel every bit as painful as the 5-0 hammering the Gunners took at the Etihad back in August. Arsenal’s brilliant first-half performance was undone by a few minutes of madness early in the second period.
City extend lead at top
It was a three-horse race just weeks ago, but Manchester City now begin 2022 with an 11-point lead at the top of the Premier League.
Only twice in the Premier League era has a side begun with a greater lead at the top. The pressure now passes to Chelsea and Liverpool, who are scheduled to meet at Stamford Bridge tomorrow.
Credit: @OptaJoe Twitter
New Year’s Partey looking good
Arsenal fans will still be feeling the hurt and anger of their last-gasp defeat, but when the dust settles they will take heart from the performance of their team.
One of the best in red was Thomas Partey, who is finally living up to the reputation he arrived from Atletico Madrid with.
- 9/15 duels won
- 8 ball recoveries
- 5/6 take-ons completed
- 4 tackles won
- 1 interception
- 1 chance created
Tired City find good fortune
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has admitted that his exhausted players were second best for much of the afternoon, but came out on top thanks to a crazy spell in the second half.
Congratulations to Arsenal, they were better. We faced a team that have spent the last year struggling to make the top four, but now they are there, and they had seven days after playing Norwich. We had two-and-a-half days and didn’t have energy.
We tried and in the second half, one minute changed it all – the penalty, almost an own-goal, then the sending off. In football we try to analyse many things, and sometimes the coin falls down on your side.
Pep Guardiola
Match facts from the Emirates
Two shots on target for Manchester City, two goals, three points, 11 wins in a row and 11 points clear at the top of the table.
A happy new year for those in blue.
Full time – Arsenal 1-2 Man City
The final whistle goes and boos ring around the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal players crash to the floor in disappointment, they cannot believe they have taken nothing from this game.
In contrast, the City players are jubilant and know just how big a win this is. A stoppage time winner from Rodri capped an undeserved comeback after Riyad Mahrez had earlier cancelled out Bukayo Saka’s opener from the penalty spot.
In between, Gabriel was red carded as the home side repeatedly found themselves on the short end of the game’s key decisions.
Arsenal 1-2 Man City – Bernardo yellow card
90+5. A Manchester City player finally goes into the book.
Bernardo Silva is cautioned for tripping Gabriel Martinelli. There are a lot of lost tempers out there.
Arsenal 1-2 Man City
90+3. That’s why they’re champions!
With time running out, the visitors launch one final cross into the box. On the stretch, Rob Holding fails to cut it out and instead heads into the path of Aymeric Laporte.
The Manchester City attempts to get his shot away, and when it’s blocked, it pops up for Rodri to poke home from close range.
The Spaniard wheels away in frenzied delight, rips his shirt off and celebrates right in front of the furious Arsenal fans. A sea of objects come raining down upon him and his teammates, but they don’t care. They’ll be 11 points clear at the top of the table tonight.
Goal! – Rodri wins it for City!
They’ve done it!
It’s heartbreak for Arsenal!
Arsenal 1-1 Man City
90. Six minutes of additional time are signalled by the fourth official.
It’s not long when you’re chasing a goal, but feels a lifetime when you’re listening to Martin Keown and Steve McManaman.
Arsenal 1-1 Man City
89. The ballboys are defending for their lives too.
One refuses to give the ball to Bernardo Silva with the City player keen to get on with the action. He receives a huge cheer from the home fans and a telling off from Stuart Atwell.
Arsenal 1-1 Man City
87. Mahrez tries to make space from a tight angle, but his effort is blocked.
Arsenal are defending for their lives here.
Arsenal 1-1 Man City – Arsenal sub
85. The third and final change for the hosts. Bukayo Saka goes off to a great reception, and on comes holding midfielder Mohamed Elneny.
Arsenal 1-1 Man City
84. “He’s lost control, the referee,” cries Steve McManaman as Stuart Atwell is shown to have got another decision absolutely spot on.
Arsenal 1-1 Man City
83. Several Arsenal players look dead on their feet now, barely able to move as City work the ball across the pitch.
Mind you, Xhaka was moving that slowly from the first whistle.
Arsenal 1-1 Man City
81. The Arsenal fans are roaring their disapproval again after what they feel is an off-the-ball clash between Laporte and Martinelli.
They feel the City centre-half as caught the Brazilian with an arm to the face, but replays show there’s nothing in it.
Arsenal 1-1 Man City
79. A shot from Cancelo!
Don’t get too excited though, it’s not even close to testing Ramsdale.
Arsenal 1-1 Man City
78. The possession is all Manchester City’s. The pressure is all Manchester City’s. Yet still there’s not much happening in the final third for the champions.
Arsenal 1-1 Man City
76. White sends Saka racing down the right touchline. The England international is clearly offside, but the flag doesn’t go up until he’s sprinted 40 yards in his attempt to get on the end of the pass.
That’s just what you need when you’re holding on against the league leaders with ten men.
Arsenal 1-1 Man City
74. City are yet to take this game by the scruff of the neck despite their numerical advantage.
Cancelo and Bernardo both go for goal, but their respective shots are blocked by some committed defending.
Arsenal 1-1 Man City – Arsenal sub
71. A second Arsenal change. Emile Smith Rowe has enjoyed a goal off the bench recently but I’m not sure that will be his first responsibility today.
The England international is on for Alexandre Lacazette which is likely to mean Gabriel Martinelli finishes this game as their furthest forward player.
Arsenal 1-1 Man City
69. The home fans make their point of view clear as they sing “how much are they paying you?” to referee Stuart Atwell.
Arsenal 1-1 Man City – Holding yellow card
68. Rob Holding hasn’t been on long but he joins the growing list of Arsenal players on a booking.
The substitute is harshly cautioned for dragging back De Bruyne in midfield as the Belgian threatened to break away.
Arsenal 1-1 Man City – Saka yellow card
66. The Arsenal players are losing their heads here.
Lacazette wins a free-kick for a foul from Rodri, and immediately the home players surround Stuart Atwell to demand a booking.
Saka says too much in the melee, and receives a yellow card.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
