Premier League
10-MAN ARSENAL HOLD ON FOR GOALLESS DRAW AT LEEDS
Ten-man Arsenal hung on for a 0-0 draw at Leeds United in the Premier League after their winger Nicolas Pepe was sent off in the 51st minute on Sunday (Nov 22).
VAR officials spotted that Pepe had headbutted Ezgjan Alioski and referee Anthony Taylor took a quick look at the monitor before brandishing the red card.
Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds had been the better side even before the sending off with striker Patrick Bamford twice forcing Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno into action.
Leno did well again to keep out a fierce drive from Stuart Dallas and then substitute Rodrigo crashed a shot against the bar from the edge of the area.
Arsenal, who are without a goal from open play in almost eight hours of football, nearly grabbed a winner, against the run of play, when Hector Bellerin put Bukayo Saka through on goal but he was unable to round Leeds keeper Illan Meslier.
Leeds struck the woodwork twice in the latter stages with Bamford heading against the post and Raphinha also striking the upright deep in stoppage time.
Bielsa was left to rue his team’s failure to find the net despite all their pressure and efforts on goal.
“We are frustrated as we could have won the game. We tried to create danger in different ways, through the wings, long distance and in a smaller sense through balls through the middle. In these three ways we were able to create danger but not able to convert,” said the Argentine.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta reluctantly agreed the draw was an acceptable result for his team, given they played almost half the game a man down.
“It is a point. I am never happy with a draw but considering the circumstance it is one we take and move on,” he said.
Asked about Pepe’s dismissal, Arteta had a blunt answer: “It is unacceptable. Unacceptable. At this level you cannot do it.”
The Gunners are 11th on 13 points from nine games after their first draw of the season with Leeds 14th on 11.
-Reuters
Manchester City are at risk of missing out on next season’s Champions League due to their recent dip in form, manager Pep Guardiola said.
City, who are looking to qualify for Europe’s top club competition for a 15th straight season, have won just one of their last eight Premier League games and are seventh, 12 points behind leaders Liverpool.
Guardiola’s side are four points behind Nottingham Forest, who occupy the fourth and final Champions League qualification berth.
“When I said before, people laughed. They said, ‘qualifying for the Champions League is not a big success’. But I know it because it happens with clubs in this country,” Guardiola told reporters ahead of their home match against Everton.
“They were dominant for many years and after they were many years not qualifying for the Champions League. The one team that has been in the Champions League for the past years has been Manchester City. Now we are at risk, of course we are.”
After hosting Everton later on Thursday City travel to face Leicester City on Dec. 29.
-Reuters
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Bukayo Saka will be sidelined for “many weeks” after suffering a hamstring injury in Arsenal’s 5-1 win at Crystal Palace, manager Mikel Arteta said Monday.
Asked at a press conference about the 23-year-old England international’s condition, Arteta said: “It is not looking good. He will be out for many weeks.”
Saka was filmed leaving Selhurst Park on crutches on Saturday, souring what had been a comprehensive second win over the Eagles in four days.
Arteta said after the match: “He felt something in his hamstring. He couldn’t continue. He will have to be assessed, so I’m pretty worried about that one.”
He also revealed on Monday that Raheem Sterling had injured his knee and would be out for many weeks.
Arteta was asked if there was a fear Saka would not return before the end of the season.
“No (there’s no fear),” he said. “I’m very optimistic he’ll be back before the end of the season.”
The Spaniard said it was part of the “development of a player”.
“It could have been much worse. It could have been something else that can take you out for a year,” he said.
“It’s how you react to that, how you overcome that situation and it’s a great learning process for him as well.
“It is what it is. He’s injured, we cannot change it. We’re going to use this time now to help him.”
Saka is crucial cog in Arsenal’s attack, scoring five Premier League goals and providing 10 assists this season, and his absence will be keenly felt.
Arteta said he was “putting some ideas together” about how to cope in the winger’s absence.
“We went through the period with Martin (Odegaard) and the period with five, six defenders missing,” he said. “We’re taking it with positive energy.”
Arsenal, who have finished as Premier League runners-up over the past two seasons, host relegation-threatened Ipswich on Friday.
The Gunners are third in the Premier League table, six points behind leaders Liverpool having played a game more.
-AFP
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Premier League
Ola Aina spearheads Nottingham Forest’s continued push for Europe with an impressive win at Brentford
Ola Aina was in his best element as he propelled Nottingham Forest to hand Brentford their first home defeat of the season.
Aina opened scoring in an eventual 2-0 defeat of Brentford who were unbeaten at home in 10 games in all competitions, which included nine victories, but the loss leaves them 12th in the standings with 23 points.
With Aina’s goal and an additional one by Anthony Elanga, Nottingham Forest will celebrate Christmas in the Premier League’s top four.
They are provisionally up to third position with 31 points.
“Most of the players were on the floor at the end. It’s difficult to come here,” Elanga said.
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