PREMIER LEAGUE
Status quo in Premier League as both Arsenal and City win
A goal from Brazilian Martinelli secure maximum points for the Gunners with City romping to a 1-4 win over Bournemouth.
Manchester City responded well as the Sky Blues went into the evening game aware that Arsenal had earlier recorded a 0-1 win at Leicester City with Martinelli bagging the only goal of the game in the first minute of the second half to cement the Gunners’ place at the top of the Premier League.
Arsenal otherwise struggled to get going in the game in an attacking sense, but impressively restricted the hosts to just one shot overall and none on target.
Arteta was pleased with the performance and the win, which increased his team’s lead at the top of the league to five points prior to Manchester City’s visit to Bournemouth.
He added: “We dominated the game almost from start to finish. In general, I think our play and understanding of spaces was excellent.
“We just lacked that final pass to score more. We had the decision with [Bukayo Saka’s] disallowed goal, which was frustrating to take, but to restrict Leicester to one shot at home is great.”
Leaders Arsenal have two home games next week against Everton and Bournemouth as they bid for a first league title since 2004.
City respond
Manchester City went into the evening game under added pressure aware of the Arsenal scoreline but goals from Haaland and Foden who found the net at the Vitality Stadium in between Julian Alvarez’s opener and a Chris Mepham own goal secured maximum points for the Manchester side. Jefferson Lerma bagged a late consolation for the hosts.
It was the fourth of five consecutive away games for City, and their first win in three after 1-1 draws at Nottingham Forest and RB Leipzig.
“Considering the amount of games and a lot of travel, we played incredibly aggressive,” said Guardiola. “Our attack was more dynamic and we got a good result.”
Haaland scored the second of the game from close range to record his 27th Premier League goal of the season, beating Sergio Aguero’s club record for a single season in the competition, and giving the Norwegian the most league goals by a City player in a single top-flight campaign since Francis Lee’s 33 in 1971-72.
“Erling Haaland, his impact has been incredible,” Guardiola added. “We love him and he is helping us. Today we found him more and he is an incredible threat.”