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TOPSHOT – Manchester City’s Spanish midfielder Rodri celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during their English Premier League football match against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in London on January 1, 2022. Manchester City won the match 2-1. (Photo : ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Manchester City is opening up a huge gap at the top of the Premier League table, with the reigning champions now holding a commanding 10-point lead over title rivals Chelsea after Week 21. Chelsea and Liverpool battled each other to a high-scoring draw, giving Pep Guardiola’s men the opportunity to extend their lead over the Blues and the Reds.
Man City extends win streak to 11 games after victory over Arsenal
Manchester City retained the solo lead in the Premier League after recording a thrilling 2-1 win over Arsenal on New Year’s Day. Riyad Mahrez and Rodri scored the goals for Manchester City, who extended their winning streak in the Premier League to 11 matches.
It was not an easy win for Manchester City, with Arsenal dominating possession and goal-scoring opportunities in the opening half. The Gunners got the deserved lead in the 31st minute, with Bukayo Saka sweeping in to finish a slick Arsenal attack.
Manchester City refused to concede, and they managed to equalize in the 57th minute from the penalty spot. The Citizens were awarded a spot-kick after Granit Xhaka brought down Bernardo Silva inside the box. Mahrez converted his penalty kick to level proceedings at one goal apiece.
Arsenal’s woes were compounded a couple of minutes later when Gunners defender Gabriel Magalhaes was sent off for a second bookable offense. His first yellow card came after trying to scuff up the spot before Mahrez’s spot-kick. Magalhaes’ second yellow card transpired when he fouled Gabriel Jesus.
That decision drew the ire of Arsenal supporters, who saw two controversial VAR rulings go against them. Arsenal wanted a penalty in the first half after Martin Odegaard was brought down inside the area by Ederson, but the Gunners’ pleas were rejected. The second was City’s penalty, with referee Stuart Attwell overturning his initial decision not to award a spot-kick.
The Gunners battled hard even with a man disadvantage, as they held City to a single goal. Their resolute defending finally broke down in the second-half stoppage, with Rodri snatching a 93rd-minute winner. His goal is Manchester City’s latest winner in a Premier League game since Gabriel Jesus netted against Southampton in May 2018.
Related Article: Ronaldo Leads Manchester United to Comeback Win Over Arsenal; Scores 800th Career Goal
Chelsea and Liverpool cancel each other out in a 2-2 draw
Chelsea and Liverpool failed to keep pace with surging Manchester City after settling for a 2-2 stalemate on Sunday, January 2. Liverpool got off to a strong start, with Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah giving the Reds a 2-0 lead after 26 minutes.
The Blues responded, though, with two goals of their own in the closing stages of the first half. They canceled each other out in the second half to give City a huge lead after Week 21.
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