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regular-article-logo Monday, 23 December 2024

Man United held, relief for Arsenal

Leicester City came back twice to end Manchester United’s away winning streak in the Premier League with a 2-2 draw at the King Power stadium

Agencies Leicester Published 27.12.20, 03:07 AM
Arsenal beat London rivals Chelsea 3-1 for their first league win in nearly two months as goals from Alexandre Lacazette, Granit Xhaka and Bukayo Saka lifted the pressure on coach Mikel Arteta

Arsenal beat London rivals Chelsea 3-1 for their first league win in nearly two months as goals from Alexandre Lacazette, Granit Xhaka and Bukayo Saka lifted the pressure on coach Mikel Arteta Shutterstock

Leicester City came back twice to end Manchester United’s away winning streak in the Premier League with a 2-2 draw at the King Power stadium on Saturday.

In another match, Arsenal beat London rivals Chelsea 3-1 for their first league win in nearly two months as goals from Alexandre Lacazette, Granit Xhaka and Bukayo Saka lifted the pressure on coach Mikel Arteta.

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A Jamie Vardy shot which deflected off United defender Axel Tuanzebe, five minutes from the end, secured a point for Brendan Rodgers’ side after Bruno Fernandes appeared to have secured another victory on the road for United.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side, who had won their last 10 away games in the Premier League, stay third on 27 points, a point behind second-placed Leicester.

Liverpool are top of the standings on 31 points and have a chance to extend their lead when they face West Bromwich Albion on Sunday.

Marcus Rashford had missed a wide-open header but put United ahead in the 23rd minute with a cool finish after being slipped in by Fernandes before Harvey Barnes equalised eight minutes later with a fine shot from the edge of the box.

Rashford had a great chance to put United back in front on the hour but his powerful drive was well saved by the right hand of Kasper Schmeichel.

Two minutes later Anthony Martial had an effort disallowed for offside but the influential Fernandes restored United’s lead in the 79th minute, drilling into the bottom corner after being found inside the area by substitute Edinson Cavani.

Again though, the lead was short-lived as Vardy’s first time shot on the half-turn from a low cross from Ayoze Perez, went in off Tuanzebe and earned a point for the Foxes.

“Disappointed we didn’t win today (Saturday) because we had loads of big chances and we could’ve finished it off but they’re a dangerous side,” said Solskjaer.

“One point is not the worst result but we’re disappointed to not get the three points against a tough side,” he added.

Rodgers praised the way his team had approached the game and responded to the two United goals.

“I thought it was a good game — two attacking teams and I thought we had lots of really good play.

“Our defending and counter pressing was very good you have to do that against teams like Man United they break so fast,” he said.

“We go 2-1 behind but we’ve always had enthusiasm and confidence… It really showed the mentality of the players and we deserved a point at least out of the game.”

At the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal, missing several first-choice players, took the lead in the 35th minute when Lacazette sent Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy the wrong way from the spot after Kieran Tierney was adjudged to have been clipped in the box by Reece James.

Nine minutes later, Xhaka lifted an unstoppable freekick over the wall and beyond Mendy’s dive.

Arsenal sealed the win in the 56th minute when Saka floated what looked like a cross over Mendy and the ball hit the far post and went in.

Chelsea scored a consolation goal with five minutes to go when Tammy Abraham converted a cross by Hudson-Odoi

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