In the opening game of the Premier league’s 12th round, Manchester United welcomed Arsenal hoping to continue with the good performance against the Gunners. Ahead of the meeting between these two teams, it was the most talked about relations between Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger. The great rivals, who in recent years frequently have “fight” a lot in public, and even clashed on the pitch, shook their hands before the kickoff at Old Trafford, but it was more than clear that both of them would rather avoid it.
Arsene Wenger failed to beat Jose Mourinho in the last 16 matches, and he has won only three points in his last 11 trips to the Old Trafford. Wenger did not win this time either, but the point that a minute before the end saved Olivier Giroud, could prove to be an important one at the end of the season. A reason for that is, despite the results of the other top placed teams like Liverpool, Chelsea and Man City, Arsenal is still “there”. And Wenger’s nightmare called Jose Mourinho is behind him with six points less.
“We held up well in the first half but in the second we were well-squeezed and they deservedly took the lead.
“But, then they withdrew and we managed to score.”
“Last year we would probably lose this game, but this season our team spirit is phenomenal,” said after the match Arsene Wenger.
“We’re probably the unluckiest team in the league. Arsenal did not have a chance, we were a much better team. Defensively we did an incredible match, they had only one chance, and, unfortunately, they took advantage of it, “said Man Utd boss, Jose Mourinho.
The Red Devils scored an opener in the 69th minute over Juan Mata, but one of the most important moments of the game happened in the 35th minute when the main ref Marriner did not point to the penalty spot, following a “clash” between Monreal and Valencia. Of course, Jose Mourinho was mad..
Crystal Palace 1-2 Man City
Every game this season, Yaya Toure has started on the bench. In the first in which Pep Guardiola the midfielder to the pitch from the first minute he excelled. The Citizens struggled at Crystal Palace. After one great action in the 39th minute on Nolito’s assist Toure has put Man City up front, but the Eagles were a tough team to beat on Saturday and they’ve equalized in the 66th minute through Wickham and kept up a draw up to 83rd minutes when once again Yaya Toure from close distance bagged a goal on assist of De Bruyne for the final 2-1.
Man City with this victory equalized with Liverpool on top with 27 points, two more than Chelsea, who tomorrow will play at Middlesbrough and has a chance to sit back on top.
Southampton’s great goalkeeper Foster has stopped Klopp’s men in their winning march, saving some great attempts of Mane and Firmino, and being a key reason for a goalless draw between the Saints and the Reds. In the last few minutes, Liverpool put a pressure on the Saints, searching for a late winner but with Foster on goal and van Dijk at behind the Reds have returned to Liverpool with only one point which still keeps them on the top.
Leicester City conceded after 33 seconds
The reigning champion Leicester is dangerously close to the relegation zone after losing 2-1 at Watford. The hosts had a led 2-0 already after 12 minutes, Mahrez three minutes later reduced from a penalty, but that was it from the Champs.
And while Leicester is sinking, Sunderland is rising. After last week’s victory at Bournemouth 2: 1, David Moyes’ team with 3-0 celebrated against and moved from the bottom. The Black Cats would remain at the bottom if Seamus Coleman in the 89th didn’t score an equalizer for Everton against Swansea, who was just a step to sealing their second win of the season. Stoke City lost at home against Bournemouth.
In the last game on Saturday the Spurs in a late drama have managed to take all three points against West Ham United who twice had a lead. Harry Kane was a hero for Tottenham, scoring two goals in a few minutes before the final whistle.
Premier League, Round 12:
Manchester United – Arsenal 1: 1 (Mata 68 ‘/ Giroud 89’)
Crystal Palace – Manchester City 1: 2 (Wickham 66 ‘/ Toure 39’, 83 ‘)
Everton – Swansea 1: 1 (Coleman 89 ‘/ 41’ Sigurdsson-11m)
Stoke – Bournemouth 0: 1 (Ake 26 ‘)
Watford – Leicester 2: 1 (1 Capoue, “Pereyra 12 ‘/ 15’ Mahrez-11m)
Sunderland – Hull 0: 3 (Defoe 34 ‘Anichebe 62’, 84 ‘)
Southampton – Liverpool 0: 0
Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 West Ham United (H. Winks 51′, H. Kane 89′, 90’+/M. Antonio 24′, M. Lanzini 68’)
Premier league table