LONDON, Jan 2: The hottest-ever New Year’s Day in London saw Arsenal fans get heated after a meltdown against Manchester City.
Arsenal fans hurled plastic bottles and toilet rolls at City’s celebrating players after Rodri scored a stoppage-time winner at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday as temperatures reached 16.2 degrees Celsius (61.16 degrees Fahrenheit) in the capital.
City’s comeback to win 2-1 and secure an 11th straight Premier League victory was completed in the third minute of stoppage time, prompting Rodri to rip off his jersey and slide across the field right in front of the home support.
As City moved 11 points in front of second-place Chelsea at the top of the standings, fourth-place Arsenal was left dwelling on its collapse.
City had been trailing through Bukayo Saka’s goal during an electrifying first-half display from Arsenal.
But the game shifted in City’s favor during a two-minute spell after the break.
Granit Xhaka conceded a penalty for bringing down Bernardo Silva and Riyad Mahrez leveled from the spot in the 57th minute. What proved costly for Arsenal was Gabriel getting booked for trying to scuff the penalty spot before Mahrez’s kick.
Within a minute, Arsenal had an immediate chance to regain the lead. But Nathan Ake’s hooked, scrambling goal-line clearance prevented an own goal from Aymeric Laporte after he headed over goalkeeper Ederson.
Then Gabriel was booked again in the 59th and saw red for fouling Gabriel Jesus.
Arsenal’s attempts to cling on to the point were thwarted by Laporte’s deflected shot reaching Rodri to score.
Arsenal was frustrated in the first half not to be awarded a penalty before Saka struck with a first-time connection from Kieran Tierney’s well-placed pass, City goalkeeper Ederson having escaped action for bringing down Martin Odegaard.
Davinson Sanchez’s stoppage-time goal secured Tottenham a 1-0 victory over Watford on Saturday to enhance its pursuit of Champions League qualification.
The Colombia defender headed a free kick from Heung-min Son past goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann in the sixth minute of added time to hand Watford a sixth successive loss.
The match had been temporarily halted for a few minutes in the closing stages when a supporter in a stand became ill.
Tottenham moved two points behind fourth-place Arsenal. Watford is two points above the drop zone having played two more games than Burnley in the final relegation place.
Manuel Lanzini scored twice before West Ham held off a late fightback from Crystal Palace to win 3-2 in the Premier League.
Two goals in three first-half minutes helped West Ham take control of the London derby with Michail Antonio’s ninth goal of the season opening the scoring in the 22nd minute before Manuel Lanzini produced a fine finish.
Lanzini added a second from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time but there was a tense finish after Odsonne Edouard pulled one back in the 83rd and Michael Olise netted in the 90th.
West Ham held on to celebrate two years in charge for David Moyes with a victory and move within a point of the top four.
Alexis Mac Allister scored twice as Brighton and Hove Albion defeated Everton 3-2 in an away match on Sunday. The midfielder scored Brighton’s quickest-ever Premier League away goal inside three minutes and Dan Burn got his first of the season with a close-range header midway through the first half as Brighton went on to win their first match at Goodison Park.
Anthony Gordon pulled one back for Everton early in the second half but Mac Allister made it 3-1 with a thunderous finish into the top corner from outside the box.
In other matches on Sunday, Brentford came back from a goal deficit to beat Aston Villa 2-1 while Leeds United overcame Burnley 3-1. (Agencies)
