Arsenal Overcome Spurs In Derby
This was a defeat more damaging for top four-chasing Tottenham than transformational for Arsenal in the Premier League standings with Mikel Arteta’s side in 10th place.
An audacious “rabona” goal was produced for Tottenham’s opener in the first half against Arsenal. But the Argentine received two bookings in seven minutes after the break — with the red coming after swinging his arm recklessly.
By that time Arsenal had already turned the north London derby around with Martin Ødegaard scoring just before halftime and Alexandre Lacazette adding a goal from the penalty spot in the 64th minute to seal a 2-1 win.
Usually it would have been captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on penalty duty but he was dropped to the bench and didn’t come on for breaching disciplinary rules.
The setbacks for Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium started when Son Heung-min pulled up clutching his left hamstring and he walked off down the tunnel in the 19th.
Lamela was summoned as the replacement and he lit up the derby by scoring with the maneuver known as a “rabona.”
Lamela moved his left foot around the back of his right ankle and cleverly poked a shot in the net in the 33rd minute. It was a moment of slick quality that seemed to come so casually for Lamela.
Tottenham still has hopes of grabbing one of the four Champions League spots, but Jose Mourinho’s side didn’t seize on Chelsea dropping points in a draw on Saturday, falling six points behind fourth place while still having a game in hand.
Leicester v Sheffield United
It was a miserable start to life without Chris Wilder for last-place Sheffield United, although Leicester had to wait until six minutes before halftime to find a breakthrough.
Jamie Vardy found space on the left and crossed for Kelechi Iheanacho to tap in his third goal in as many games from close range.
Ayoze Perez extended City’s lead with a fine 64th-minute finish. Iheanacho helped himself to a second five minutes later with a first-time strike from another Vardy cross and then completed a hat trick with an emphatic drive from distance.
Ethan Ampadu turned Vardy’s 80th-minute shot into his own net to nudge Sheffield United closer to relegation and Leicester closer to a return to the Champions League after five years.
Craig Dawson’s Own Goal Helps Manchester United Reclaim Second Place
A narrow, hard-fought but potentially significant win. Manchester United took a step closer to securing a place in next season’s Champions League with this victory over one of the surprise contenders in the Premier League’s top-four race, as West Ham were undone by an unfortunate Craig Dawson own goal.
David Moyes’ long wait for three points at Old Trafford as a visiting manager goes on, as does their underwhelming away record against the so-called top six.
West Ham have suffered just five defeats on the road during this impressive campaign, but they have come at Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City and now against United.
Dawson’s header at the second half certainly did, with a Bruno Fernandes corner deflecting in off the West Ham defender.
It would prove to be decisive, though United had chances to finish the contest through Fernandes, Mason Greenwood and the misfiring Marcus Rashford.
Their wastefulness in front of goal might have been punished if not for Moyes’ own important attack.
A goalless, uneventful first half played out largely to expectation. United had plenty of the ball and showed intent but lacked the sharpness in possession that was required to break down West Ham’s five-man defence.
Nobody is more determined than Maguire who has been at the heart of a defence that has kept four consecutive league clean sheets for the first time under Solskjaer.
