Normality was restored in the most unpredictable of English Premier League seasons, with Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United winning to kick-off the year, with two of English soccer’s biggest stars grabbing winners after lean spells.
However, victory did not come easy for the three heavyweights as the hectic festive schedule closed on Saturday.
Arsenal dispensed with their typically silky soccer and toughed out a 1-0 win over Newcastle, through a goal from defender Laurent Koscielny, to move two points clear at the top.
Photo: EPA
City scored twice in the final eight minutes in coming from behind to beat Watford 2-1, clinching a first away win since September last year. Sergio Aguero, last season’s top scorer and the most lethal striker in the division, scored the winner with his first goal since Nov. 21 last year.
That was the date United last won in the league before a 2-1 win over Swansea, sealed by a moment of brilliance from Wayne Rooney. The England captain flicked in a deft finish for his first United goal in two months, which put him second outright in the all-time scoring lists at United (238) and in the league (188).
“It is amazing, and that at the age of 30,” United coach Louis van Gaal said.
Second-placed Leicester City failed to keep pace with Arsenal after being held 0-0 at home by 10-man AFC Bournemouth and are now without a win in three games, fulfilling many pundits’ predictions that their surprisingly strong start to the season would not last. Riyad Mahrez missed a penalty for Leicester, who are a point ahead of City.
United stayed in fifth place, provisionally two points behind Tottenham Hotspur, who were to visit Everton yesterday.
West Ham United rose to sixth after beating Liverpool 2-0, with Andy Carroll — still Liverpool’s most expensive player ever — heading in the second goal against his former club.
Norwich City beat Southampton 1-0, West Bromwich Albion overcame Stoke City 2-1 and Sunderland won 3-1 at home to Aston Villa, who look doomed, with just eight points from 20 games to lie 11 points adrift of safety.
At the Emirates Stadium, Koscielny scored the decisive goal for Arsenal, pouncing after Olivier Giroud headed back a corner from Mesut Ozil. However, goalkeeper Petr Cech was the player to earn most praise after the match for making two outstanding saves to deny Georginio Wijnaldum.
“He is calm and never panics. We needed that,” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said.
Arsenal have not won the Premier League since 2004.
Watford went ahead against City when left back Aleksandar Kolarov diverted Ben Watson’s corner into his own net after half-time. Yaya Toure equalized in the 82nd with a superb finish from Kolarov’s corner, then Aguero’s header followed two minutes later
“We have to build on this,” City goalkeeper Joe Hart said. “It is not championship-winning form, but we are somehow still in it.”
United ended an eight-game winless run — their longest in 26 years — as Anthony Martial put United ahead after half-time, then set up Rooney for the flicked winner off his left heel.
“It was his left foot behind his right foot. You cannot imagine what a goal that is,” Van Gaal said of his captain’s strike.
The win eased the pressure on Van Gaal, who raised the possibility of resigning during United’s woeful streak of results.
It was the third game in seven days for English clubs over a typically grueling festive period.
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