Arsenal were beaten in the English Premier League for the first time this season at Newcastle United on Saturday as Bruno Fernandes’ stoppage-time winner at Fulham eased the pressure on Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag.
Manchester City moved to the top of the table with a 6-1 demolition of AFC Bournemouth, but victory came at a cost for the English champions as Erling Haaland limped off with a twisted ankle.
Newcastle shrugged off a mounting injury crisis to climb into the top six after winning a feisty encounter at St James’ Park 1-0.
Photo: Reuters
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said that his team’s 1-0 defeat was “a disgrace” after Anthony Gordon’s winner was controversially allowed to stand by video assistant referee (VAR).
Gordon slotted home from close-range in the second half, but Arsenal were incensed by the goal, saying it should have been disallowed for Joelinton’s challenge on Gabriel.
Joelinton appeared to push Arsenal defender Gabriel in the back while the pair contested Joe Willock’s cross, with the ball running for Gordon to net from virtually on the goal line.
After a lengthy VAR check, it was ruled there was no foul, while Arsenal’s appeal that the ball went out of play before Willock crossed it was also ignored, as were claims that Gordon was offside.
“The result should not be what it is. Embarrassing what happened, how this goal stands, in the Premier League, this league we say is the best in the world,” Arteta said.
A check for offside and whether the ball had gone out of play earlier in the move also proved inconclusive.
Meanwhile, Ten Hag’s future at Old Trafford had come into question over the past week after consecutive 3-0 home defeats to City and Newcastle.
Manchester United were again far from spectacular at Craven Cottage, but got a much-needed three points thanks to captain Fernandes.
The Portuguese midfielder’s shot from the edge of the area had just too much power for Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno as it squirmed into the bottom corner to secure 1-0 win.
“He showed every time as a captain he is an example,” Ten Hag said. “You see today how he is working, how he is pressing and in the end he scored the goal.”
City, by contrast, cruised to their three points despite losing Haaland at halftime.
Jeremy Doku was the star of the show as the Belgian winger opened the scoring and played a major role in four more goals.
“He surprised all of us — he’s a great footballer,” manager Pep Guardiola said of Doku’s impact. “It’s incredible how he changes the rhythm in 5m. After that when he’s not able to dribble, he takes good decisions and I’m impressed by that.”
Elsewhere, Brentford came from behind to beat West Ham 3-2, while Sheffield United secured their first win back in the Premier League in dramatic fashion as Oliver Norwood’s 100th minute penalty beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1.
Burnley became the first Premier League side to ever lose their first six home games of the season as Crystal Palace won 2-0 at Turf Moor.
Everton were denied a third consecutive win as Ashley Young’s late own-goal rescued a 1-1 draw for Brighton & Hove Albion at Goodison Park.
COPA LIBERTADORES
Reuters
Veteran Brazilian defender Marcelo hailed the Copa Libertadores title he won with boyhood club Fluminense on Saturday as the biggest of his career, ahead of the UEFA Champions League trophies he lifted with Real Madrid.
The Brazilian team claimed its first title in the CONMEBOL South American club competition for the first time in its history after beating Argentina’s Boca Juniors 2-1 in extra time.
The 35-year-old defender has not only won the Champions League five times in his 16 seasons with Real Madrid but also six La Liga titles, five Spanish Super Cups, four Club World Cups, three European Super Cups and two Copa del Rey trophies.
“Real Madrid will understand. It’s my most important title, at club level, because it’s the club that raised me,” Marcelo told ESPN. “I’m winning a very important title with my favorite club, the club that gave me all the tools to have my career, with the employees who saw me grow up. There’s nothing more rewarding than that. It’s priceless.”
BUNDESLIGA
AFP, DORTMUND, Germany
Harry Kane on Saturday scored a hat-trick as Bayern Munich thrashed Borussia Dortmund 4-0 away, closing the gap with leaders Bayer 04 Leverkusen to two points.
Bayern captain Manuel Neuer lauded his striker, telling German TV “that’s his experience, he brought it with him to the Bundesliga from England and he shows us it week after week.”
“We’ve got some quick guys up front and with them we really hurt Dortmund,” he added.
Stung by a midweek German Cup elimination by third-division Saarbruecken, Leverkusen’s 3-2 win at Hoffenheim on Saturday meant injury-hit Bayern were five points behind manager Xabi Alonso’s side at kickoff.
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