Images from Sunday's action in the Premier League.
Arsenal recovered from the shock of conceding a stunning Erik Lamela goal to claim a deserved 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League's north London derby on Sunday.
Martin Odegaard's deflected equaliser on the stroke of halftime and Alexandre Lacazette's 64th-minute penalty secured Arsenal's first win in six attempts against their bitter rivals.
It was a mixed afternoon for Lamela who produced an audacious 'Rabona' shot to put Tottenham in front against the run of play after 33 minutes at The Emirates -- one of the most remarkable goals ever seen in the long-running rivalry.
But the Argentine, who came on for the injured Son Heung-min early on, went from hero to zero when he was sent off in the 76th for catching Kieran Tierney with his flailing forearm.
While Lamela's goal was unforgettable it could not disguise a largely disappointing display by Tottenham who squandered a great chance to boost their hopes of a top-four finish.
After Lamela's sending off the visitors' 10 men finally applied some pressure and they had a Harry Kane goal ruled out late on for offside before he hit the post with a free kick.
Tottenham are now without a league win at Arsenal since 2010 and the defeat left them in seventh spot on 45 points, six behind fourth-placed Chelsea with a game in hand. Arsenal stayed in 10th place with 41 points, four off Spurs.
"It was incredible. Going 1-0 down the way we were playing was disappointing and the worst-case scenario against a team like Spurs. But we kept playing and deserved the win," said Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.
Arsenal were far sharper than Tottenham in the early stages and were unlucky not to go ahead when Emile Smith-Rowe rattled the crossbar with a curling effort from distance.
Shortly afterwards South Korean Son went down holding his leg and was replaced by Lamela who was soon to make an impact.
Lucas Moura did well to take down Sergio Reguilon's long pass and fed the ball to Lamela who, from the left edge of the penalty area, wrapped his left leg around his right standing leg to ping a low shot past the bamboozled Bernd Leno.
It was the second time in his Spurs career that Lamela had scored with the so-called 'Rabona', a difficult trick that originates from his native Argentina, having also scored with one in the Europa League in 2014.
Arsenal's response was strong, however, and they were unlucky again when Cedric Soares hit the post with a piledriver.
The hosts got their reward though when Tierney's cut back was met by Norwegian youngster Odegaard whose shot deflected off defender Toby Alderweireld before beating keeper Hugo Lloris.
Arsenal, who had left skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on the bench for "disciplinary reasons", went ahead when Tottenham defender Davinson Sanchez made a clumsy tackle in the penalty area on Lacazette who had just scuffed an attempted volley.
Lacazette got up to beat Lloris from the spot.
Lamela was shown a second yellow card for catching Tierney but Spurs then produced their best spell with Kane's header ruled out for offside and the England skipper thudding a free kick against the post with Sanchez's follow-up cleared off the line by Gabriel.
Iheanacho hat-trick as Leicester crush Sheffield United
Kelechi Iheanacho scored a superb hat-trick as Leicester City crushed bottom side Sheffield United 5-0 on Sunday to move second in the Premier League table.
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder left the club late on Saturday and coach Paul Heckingbottom, who will take charge until the end of the season, had no time to fix the team's defensive frailty and toothless attack.
Ayoze Perez went close with an early header for Leicester but Aaron Ramsdale was alive to the danger, getting his fingertips to the ball to turn it onto the far post.
He only managed delayed the inevitable, however, and Leicester went ahead in the 39th minute when Jamie Vardy latched on to a clever pass and his perfect centre left Iheanacho with a simple tap-in.
Iheanacho tried to repay the favour early in the second half, teeing up Vardy for a first-time shot but Chris Basham headed his effort off the line as Vardy, who has scored only once this year, struggled again in front of goal.
Perez added the second in the 64th minute with a low shot before Vardy again set up Iheanacho for another simple finish.
The Nigerian saved the best for last, firing home a powerful left-foot shot in the 78th minute to complete his first Premier League hat-trick.
Vardy's shot was turned into his own net by Ethan Ampadu to complete the rout as Leicester climbed up to second spot on 56 points after 29 games, two ahead of Manchester United who play West Ham United later on Sunday.
Sheffield United remained bottom on 14 points, 14 behind Newcastle United in 17th place.
"I don't know how to express this, I've been waiting for this day to come. I'm grateful to God, my team mates and my manager for helping me grow," Iheanacho told Sky Sports.
Brighton score first Premier League win over Southampton
Brighton & Hove Albion secured their first Premier League win over Southampton as goals from Lewis Dunk and Leandro Trossard led them to a 2-1 victory at St Mary's Stadium on Sunday.
The win ended Brighton's three-match losing run and moved them one place up the table to 16th, on 29 points after 28 games, three points above the relegation zone.
Winger Trossard said the victory was a relief for Graham Potter's side.
"We were the better team overall and finally we got the three points," the 26-year-old said. "It's a relief and now we can build on that."
Brighton captain Dunk scored the opener with a thumping header into the bottom corner in the 16th minute after midfielder Pascal Gross curled the ball into the penalty area.
Southampton drew level 11 minutes later through forward Che Adams who volleyed home after Dunk had failed to clear the ball inside the box. It was the English forward's third goal in as many league games.
Brighton regained the lead in the 56th minute when Belgian Trossard fired from 12 yards out following a through pass from striker Danny Welbeck who was set up on the edge of the box by midfielder Adam Lallana.
Southampton failed to recover and slumped to their 14th defeat of the season. After leading the standings in November, Ralph Hasenhuttl's side are now 14th with 33 points from 29 matches.
© 2024 Rediff.com -