Arsenal vs Leeds LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction today after Nketiah double
Arsenal 2-1 Leeds: The Gunners moved four points clear of rivals Spurs in the race to finish in the Premier League’s top four
Arsenal’s five-season exile from the Champions League is closer to ending after Eddie Nketiah’s double secured a 2-1 win over Leeds to strengthen the team’s hold on fourth place in the Premier League on Sunday.
If it wins at Tottenham on Thursday, Arsenal will qualify for the Champions League with two games to spare after its fifth-place north London rival dropped points in a 1-1 draw at Liverpool on Saturday.
Arsenal moved four points ahead of Tottenham thanks to Nketiah’s two goals in the opening 10 minutes as Leeds dropped into the relegation zone.
The former Leeds loanee capitalized on a poor touch from Illan Meslier and tapped home. Nketiah’s second was a well-taken finish from 12 yards (meters), turning in Gabriel Martinelli’s low cross.
Leeds was reduced to 10 men in the 27th when captain Luke Ayling was sent off for a two-footed challenge on Martinelli. Referee Chris Kavanagh initially booked the defender before upgrading the card after being advised to watch a replay on the VAR pitch-side monitor.
Leeds gave itself a chance of a surprise comeback in the 66th when Diego Llorente turned in a shot at the back post but there was no equalizer from Jesse Marsch’s side.
There is a tight scrap to avoid joining Watford and Norwich in being relegated. Burnley is only above Leeds, and out of the drop zone, due to its superior goal difference with three games remaining, while Everton is a point from danger.
Newcastle goal ruled out for offside
24’ - Manchester City 1-0 Newcastle United
Newcastle have the pull in the net but it’s ruled out correctly for offside.
Chris Wood meets a corner with a towering header and the ball is heading for the far corner but hits Burno Guimareas in an offside position.
The ball then drops to Wood who slams it home but the touch from the Brazilian means it’s ruled out. If the original header had not hit Guimaraes we’d be all level here.
GOAL! Sterling gives City the lead
19’ - Manchester City 1-0 Newcastle United
After missing a couple of early opportunities, Manchester City are indeed ahead.
Ilkay Gundogan clips an absolutely gorgeous ball towards the far side of the penalty area, where Joao Cancelo beats Dan Burn to the header and plays the ball back across the box for Raheem Sterling to nod into the empty net.
Normal service for Pep Guardiola’s side at the Etihad.
Cancelo blazes another City chance over
17’ - Manchester City 0-0 Newcastle United
Gabriel Jesus holds the ball up on the right-hand side of the Newcastle penalty area, waiting for Kevin de Bruyne to arrive on the overlap.
Once the Belgian is there, he delivers sumptuous left-footed cross to the unmarked Joao Cancelo arriving at the back post, but the Portuguese defender but his foot through the ball and sends his shot careering into the stands.
He had time to take the ball down if he wanted but chould certainly have done better with the shot anyway.
Newcastle dominating possession so far
14’ - Manchester City 0-0 Newcastle United
Just under a quarter-of-an-hour played and Newcastle are holding their own and playing well at the Etihad.
In an immense rarity for an away side against Manchester City, the Magpies have actually had more of the ball so far, with 57 percent of possession to City’s 43. Bruno Guimaraes is looking to break forward whenever he picks up the ball in a central area.
Laporte wastes great chance for City
11’ - Manchester City 0-0 Newcastle United
The home side are immediately on the attack and force a corner after strong wok down their left-hand side.
When the cross comes in Aymeric Laporte has the chance to hit a shot towards goal when totally unmarked in the penalty area but blazes it high over the bar when he should have at least hit the target.
Pep Guardiola is very disappointed with the Spain international’s attempted finish.
Newcastle spurn a big chance on the counter
9’ - Manchester City 0-0 Newcastle United
Newcastle have made their first foray forward and in truth should be ahead.
Allan-Saint Maximin breaks free on the right-hand side after a swift counter-attack but his ball across towards Miguel Almiron is blocked. City have the chance to reset themselves in defence but fail to deal with the Frenchman’s second delivery and Chris Wood wastes a glorious opportunity as he nods a team header low and directly into the arms of Ederson from about eight yards out.
An enormous chance for Wood.
De Bruyne hits free-kick wide after good Grealish work
6’ - Manchester City 0-0 Newcastle United
Jack Grealish wrestles the ball back excellently from Bruno Guimaraes on the edge of the Newcastle penalty area and draws a foul from the Brazilian just before he makes his way into the penalty area.
Kevin de Bruyne lines up the resultant free-kick but sends a dipping shot comfortably wide of the near post. Dubravka never troubled in the visitors’ goal.
City targeting left of Newcastle defence
2’ - Manchester City 0-0 Newcastle United
No clear-cut chances for Manchester City in the opening couple of minutes, but they have worked a couple of dangerous-looking positions on the left-hand side of the Newcastle Unietd defence with Matt Targett looking isolated.
Nothign comes of either bit of pressure but those are the kind of templates City will be targeting all afternoon.
Kick-off! Manchester City 0 - 0 Newcastle United
We’re underway at the Etihad!
Manchester City have kicked things off at the Etihad as they look to take a three point elad over Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table. Newcastle United have taken only two points here in 16 previous visits, but can they throw a spanner in the works today?
Follow here to see how things play out.
Special Aguero training shirts for Manchester City
Manchester City are wearing special training shirts before this afternoon’s game in order to make the tenth anniversary of former striker Sergio Aguero’s late strike against QPR which snatched the 2011/12 Premier League title away from rivals Manchester United on the last day of the season.
The Argentine forward was forced to retire from football earlier this season after a heart defect was discovered while he was playing for new club Barcelona.
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