Arsenal beat Hull City 1-0 at the Emirates on Saturday to move six points clear at the top of the Premier League. Captain Martin Odegaard scored the only goal in the 72nd minute.
The win was Arsenal’s ninth in 10 games. Mikel Arteta’s side are the champions and the title favourites, but they had to work hard for the points.
Hull came into the match without a league win since August. Arsenal had most of the ball but struggled to break down the visitors for a long time.
Near the end of the first half, Arsenal wanted a penalty. Kai Havertz had his shirt pulled by Hull’s Nobel Mendy. VAR ruled that Havertz had been offside earlier in the move, so no penalty was given.
The home side grew more frustrated after the break. The goal finally came when Noni Madueke cut in from the right and hit a left-footed shot.
Hull goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis could not hold the ball. Odegaard reacted first and fired it in from close range. It was his first goal since early September.
Manchester City could cut the gap to three points with a win over Nottingham Forest in the late kick-off. City were trying to avoid a third defeat in a row.
In the early game, Leeds beat Tottenham 1-0 at Elland Road. Substitute Noah Okafor scored in the 79th minute to end Spurs’ run of three straight wins.
In the first half, Leeds defender Jayden Bogle made a challenge on Spurs winger Mathys Tel. VAR checked it for a possible red card but cleared it. Referee John Brooks did not go to the pitchside monitor.
Tel had to leave the field shortly before halftime.
Spurs coach Roberto De Zerbi was unhappy with his team’s second half but would not talk much about the tackle. “In the first situation of Mathys Tel I didn’t see, I can’t say nothing,” he told TNT Sports.
“I have big confidence in the referee. Nothing changes if he goes to watch the clip or not,” De Zerbi added.
Spurs had arrived in good spirits after recovering from a very poor start to the season. Leeds had not won in their last five league games.
Leeds manager Daniel Farke said his players had shown “great spirit, great commitment, great unity”.
At Craven Cottage, Jacob Murphy gave Newcastle the lead with a spectacular strike in the 80th minute. Substitute Rodrigo Muniz equalised just three minutes later, and the match ended 1-1.
Source: this article is based on reporting by IOL Sport. Image: IOL Sport. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Sports desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Tiyani Mathebula writes about sport for Tzaneen Voice. Tiyani covers Bafana Bafana, the Springboks, the Proteas and the PSL, along with athletics, tennis and local club sport. Match reports and previews focus on results, team news, fixtures and what each game means for South African teams and fans.