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Home , Anwar El Ghazi, George Baldock, Oliver Norwood, Steven Alzate

Friday 47 Sports Friday, December 27, 2019 Villa deal Norwich Boxing Day blow with 1-0 win in relegation battle Aubameyang goal earns Arteta’s Arsenal draw at Bournemouth

LONDON: Aston Villa midfielder Conor Houri- Arsenal’s sloppiness was punished when hane gave his side a 1-0 home win over Nor- they gave the ball away cheaply on the left wich City to move them one step closer to wing and Bournemouth sliced through them safety in the yesterday. The quickly, midfielder Dan Gosling stabbing home result moved Villa to 18 points, within a point Jack Stacey’s centre from close range to give of 17th placed West Ham United, while Nor- the home side the lead. The Gunners equalised wich remain deep in the drop zone. Norwich in the 63rd minute as Reiss Nelson’s shot de- full back Sam Byram nearly opened the scoring flected into the path of Aubameyang, and he for the visitors in the 18th minute with a header swivelled to rifle the ball home before a wild from an Emi Buendia corner, only to see it celebration with the traveling fans that earned come off the woodwork with goalkeeper Tom him a yellow card. Heaton well and truly beaten. Both sides created opportunities in the Anwar El Ghazi had two good chances to pouring rain, but neither could grab a winner put Villa ahead in the opening period. But he and the draw left Arsenal in 11th place on 24 first failed to sort out his feet when attempting points, with Bournemouth four points further a shot from Trezeguet’s header across the box, back in 16th. “We missed a lot of chances in the before another first-time effort from a Matt second half, we should get the three points Target cross went wide. Villa finally made the today but that can happen,” Aubameyang said. breakthrough when skipper and “I think the attitude of the boys was great but second-half substitute Hourihane combined in we have to improve our chances.” Arteta was the box for the latter to sweep a left-footed disappointed not to win the game, but said his strike past Tim Krul into the far corner. In players had performed well. Bournemouth, a second-half equaliser from “In terms of attitude, desire and commit- BOURNEMOUTH: Bournemouth’s English defender Jack Stacey (L) vies with Arsenal’s English striker Bukayo Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang gave Mikel ment it was better than I expect. They are not Saka during the English Premier League football match between Bournemouth and Arsenal at the Vitality Arteta a point in his first game as Arsenal man- used to playing at this rhythm,” said the 37- Stadium in Bournemouth, southern England yesterday. — AFP ager as his side came back from a goal down year-old Spaniard, who spent five seasons as to draw 1-1 with Bournemouth in the Premier a player at the club. “I am still learning about League yesterday. The two sides came into the the players, about the priorities, to make them with a 36th-minute penalty after Will Hughes he raced clear and scored with a neat finish from game in poor form, with Bournemouth having more secure when they jump on to the pitch. tripped . 12 metres. Norwood levelled when he drove his lost six of their last seven and Arsenal only My only aim now is to find solutions, to attack The result left Watford 19th on 13 points spot-kick low past Watford keeper Ben Foster, winning once since beating Bournemouth 1-0 better, defend better,” Arteta added. In from 19 games, one ahead of bottom team who kept his side afloat with a superb 64th- at the Emirates on Oct. 6. Arteta restored Sheffield, Watford moved off the bottom of the Norwich City, while Sheffield United slipped minute reflex save to deny from close Mesut Ozil to the starting line-up and the Ger- Premier League after a spirited performance one place down to sixth on 29 points. After a range. Foster palmed away an man forward looked sharp in the opening ex- earned them a 1-1 draw at dominant Sheffield 10-minute kick-off delay over what Sheffield scorcher before the visitors came agonisingly changes, but despite Arteta energetically United yesterday. The visitors took a 27th- United called operational issues, Oliver close to snatching a late winner, with Deulofeu encouraging his team from the sidelines, they minute lead through Gerard Deulofeu against McBurnie twice went close for the home side curling a free kick inches wide of Dean Hender- failed to create many chances. the run of play before levelled before Deulofeu struck from out of the blue as son’s left-hand post. —Reuters

Alli caps Spurs fightback to sink Brighton LONDON: Dele Alli got Tottenham back tenham fans appeared to behave better Davinson Sanchez to plant a powerful on track as the England midfielder capped this time. Initially, there were worrying header past Gazzaniga for his third goal a gritty escape act with the late winner in signs for Mourinho on the field however of the season. Mourinho must have been yesterday’s 2-1 victory against Brighton. as Steven Alzate escaped Moussa Sis- furious that Tottenham wilted against such Jose Mourinho’s side were in danger of a soko, making space for a low strike that a simple set-piece and his team’s record second successive Premier League defeat drifted just wide. of one clean-sheet in his nine matches when Adam Webster headed Brighton Since Mourinho’s first game in charge suggests a defender could be high on his into a shock lead at the Tottenham Hot- of Tottenham, no Premier League team January shopping list. Underlining the ur- spur Stadium. But Harry Kane equalised had conceded more goals than the 14 his gency to address that problem area, after the interval and Alli finished off a side allowed across all competitions head- Brighton’s Bernardo forced Gazzaniga to flowing Tottenham move in the closing ing into this round of matches. Those de- save from a corner moments later to the stages to erase the bitter taste of last fensive frailties were on display when audible frustration of the Tottenham weekend’s acrimonious London derby Alzate lost his marker and forced Paulo crowd on a dank, wet day in north Lon- loss to Chelsea. Gazzaniga into a sprawling save, while don. Mourinho, standing rain-soaked on LONDON: Brighton’s Irish striker Aaron Connolly (C) misses a chance during the Eng- Avenging their defeat at Brighton in Aaron Mooy went close from the edge of the touchline, revealed before the game lish Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton and October, Tottenham, unbeaten in Boxing the area. Kane has a knack of scoring on that his Christmas was ruined by the death Hove Albion at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, yesterday. —AFP Day fixtures since 2003, have won three Boxing Day and the Tottenham striker of his family’s pet Yorkshire Terrier. of their last four league games as they try thought he had netted again when he fired But Kane put a smile back on his man- to climb into the top four. That Chelsea home from Winks’ pass, but the goal went ager’s face in the 53rd minute when he Boxing Day. Kane’s 16th club goal this was lucky to escape a red card for a foul setback was completely overshadowed by to a VAR review and was ruled out by the seized on a deflection off Lucas Moura season was not immediately a catalyst for when he had already been booked. Erik- the alleged racist abuse of Blues defender narrowest of offside decisions. after the Brazilian’s determined run. a Tottenham surge and Gazzaniga had to sen made an immediate impact in the 72nd Antonio Rudiger by Tottenham fans after Brighton made the most of that let-off Drilling a shot that Mat Ryan could only be alert to keep out Gross’s fierce free- minute when he floated a delicate pass to his role in Son Heung-min’s red card. to take the lead in the 37th minute. Pascal push back out, Kane gobbled up the re- kick. But Mourinho made a significant Serge Aurier who flicked the ball into the Amid widespread calls for stronger Gross swung over a free-kick and Web- bound with a clinical finish for his eighth switch when he sent on path of Alli, who guided a superb lofted action to stamp out racism in football, Tot- ster rose above and goals in five Premier League games on for Harry Winks, who moments before finish over Ryan. — AFP