22/12/2025

SPORTS MONDAY | DEC 22, 2025

29

Gunners X’mas cheers Arteta has ‘belief’ in Arsenal’s Premier League title bid A RSENAL MANAGER Mikel Arteta insisted being top at Christmas again gave him belief and confidence to finally turn that advantage into success. Gyokeres’ first goal in six games was handed to him mainly by Jake O’Brien’s inexplicable handball and then by captain Martin Odegaard choosing him over Bukayo Saka. Arteta is happy for the players to take responsibility for those on-field decisions. said it was insufficient contact,” he said. “We’ve seen some given if you kick through someone’s foot or Achilles. It’s probably been seen and could have been given, but for the VAR not to send him to the screen they must have felt they it was not enough.” Ű BY CARL MARKHAM

Pep demands improvements

Ű BY ANDY HAMPSON

PEP GUARDIOLA demanded improvement from his Man City team despite seeing them com fortably beat West Ham. Erling Haaland scored two goals and made another as City eased to a 3-0 win at the Etihad Stadium to keep the pressure firmly on Arsenal at the top of the Premier League. It was their fifth victory in a row in the competition but Guardiola does not think the level of performance is good enough to sustain a title challenge. “I’m happy, I cannot deny that – we are fourth in the Champions League and in the semifinals of the Carabao Cup, but the way we played with the ball we have to improve,” he said. “Otherwise, it will not be enough to arrive in March and April to be contenders to win titles. “I want to be honest. I said to the players, ‘Merry Christmas eve ryone but it will not be enough if we don’t improve’. “In the first half we controlled the game but even with that we were not in the right places to cre ate and we talked about that. We had to create more chances to be solid. “In the second half when they made a step up we continued to play not good. We did not do the right process to do what we have to do. “If they had scored to make it 2-1, West Ham would have made it 2-2.” Guardiola, however, did reflect on some good aspects of the per formance, most notably Haaland’s double. The prolific Norwegian has now scored 38 goals for club and country this season. He put City in control after five minutes and laid on another goal for Tijjani Reijnders before making victory certain as West Ham tried to mount a comeback in the sec ond half. Guardiola said: “There were many good things. Offensively, Erling. I always have to thank Erling for the goals but today thanks to him and Phil (Foden) and Nico O’Reilly they helped us to do this type of game. “Defensively we are improv ing. We are visualising it with the ball.” West Ham have now gone six games without a win and will spend Christmas in the relegation zone. Manager Nuno Espirito Santo said:“We are concerned about the situation that we are in and mainly understand that requires a lot of improvement from our selves. “We started really badly again, giving balls away, not applying the way we wanted to do. “Of course, everything becomes harder when we con cede so early but the first period of the game was really hard. There was much improvement in the second half but it didn’t start so well.” – The Independent

Moyes was left to rue O’Brien’s moment of madness after the defender threw both arms in the air at a corner. “Disappointed with the goal we conceded. We gave away a stupid penalty kick,” he added. “When you think about it we pushed Arsenal close. If they had scored a brilliant goal you could have held your hand up but it wasn’t, it was a poor decision by us. “Overall I thought we fought incredibly hard to get something out of the game and challenged Arsenal for long periods. “You couldn’t say the players weren’t committed or determined, they were fantastic in those aspects. “Quality-wise you could maybe ask questions.” – The Independent

“Great decision. Very happy for him,” he added. “They took ownership on the pitch between Martin, Bukayo and him and decided who was the taker and he put the ball in the of the net. “I love it when players take ownership and make the decision themselves. “(It showed) the confidence of the player who practises every day and is unbelievable at it.” Gyokeres’ penalty decided the game, but the hosts had a valid claim for a spot-kick of their own when William Saliba’s attempted clearance saw him kick Thierno Barry in the second half, however, VAR ruled no foul had been committed. Everton manager David Moyes was diplomatic in his response. “I’m not sure. I’ve watched it back, I think they

For the third time in four previous years – and fifth in the competition’s history – the Gunners lead the Premier League on Dec 25, but they have yet to convert that into a title win. The 1-0 victory at Everton courtesy of Viktor Gyokeres’ first-half penalty ensured they reclaimed top spot from Manchester City, who had overtaken them earlier in the day. “It gives me belief and confidence: the level of performance and the consistency of that,” said Arteta. “It is very difficult to do in this League so it means the team is consistently there. We enjoy the process of winning. “We will have to go to difficult places and have difficult moments. We have dealt with a lot of things already and we are there!

Isak injury leaves Slot counting cost of win

ARNE SLOT was left to count the cost of Liverpool’s chaotic 2-1 win at nine-man Tottenham after Alexander Isak’s rare goal was followed by a potentially damaging injury. Isak fired Liverpool into a second half lead in north London with a clini cal finish, only to limp off moments later after being injured by Micky van de Ven’s failed attempt to stop him scoring. The Sweden striker’s third goal for Liverpool since his British record £125 million (RM725m) move from Newcastle on transfer deadline day had offered hope that he was finally set to live up to his hefty price tag. Instead, Reds boss Slot now faces an anxious wait to determine how long the 26-year-old will be sidelined with his ankle problem. Slot would only say that Isak’s injury was “not a good thing”. It could not have come at a worse time for fifth-placed Liverpool after Egypt forward Mohamed Salah’s departure to the Africa Cup of Nations and an injury to Dutch winger Cody Gakpo. Adding to Slot’s fitness issues, Isak only come off the bench at half-time after right-back Conor Bradley was injured. French striker Hugo Ekitike main tained his strong start to life with Liverpool by heading their second goal against Tottenham. But even then Liverpool made heavy weather of it as Tottenham, already down to 10 men after Xavi

Liverpool’s Hugo Ekitike (top) challenges Sergio Romero to score the second goal during yesterday’s Premier League match against Spurs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. – REUTERSPIC

keep them away from our goal, but it looked as if we were down to nine and they were on 11 because it was attack after attack after attack. “Again, it wasn’t perfect, espe cially not in the last 10 minutes but in the meantime we pick up points and I see the team developing in a way I like to see.” – AFP

looked set to blow the lead in a fren zied finale. Breathing a sigh of relief, Slot said: “A good goal (for Isak), assisted by Florian Wirtz, and I said last week already players are getting better, the team is getting better. “I thought to be honest with nine, we will probably be able then to

Simons’first-half dismissal for a crude foul on Virgil van Dijk, pulled one back through Richarlison in the clos ing stages. Tottenham captain Cristian Romero’s stoppage-time dismissal for a needless second booking after he kicked Ibrahima Konate let Liverpool off the hook just as they

Newcastle were denied clear penalty: Howe

Ű BY DAMIAN SPELLMAN

weren’t further ahead. “We had the chances and played with real energy, intensity and quality. It was great to see us creating the big moments in the penalty box. It’s a huge disappointment we haven’t won the game with the effort we’ve given.” Opposite number Enzo Maresca, however, felt it was his side who might have left with all the points after responding with huge character in adversity. Maresca said: “I think after the first half, they deserved to win the game, for sure. From my point of view after the second half, we deserved to win the game. “After the second goal we scored, we had three or four clear chances to score one more. They also had one but overall, I think the draw is correct.” – The Independent

Newcastle, so poor in derby defeat at Sunderland the previous Sunday, roared out of the blocks and were 2-0 up inside 20 minutes, Nick Woltemade scoring from close range after keeper Robert Sanchez had blocked Anthony Gordon’s shot and then doubling his tally with a neat finish from a Gordon cross. But in a classic game of two halves, Reece James’ 49th-minute free-kick dragged the visitors back into it and a much-improved second-half display yielded a point when Joao Pedro capitalised on Malick Thiaw’s slip to level with 24 minutes remaining. Howe said: “It’s tinged with huge disappointment for us. I’m really disappointed for the players. We deserved to win that game, in my opinion anyway. “The only real disappointment in the first half – because I think it’s the best we’ve played – is that we

EDDIE HOWE was left fuming after Newcastle were denied a “clear” penalty as Chelsea fought back to snatch a Premier League draw. Referee Andy Madley waved away appeals for a spot-kick for Trevoh Chalobah’s 53rd-minute challenge on Anthony Gordon and was backed by VAR Peter Bankes, leaving the Magpies’ head coach baffled. Howe said: “Anywhere else on the pitch, that’s a blatant free-kick. When it went to VAR, I thought, ‘This is going to be overturned, it’s a clear error’. It’s as clear a penalty as I’ve seen. “The defender only focuses on Ant. They said it’s shielding, but I don’t agree with that analysis. I’m really disappointed that wasn’t given.”