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MARTINELLI AT THE DOUBLE AS ARSENAL BEAT LEEDS

Gabriel Martinelli scored his first Premier League brace as Arsenal eased to a 4-1 victory at Leeds United.

The Brazilian opened the scoring on 16 minutes at Elland Road, firing past Illan Meslier after Alexandre Lacazette had dispossessed Adam Forshaw in the area.

Martinelli then dinked the ball over Leeds’ advancing goalkeeper to double his and Arsenal’s tally in the 28th minute, before Bukayo Saka made it three with the help of a deflection three minutes before half-time.

An injury-hit Leeds, who lost Stuart Dallas during the first half, improved after the break and Raphinha gave a glimmer of hope to the home fans with a penalty after Ben White had fouled Joe Gelhardt.

However, substitute Emile Smith Rowe latched on to Martin Odegaard’s exquisite through-ball to finish and confirm Arsenal’s third straight league victory six minutes from time.

Arsenal stay fourth on 32 points, four ahead of West Ham United. Leeds, who had 15-year-old Archie Gray on the bench, are five points above the relegation zone in 16th.

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SON EARNS SPURS A THRILLING DRAW WITH LIVERPOOL

Son Heung-min gave Tottenham Hotspur a 2-2 draw in an enthralling match with Liverpool, who were reduced to 10 men in the second half.

Harry Kane slotted Spurs ahead on 13 minutes, his first home goal of the season, after Tanguy Ndombele had played him in.

Spurs had chances to increase their lead, the best of which coming when Alisson denied Dele Alli.

Liverpool levelled on 35 minutes, when Diogo Jota headed in Andrew Robertson’s cross.

Alisson made an incredible close-range stop to deny Kane before Liverpool went ahead on 69 minutes when Robertson nodded in Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross.

However, Spurs levelled five minutes later when Alisson’s mistake allowed Son to roll the ball into an empty net.

Liverpool had to protect their point after Robertson was sent off with 13 minutes left to play for a reckless challenge on Emerson Royal.

Spurs extend their unbeaten run to five matches and stay seventh with 26 points, six behind Arsenal in fourth with three fixtures in hand.

Liverpool remain second but are three points behind leaders Manchester City.

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JARRAD BRANTHWAITE PUNISHES CHELSEA AS EVERTON POINT AT STAMFORD BRIDGE

Profligate Chelsea conceded vital ground in the Premier League title race by slipping to a substandard 1-1 draw with callow Everton at Stamford Bridge.

Teenage defender Jarrad Branthwaite netted his first Everton goal to plunder a draw for the injury-hit Toffees, stunning a Chelsea outfit missing a clutch of senior players through Covid-19.

Mason Mount thought his seventh top-flight goal of the campaign would be enough for Chelsea to mask a major glut of missed chances.

Reece James produced his sixth assist of an already-fine campaign, but no sooner had the Blues forged ahead than Branthwaite turned in Anthony Gordon’s free-kick to silence Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea’s fourth match in seven without a win in the Premier League left Thomas Tuchel’s men trailing leaders Manchester by four points.

The Blues had lost Romelu Lukaku, Timo Werner and Callum Hudson-Odoi to positive Covid tests in the build-up to Thursday’s west London clash.

Ben Chilwell had also returned a positive test but was already out with knee trouble, while Mateo Kovacic should complete his isolation after Covid on Friday.

Kai Havertz missed out due to illness, but was still awaiting the results of tests to determine whether his issue would turn out to be coronavirus.

Rafa Benitez’s sorry Everton arrived with just one win in 10 Premier League encounters and were besieged throughout a torrid encounter.

And yet the Toffees still came away with a highly creditable point, whatever their fortune.

Chelsea were left to lament a match full of wretched finishing, and a definite misstep in the Premier League title race.

Chelsea could easily have been 6-0 ahead by half-time.

The irrepressible James somehow side footed wide when played through by Jorginho, before Mount dragged just across goal.

Hakim Ziyech left the outclassed Mason Holgate for dead on the spin, then James forced Jordan Pickford into a full-stretch save from a fine free-kick.

James then thundered a snapshot just over the bar after Marcos Alonso’s free-kick rebounded off the wall.

Ziyech shot wildly high and wide on the left flank, then Mount failed to connect properly with Alonso’s cross to gift Pickford an easy save.

Morocco forward Ziyech scuffed wide from the edge of the area, and then Mount saw a low effort rebuffed by Pickford’s boot.

Pickford tipped round the post from Mount to open the second half, before Ruben Loftus-Cheek flicked over the bar from Alonso’s corner.

Cesar Azpilicueta hooked high over the bar after Everton failed to clear James’ whipped cross from a free-kick.

Antonio Rudiger had his head in his hands after nodding wide from another teasing James free-kick.

As the hour-mark passed and Chelsea gawped in frustration at their litany of botched chances the hosts knew only calmness and renewed focus would break the deadlock.

Just when the night started to become niggly though, Chelsea broke at pace and James sent Mount in on the right.

The England star beat the defence with his run before slotting past Pickford, to cut the Stamford Bridge tension and hand the Blues a majorly belated lead.

The Blues’ relief quickly turned into rancour, however, as Branthwaite poked home Gordon’s whipped free-kick.

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IRELAND DRAW UKRAINE AND SCOTLAND IN NATIONS LEAGUE GROUP

The Republic of Ireland and Scotland have been drawn together in League B, having last played each other during qualification for Euro 2016. Scotland won 1-0 at home, while the return match at the Aviva finished 1-1.

The other teams alongside them in Group B1 are Euro 2020 quarter-finalists Ukraine and Armenia.

Meanwhile, Northern Ireland, who were relegated to League C in the 2020-21 competition, face 2004 European champions Greece in Group C2. They also face Kosovo and the winner of the playout tie between Cyprus and Estonia, which will be played in March next year.

Northern Ireland won their two most recent competitive meetings with Greece, en route to qualification for Euro 2016.

Group matches will be played in June and September next year, with the four group winners in League A competing in the finals in June 2023.

A decision on whether, and how, the 2022-23 Nations League will slot into qualifying for Euro 2024 will be taken when the regulations for that tournament are fixed next June.

League B in full

Group B1:Ukraine, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Armenia

Group B2 Iceland, Russia, Israel, Albania

Group B3 Bosnia and Herzegovina, Finland, Romania, Montenegro

Group B4 Sweden, Norway, Serbia, Slovenia

Ukraine

Fifa ranking: 25 Manager: Oleksandr Petrakov (appointed caretaker in August 2021, permanent November 2021).

Performance in 2022 World Cup qualifiers: Finished second behind France, winning just twice and drawing their six other qualifiers. Will meet Scotland in the playoff semi-final in March.

Star player: Andriy Yarmolenko: He might be out of favour at high-flying West Ham United but even at 32 the striker is still his country’s talisman. He’s just four goals off equalling Andriy Shevchenko’s record of 48 goals.

Ireland’s record against Ukraine: Zero. Ukraine are one of just four European nations – along with Slovenia and relative newcomers Kosovo and North Macedonia – to never meet Ireland at senior men’s level.
Scotland

Fifa ranking: 38.

Manager: Steve Clarke (appointed May 2019).

Performance in 2022 World Cup qualifiers: Clinched a playoff with a six-point cushion on third-placed Israel in Group F. Wins away to Austria and at home to group winners Denmark contributed to their impressive haul of 23 points from 10 qualifiers.

Star player: John McGinn: The Aston Villa playmaker came of age after joining Aston Villa and translated that form onto the international stage by eclipsing Andy Robertson as their biggest influence.

Ireland’s record against Scotland: Played: 11. Won 4, drew 3, lost 4.
Armenia

Fifa ranking: 92.

Manager: Joaquín Camino (appointed March 2021).

Performance in 2022 World Cup qualifiers: Sealed fourth place in Group J, ahead of Iceland, with 12 points from their 10 games.

Star player: Sargis Adamyan: Born in Yerevan, the striker moved to Germany at the age of five and has played in the Bundesliga for Hoffenheim since 2019.

Ireland’s record against Armenia: Played: 2. Won 2.

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Barca ditch Pogba swoop to target Haaland

Barcelona will prioritise a move for Erling Haaland over their pursuit of Paul Pogba.

Haaland, 21, is set to be the subject of an intense battle between some of Europe’s top clubs with Manchester City, Manchester United and Real Madrid all interested in the striker.

New Barca manager Xavi is desperate to add a goalscorer to his ranks following Sergio Aguero’s early retirement and Haaland more than fits the bill.

The Borussia Dortmund No9 has a sublime record of 76 strikes in 74 games since joining the Bundesliga outfit in January 2020.

And Spanish outlet Sport claim Haaland’s agent Mino Raiola has recently met with Barca president Joan Laporta over a move.

The Catalan club are likely to struggle to finance the deal as they continue to grapple with the heavy debt that has seen them forced to offload stars and rely on free transfers.

Haaland’s fee is reported to be upwards of £60million, with high agent fees and salary demands also a major obstacle.

But a reported big-money loan from investment banking firms Goldman Sachs and CVC could help the club get back on their feet, with a percentage of those funds set to go on improving the squad.

A move for Haaland is likely to end the Blaugrana’s interest in out-of-contract Manchester United midfielder Pogba.

Camp Nou chiefs are said to be wary of taking on the heavy wage demands of the Frenchman, who is looking more and more likely to depart Old Trafford next summer.

There is also the concern that Pogba does is not the ideal fit for the tactical philosophy Xavi is looking to instill at the club.

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Martinelli and Smith Rowe fire Gunners into top four

Gabriel Martinelli and Emile Smith Rowe struck in the second half to earn Arsenal a 2-0 win over West Ham at the Emirates Stadium to move the Gunners into the Premier League’s top four.

Following a keenly contested first half in which Kieran Tierney struck the bar, Martinelli raced into the box in the 48th minute to slot a classy finish into the bottom corner.

The Gunners continued to assert their dominance in the second half as Alexandre Lacazette won a penalty, with Vladimir Coufal receiving a second yellow and a red for the challenge, but the France international’s spot-kick was saved by former Arsenal goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.

However, substitute Smith Rowe lashed home late on to secure an important result that sees Arsenal leapfrog the Hammers into fourth place, one point clear of their London rivals after 17 games.

The Gunners went close before the interval, Tierney racing onto a loose ball and blasting towards the top-left corner, only for Fabianski to get the slightest of touches to turn it onto the crossbar.

Martinelli scored the decisive goal shortly after the restart, latching onto Lacazette’s sublime throughball to curl firmly into the bottom-right corner.

Lacazette was involved again in the 66th minute as Coufal slid in to win the ball from him in the box, fouling the striker and being sent off for a second bookable offence, but the Arsenal forward’s penalty was kept out in the bottom-right corner by Fabianski.

With only 10 men, West Ham were caught out as they pushed for an equaliser, with Smith Rowe coming off the bench to drive towards the edge of the box and steer a left-footed drive into the bottom-right corner to seal an important win.

Arsenal’s victory sees the Gunners move one point clear of West Ham and into fourth in the Premier League table, at least temporarily.

Manchester United are just two points behind in sixth, and have a game in hand on the north London side.

Martinelli’s winning strike was his seventh Premier League goal; the only Brazilian with more in the competition before their 21st birthday is Gabriel Jesus (16).

Arsenal have now failed to convert three consecutive penalties in the Premier League for the first time since August 1992, when they failed to score with each of their first five penalties in the competition.

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TEARFUL SERGIO AGUERO ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT FROM FOOTBALL

Sergio Aguero has retired from football at the age of 33 due to a heart condition.

The Barcelona striker announced the news at a press conference at the Nou Camp on Wednesday morning, where he addressed the media alongside club president Joan Laporta.

Aguero experienced chest pains and breathing difficulties during the first half of Barcelona’s 1-1 home draw with Alaves on October 30th.

He fell to the turf clutching his chest and was treated for several minutes before being able to walk off and taken to hospital.

The Argentinian was subsequently diagnosed with a cardiac arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat).

An emotional and tearful Aguero said: “This conference is to communicate that I have decided to stop playing football.

“It is a very difficult moment. The decision I have made I have taken for my health, that is the main reason, because of the problem that I had a month-and-a-half ago.

“I was in good hands of the medical staff who have done their best and have told me the best thing would be to stop playing.

“So I made that decision about a week ago, and I want to tell everyone I did everything possible to have hope, but there wasn’t very much.”

The former Manchester City and Atletico Madrid striker continued: “I am very proud of the career I have had, very happy.

“I always dreamt of playing football from five years old. I want to show my gratitude to everyone, all of the clubs I played at and, of course, my love, Argentina.

“I don’t know what awaits me in the next life, but I know there are a lot of people who love me and want the best for me.”

Club president Laporta said: “It is as if all the reps of the teams you have played for are right here next to me too. We are left with the joy and excitement of what you could have been here at Barca.

“You have all of our support, anything you need, we are here at your disposal.

“You have been an amazing player, and everywhere you have played you have achieved so much, not just the talent but also the friendships you made.

“On your first day at Barca, we wished you had come here earlier. We always wanted you to play for our club but a new journey awaits and I hope it will be just as successful, you deserve it.”

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Manchester City score 500th Premier League goal under Guardiola in record time

Manchester City scored their 500th Premier League goal under Pep Guardiola in Tuesday’s clash with Leeds United.

Phil Foden put City ahead against Leeds at the Etihad Stadium as they reached the landmark figure in record time under a manager.

Foden made the eighth-minute breakthrough when he finished off from the edge of the penalty area after Rodri was beaten in a dash to the ball by Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier.

City required just 207 games to score the 500 goals, bettering the 234 games it took Liverpool to net that amount under Jurgen Klopp.

Next on that list is legendary Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson (265 games), followed by Arsenal great Arsene Wenger (271).

Sergio Aguero, who departed City at the end of last season, has scored the most goals for City during Guardiola’s five and a half year tenure with 82 to his name.

Raheem Sterling has been responsible for 76 of the goals, Gabriel Jesus 52, Kevin De Bruyne 37 and Ilkay Gundogan 31 among those to have netted 30 or more.

City’s highest-scoring season under Guardiola was in 2017-18 when finding the net 106 times.

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Gnabry hat-trick sends leaders nine points clear

Serge Gnabry scored a hat-trick and laid on a double for Robert Lewandowski as Bayern Munich moved nine points clear at the top of the Bundesliga with a 5-0 thrashing of Stuttgart.

Gnabry, making his first start for almost a month, opened the scoring in the first half and clinically doubled the champions’ lead after the break behind closed doors at Mercedes-Benz Arena on Tuesday.

The outstanding Gnabry then set Lewandowski up twice and completed his treble as the leaders ran riot in Julian Nagelsmann’s 200th Bundesliga match as coach, scoring three times in the space of five second-half minutes.

Bayern lost Kingsley Coman to an apparent hamstring injury, but cruised to a sixth consecutive victory in all competitions.

Gnabry was a livewire from the start and he flashed an early shot across the face of the Stuttgart goal before Lewandowski fired straight at goalkeeper Florian Muller.

Omar Marmoush dragged a tame strike wide against the run of play before Gnabry put the champions in front, finding the back of the net with a classy first-time right-foot finish after Leroy Sane – on for the injured Coman – set him up five minutes before the break.

Stuttgart showed plenty of endeavour following the interval but Gnabry struck again in the 53rd minute, taking a pass from Thomas Muller and beating Marc Oliver Kempf before calmly slotting home with his left foot.

Gnabry then turned provider, picking out Lewandowski with a superb pass which the striker controlled on his chest and raced into the box before nonchalantly lifting the ball over the advancing Stuttgart keeper and into the net.

The same pair combined again as Lewandowski was on hand to slot home inside the six-yard box from a Gnabry cross.

Gnabry then capped a brilliant performance by tucking in from close range after the busy Florian Muller could only palm into his path with 16 minutes to go.

Bayern blew Stuttgart away in devastating fashion as they increased their lead at the summit ahead of second-placed Borussia Dortmund’s clash with bottom side Greuther Furth on Wednesday.

They have now scored 98 away goals against Stuttgart, setting a record for the competition that Borussia Monchengladbach previously held with 96 against Cologne.

Nagelsmann will also be delighted with an elusive first away clean sheet in 11 Bundesliga matches.

After being made to wait for a start following a spell in quarantine, Gnabry ought to get a run in the side after this outstanding performance.

The 26-year-old’s treble came despite an expected goals figure of 2.23 and he showed great awareness to twice set up Lewandowski.

Lethal Lewandowski

Poland captain Lewandowski now has astonishing 29 goals for the season in all competitions before the turn of the year.

He scored a hat-trick when Bayern thumped Stuttgart in their last meeting in March and could easily have had another.

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Kevin De Bruyne leads rout as Guardiola’s City dazzle

Kevin De Bruyne turned on the style with a brilliant double, and you could only marvel as Manchester City savaged Leeds 7-0 in the Premier League.

Long-time friends Pep Guardiola and Marcelo Bielsa watched with contrasting emotions from the touchline as City inflicted the biggest defeat Leeds have ever suffered in the competition.

Guardiola’s City were sensational, with Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Riyad Mahrez, John Stones and Nathan Ake joining De Bruyne on the scoresheet, City passing the 500-goal mark in the Premier League under their Spanish boss.

The pick of the goals was De Bruyne’s second and City’s fifth, as his land-to-air missile from 25 yards left Illan Meslier helpless, with City surging four points clear of Liverpool at the top of the table.

Foden made the eighth-minute breakthrough when he finished off from the edge of the penalty area after the rampaging Rodri was beaten in a dash to the ball by Leeds goalkeeper Meslier.

By that stage Bernardo Silva had already missed a sitter from in front of an open goal. Leeds were in disarray and trailed 2-0 inside 13 minutes when Grealish headed in Riyad Mahrez’s whipped cross from the right – his first headed goal in his Premier League career.

De Bruyne made it 3-0 in the 32nd minute, a classy finish on his left foot from Rodri’s throughball. Foden then shot fractionally wide of the right post, with Meslier beaten, before seeing another shot blocked by Luke Ayling, as City looked to boost their goal difference.

Mahrez gave City a fourth in the 49th minute, a deflection off Junior Firpo diverting the Algerian’s skidding shot wide of the unlucky Meslier and into the left corner.

Foden prodded in from Mahrez’s pass but was inches offside; however, a fifth City goal arrived emphatically in the 62nd minute when De Bruyne smashed high and handsome into the net from distance.

Stones lashed in the sixth and fellow defender Ake headed goal number seven as City outclassed despairing visitors.

Guardiola, whose team had scored 499 goals in 206 Premier League games during his reign leading up to this game, fielded essentially a front five here. Silva was the one who missed out on a goal, as the quintet swarmed a Leeds defence that had no answer to their collective quality.

In the 568th game of his club managerial career, Leeds boss Bielsa saw a team under his charge concede seven goals for the first time. City’s goal difference took a major boost, and they are now just two behind Liverpool in that regard.

Leeds pulled off one of the all-time opportunist smash-and-grabs in this game last season, scoring with their only two shots to snatch a 2-1 victory, winning despite the expected goals (xG) count favouring City by 2.2 to 0.1.

Yet Leeds had not won consecutive away league games against City since 1987, and this could be filed under ‘payback’. The hosts led the shot count 31-6, while Leeds had just 35.6 per cent of possession, by far their lowest share this season.

De Bruyne’s second of the night was his 20th Premier League goal to be scored from outside the penalty area – no player has scored more such goals in the competition since De Bruyne’s September 2015 City debut, with Harry Kane next in line with 19 for Tottenham.