City held amid new VAR controversy

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Arsenal stay perfect

Tottenham’s Lucas Moura (left), duels for the ball with Manchester City’s Kyle Walker during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur at Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England on Aug 17. (AP)

MANCHESTER, England, Aug 17, (RTRS): Manchester City had a late goal from Gabriel Jesus ruled out by VAR video review as they drew 2-2 at home to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday – their first league home game without victory in nearly eight months.

 The Brazilian drove in what looked like the winner in added time but while City were celebrating, the VAR review had spotted a handball by City defender Aymeric Laporte before Jesus struck home. City exited the Champions League in April to Spurs when they had a late ‘winner’ ruled out by VAR.

 Pep Guardiola’s side had taken the lead in the 20th minute when Kevin De Bruyne swung in a cross from the right which Raheem Sterling met at the back post with a textbook header.

 But City’s advantage lasted less than three minutes with Erik Lamela firing them level after he was expertly picked out by Tanguy Ndombele.

 The setback didn’t however knock Pep Guardiola’s side out of their stride and it was no surprise when Sergio Aguero restored their lead in the 35th minute, with De Bruyne once again the provider with a low ball superbly turned in at the near post by the Argentine.

 Again, City camped in the Spurs half peppering Hugo Loris’s goal but once more the visitors fought back. Mauricio Pochettino sent on Lucas Moura as a substitute and the Brazilian scored with his first touch, beating Kyle Walker to head in a Lamela corner.

 Then came the late drama and controversy as VAR once again stole the headlines.

Meanwhile, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang grabbed the winner as Arsenal overcame a stubborn Burnley to maintain their winning start in the Premier League with a 2-1 victory at the Emirates Stadium 

It was the first time in 10 years that Arsenal have won their first two league games of a season and manager Unai Emery was delighted with the team’s performance.

“We can be happy. Our idea, our gameplan on the pitch was knowing it was going to be tough because we need to adapt,” the Spaniard told reporters.

“A lot of moments we couldn’t impose our gameplan because they pushed and their gameplan was a struggle for us.”

Alexandre Lacazette put the Gunners ahead in the 13th minute collecting a low corner from Dani Ceballos and showing great strength to turn marker Erik Pieters before driving through the legs of Burnley keeper Nick Pope.

Burnley responded well, however, and drew level two minutes before the break when a low effort from Dwight McNeil fell to Ashley Barnes in the box and the Clarets striker kept his composure to claim his third goal of the season.

Emery brought on club record signing, 72 million pound ($87.47 million) winger Nicolas Pepe at the break and the home side put Burnley under real pressure.

Pope did well to keep out efforts from Aubameyang and the hugely impressive Ceballos and it was that pair who combined for the winner.

Ceballos won the ball in the Burnley half and fed the Gabonese forward who burst goalwards before cutting inside and beating Pope with a fine drive.

Substitute Lucas Torreira had a chance to make it 3-1 in stoppage time but the Uruguayan midfielder’s shot from inside the penalty area was blocked by Pope.

Burnley continued to push for an equaliser but Arsenal hung on to close out the win.

“We’ve started with two victories, last year we lost two,” Emery added. “Our challenge is each match. We’re happy with six points. Next week we are against Liverpool, a big challenge.

English Soccer Results/Standings

LONDON, Aug 17, (RTRS): English soccer results on Saturday.

Premier League

Arsenal                                         2      Burnley                                       1

Aston Villa                                     1      Bournemouth                               2

Brighton                                        1      West Ham                                  1

Everton                                         1      Watford                                      0

Norwich                                        3      Newcastle                                  1

Southampton                                 1      Liverpool                                     2

Man City                                       0      Tottenham                                  0

Championship

Barnsley                                       2      Charlton                                     2

Blackburn                                      1      M’boro                                        0

Brentford                                       1      Hull                                            1

Bristol                                           2      QPR                                          0

Luton                                            1      West Brom                                 2

Millwall                                         1      Sheff Wed                                  0

Nott Forest                                   3      Birmingham                                 0

Stoke                                           2      Derby                                         2

Swansea                                       3      Preston                                      2

Wigan   0        Leeds    2

English Soccer Standings

Premier League

                           P    W   D    L   GF  GA  Pts

Liverpool      2   2   0   0   6    2    6

Arsenal        2   2   0   0   3    1    6

Man City     2   1   1   0   7    2    4

BHA            2   1   1   0   4    1    4

Spurs          2   1   1   0   5    3    4

B’mouth       2   1   1   0   3    2    4

Everton       2   1   1   0   1    0    4

Man Utd      1   1   0   0   4    0    3

Burnley        2   1   0   1   4    2    3

Norwich       2   1   0   1   4    5    3

Sheff Utd     1   0   1   0   1    1    1

Palace         1   0   1   0   0    0    1

Leicester     1   0   1   0   0    0    1

Wolves        1   0   1   0   0    0    1

WHU          2   0   1   1   1    6    1

Villa            2   0   0   2   2    5    0

Newcastle   2   0   0   2   1    4    0

Saints         2   0   0   2   1    5    0

Chelsea       1   0   0   1   0    4    0

Watford       2   0   0   2   0    4    0

Championship

                           P    W   D    L   GF  GA  Pts

Leeds          3   2   1   0   6    2    7

Charlton      3   2   1   0   7    4    7

WBA           3   2   1   0   5    3    7

Swansea     3   2   1   0   5    3    7

Millwall        3   2   1   0   3    1    7

Sheff Wed   3   2   0   1   5    2    6

Fulham        3   2   0   1   4    2    6

Derby          3   1   2   0   4    3    5

Nott Forest  3   1   1   1   5    3    4

Hull             3   1   1   1   4    4    4

Bristol         3   1   1   1   4    4    4

Brentford     3   1   1   1   2    2    4

QPR           3   1   1   1   3    4    4

Barnsley      3   1   1   1   3    4    4

B’ham         3   1   1   1   2    4    4

Preston       3   1   0   2   5    4    3

Cardiff         2   1   0   1   4    4    3

Blackburn    3   1   0   2   2    4    3

Wigan         3   1   0   2   3    7    3

Luton          3   0   1   2   5    7    1

M’boro         3   0   1   2   3    5    1

H’field         3   0   1   2   3    5    1

Stoke          3   0   1   2   4    7    1

Reading       2   0   0   2   2    5    0

Note: Standings read as played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against and points.

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