Última actualización el 2 de enero de 2023 9:38 pm por Erwin Noguera
The Premier League has just wrapped up matchday 18 and this marks the second round that we have gotten after the end of the Qatar World Cup break.
In this matchday 18, some of the teams we expected to go all out were a lot less effective than we are accustomed to, but nothing stood out as much as the unexpected upset from Aston Villa after shutting down Tottenham in front of their home crowd.
This upset not only left the Spurs pointless for the week. It allowed Manchester United to take over the 4th spot from them, now 2 points ahead.
Newcastle and Manchester keep their current spots after both of them scored a draw to finish the week and continue sitting at 2nd and 3rd.
For Arsenal, this was such a good week, as they continue their current win streak rolling and also manage to get further ahead of the other teams, now with a 7 points lead over Man City.
Premier League Matchday 18 – Results – Arsenal vs. Brighton
Cuando:
Saturday, December 31 at 11:30 am ET at the Falmer Stadium
Cuotas del Moneyline:
Arsenal +112
Brighton & Hove Albion +244
Empate:
+248
Buoyed by Manchester City’s earlier draw with Everton, the Gunners cruised into a 3-0 lead early in the second half and withstood the threat of a Brighton comeback to claim the 14th win in 16 league games this season.
Arsenal seemed in a mood to celebrate the new year on the south coast, Bukayo Saka giving them the lead inside just two minutes.
It was the Gunners’ earliest away goal in la Premier League since a Theo Walcott strike against QPR back in 2013.
Six minutes before halftime, Martin Odegaard bounced in a shot following a corner to give the visitors a comfortable lead, with Brighton having struggled to pose a persistent threat to Aaron Ramsdale in the visiting goal.
Eddie Nketiah pounced on some loose goalkeeping from Robert Sanchez to make it 3-0 just after the restart, but although the game looked to be over, Kaoru Mitoma converted from just inside the box at the end of a good passing move to give Brighton some hope.
Gabriel Martinelli, who had the beating of Tariq Lamptey throughout the contest, raced onto a stunning first-time pass from Odegaard to finish below Sanchez and restore the three-goal cushion, yet Brighton would not give in.
Teenage substitute Evan Ferguson pounced on some errant defending from Gabriel to poke the ball beneath Ramsdale, and Mitoma struck a deflected shot into the bottom-right corner only for a VAR check to penalize him for a narrow offside.
That disallowed goal seemed to deflate the Brighton players, allowing Arsenal to see out what could be a hugely valuable win in what looks increasingly like a strong challenge for the title.
With this Arsenal has a seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League after a thrilling 4-2 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion at the AMEX Stadium.
Jornada 18 de la Premier League: – Results – Manchester City vs Everton
Cuando:
Saturday, December 31 at 9:00 am ET en el estadio Etihad
Cuotas del Moneyline:
Manchester City -847
Everton +2000
Empate:
+810
Manchester City missed the chance to close the gap (momentarily) on Premier League leaders Arsenal after they were held at home by Everton.
Erling Haaland’s 21st league goal of the season looked to set the reigning champions on their way in the first half, but after Pep Guardiola’s side failed to put the game to bed, a second-half goal from Demarai Gray meant the points were shared.
The Toffees set out to frustrate Manchester City and that is exactly what they did in the opening exchanges.
Manchester City set up camp in Everton’s half of the pitch as they looked to create goal-scoring opportunities.
Everton stood firm though, limiting City to very little in terms of efforts on goal.
Pep Guardiola’s side managed to find the breakthrough after 24 minutes. Riyad Mahrez did brilliantly get past Vitaliy Mykolenko with great footwork before pulling it back for Erling Haaland who stroked it home to score his 21st Premier League goal of the season.
City had a huge chance to go 2-0 up before halftime. Former Everton defender John Stones managed to get on the end of a cross but could only divert his effort onto the post.
The second half continued in the same way with not much quality and lots of stoppages. Also, included a lengthy break due to a fault with the assistant referee’s microphone and headset.
In the 64th minute, Everton equalized stunningly.
Demarai Gray’s wonder strike earned Everton a valuable point in a 1-1 draw with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
Jornada 18 de la Premier League: – Results – Newcastle vs. Leeds United
Cuando:
Saturday, December 31 at 9:00 am ET at the St. James Park
Cuotas del Moneyline:
Newcastle -215
Leeds United +540
Empate:
+380
The Magpies missed the chance to go second in Premier League after their win streak broke.
The game took place under difficult circumstances as the rain lashed down at St James’ Park.
A dominant Newcastle was unable to find a way past a stubborn Leeds defense, who kept their first clean sheet in eight league games.
Illan Meslier made some fine saves too, keeping out Chris Wood and Fabian Schar on multiple occasions.
Sean Longstaff and Joelinton were among the players to fire wide as Newcastle racked up 16 shots.
They will perhaps feel aggrieved to have not been awarded a late first-half penalty after Tyler Adams’ clumsy challenge on Schar.
Tensions boiled over late on too as Newcastle’s frustrations came to the fore. However, Leeds held on for an impressive point.
Newcastle’s six-game winning run in the Premier League came to an end on New Year’s Eve as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Leeds, missing the chance to go second in the table heading into 2023.
Newcastle vs. Leeds United Betting Pick: Newcastle
Jornada 18 de la Premier League: – Results – Tottenham vs Aston Villa
Cuando:
Sunday, January 1 at 8:00 am ET en el estadio del Tottenham Hotspur
Cuotas del Moneyline:
Tottenham -149
Aston Villa +390
Empate:
+300
Antonio Conte completed an unwanted and imperfect 10 as Hugo Lloris suffered a post-traumatic World Cup flashback at the hands of another Argentinian and dissent simmered in the stands.
The fresh optimism that New Year brings reaches Aston Villa’s side to be enjoyed alone.
They are improving with Unai Emery at the helm.
Captain Lloris was at fault for Villa’s first, spilling what ought to have been a routine save from a 35-yard effort by Douglas Luiz, and then beaten to the rebound by Ollie Watkins who set up Emiliano Buendia to score.
Tottenham’s most encouraging spell came towards the end of the first half, and the closest they came to a goal was a header by Kane cleared off the line by Ashley Young during this period.
Tottenham enjoyed plenty of the ball while creating very little.
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Son Heung-min took his frustrations out on his protective mask, discarding it angrily after losing the ball to Leon Bailey.
For whatever reason, last season’s Golden Boot winner has not been the same threat this term.
But he is not alone at Spurs, however, in misfiring in this strange season.
They have won only two of their last seven games in the Premier League and look like one of those teams to have come out of the World Cup break badly, as their north London neighbors stride on at the top.
The doomsday scenario looms over the second half of this season.
If they finish outside the top four, they could lose Conte. If they lose Conte, they could lose Kane — be it this year, or next on a free.
For now, Aston Villa enjoys this well-deserved 2-0 victory, which lifted them further from trouble and into mid-table while stirring a mood of rebellion among home supporters, who turned on chairman Daniel Levy with a chorus imploring him to get out of the club and booed the players from the pitch at the final whistle.
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